Pat Cleveland

Pat Cleveland is an American fashion model who emerged in the 1960s and became one of the first Black models to gain international prominence across runway and editorial work. Her career has included assignments for Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Ebony, Essence and Interview, connecting fashion publishing with the changing representation of Black women in the industry.

Known for an expressive approach to the runway, she worked in the creative circles surrounding Halston and New York’s art and nightlife scenes. Her memoir Walking with the Muses recounts that world and her movement between New York and the European fashion capitals, documenting both professional opportunities and the barriers she encountered.