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Donyale Luna’s Legacy Also Includes Avoiding Black Issues

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Max’s documentary, ‘Donyale Luna: Supermodel,’ explores the late supermodel’s complicated relationship with race and her identity as a Black woman.

Donyale Luna
Source: Getty Images

In September 2023, Max released a documentary titled Donyale Luna: Supermodel. The documentary followed model and actor Donyale Luna, who gained success during the 1960s Civil Rights Movement as the first Black model to grace the cover of Harper’s Bazaar in 1965 and Vogue in 1966. Donyale was also a muse to famed designer Salvadore Dali and, in 1966, was the most photographed model in the world.

Despite Donyale’s massive success, her story wasn’t told until the Max documentary was executive-produced by her daughter, Dream Cazzaniga.

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Sadly, Donyale died in 1979, with few people knowing the woman behind some of her era’s most iconic fashion photos. Donyale Luna: Supermodel confirms Donyale’s legacy was overlooked due to racism in the fashion industry and beyond. However, Black media sites and leaders at the time didn’t amplify her story as much before or after her death.

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After watching the Max documentary, I feel Donyale’s negligence in stamping her Black identity at such a crucial time in Black History resulted in the community not giving her her flowers sooner.

Donyale Luna's daughter, Dream Cazzaniga, at the 'Donyale Luna: Supermodel' premiere.
Source: Getty Images

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Donyale Luna changed her name early in her childhood

Before I dive into my critique of Donyale, as shown in the Max documentary, I want to add that I admire Donyale and the doors she had to walk through just so I, a Black writer and a personal style content creator, can work in the media and fashion space today. That being said, I was saddened to learn that Donyale didn’t fully realize her unique beauty and tried to be more ambiguous than she was.

Born Peggy Ann Freeman in 1945, Donyale spent her childhood in Detroit, Mich., and was named after her mother, Peggy Freeman. Once she became a teenager, she changed drastically and began referring to herself as “Donyale” instead of “Peggy.”

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“My complete name is Peggy Anne Donyale Zasia Luna Freeman,” Donyale shared in an interview clip from the documentary.

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Donyale Luna often avoided discussing her Black identity and issues affecting Black people.

As her career began to expand, though, Donyale shifted further away from Black culture and the issues happening within the community. In 1963, at the height of the Civil Rights Movement, The New York Times quoted Donyale stating she wasn’t “down for the fight” and wasn’t interested in discussing race-related issues.

During a conversation about her acting career, a writer asked if she felt she was paving the way for other Black actors, to which she responded, “If it brings about more jobs for Mexicans, Chinese, Indians, negroes, groovy…It could be good, it could be bad. I couldn’t care less.”

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Donyale Luna
Source: Getty Images

Donyale’s nonchalant attitude toward her impact on Black culture, paired with the fact that she often wore her signature blue contacts, and spoke in a fake, foreign accent, separated her from other Black creatives of her time who spoke out on Civil Rights issues. Unlike actors and musicians like Ruby Dee, Ossie Davis, and Mahalia Jackson, Donyale seemingly took the “not my business, not my problem” route to Civil Rights.

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Consequently, her name is rarely mentioned while discussing fashion icons. Instead, for many years, Beverly Johnson, who was interviewed in Donyale’s documentary, has been revered as the first Black supermodel, though it was Donyale who paved the way.

Donyale Luna at a fashion show
Source: Getty Images

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Donyale Luna’s story may have been different without the fashion industry’s past racism.

As controversial as it was, Donyale’s approach to navigating her role as a Black model in the fashion industry is entirely understandable. The fashion industry is historically tricky for models of any race, but it was, and still is, especially difficult for darker-skinned talent.

In several scenes of Donyale Luna: Supermodel, the documentary discusses the discrimination Donyale endured during most of her career. One of the most poignant scenes of the documentary was an exchange between former Vogue editor Diana Vreeland and photographer Richard Avedon.

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The story goes that Richard wanted Donyale to be a part of a group of expensive photo shoots in Japan. When he pitched that Donyale be involved in the project, Diana shot him down, saying she “wasn’t anyone’s idea of what they wanted to look like.” Richard said Donyale was “extraordinary,” Diane responded, “so is King Kong.”

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Black people being referred to as monkeys or even fictional gorillas is an unfortunate, unsurprising experience many have faced themselves. But to see it happening to someone like Donyale, whose look was so captivating and unique, made me want to cry, much like Beverly Johnson did when she heard Diana’s comments for the first time.

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Maybe if Donyale was born in a different generation where models like Slick Woods and Alek Wek, who have been well-received for being Black and having unique features, she wouldn’t have felt it necessary to ignore parts of her identity in the public eye, it’s also possible that she didn’t disclose specific details of herself as protection in the cruel fashion world.

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Sadly, we will never know Donyale’s truth since she died of an accidental overdose at age 33. However, I’m glad we received more insight into her life and legacy, flaws and all.

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Who Is Roberta Zaktzer on The Golden Bachelor?

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‘The Golden Bachelor’ contestant Ellen Goltzer is still in mourning over the death of her friend, Roberta Zaktzer, who died from cancer.

Source: Getty Images

The Gist:

  • Ellen Goltzer, one of the contestants on The Golden Bachelor, paid tribute to her friend Roberta Zaktzer during her introduction.
  • Roberta was a long-time Bachelor fan who died shortly before Ellen left to start filming the show.
  • Ellen’s story was just one of several that had Bachelor fans in tears during the first episode.

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The newest season of The Bachelor isn’t quite like previous installments in the franchise. The Golden Bachelor focuses on Gerry Turner, a man in his 70s who is looking for love. It’s a spicy new direction for the series, and one that has many viewers intrigued following the show’s first episode.

That premiere also came with its fair share of moving moments from both Gerry and the show’s contestants. One of the most moving moments came from Ellen Goltzer, one of the contestants, who told the story of Robert Zaktzer, her life-long friend and confidante who recently died after a battle with cancer.

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Who was Roberta Zaktzer in ‘The Golden Bachelor?’

Although Roberta herself wasn’t on the show, Ellen’s tribute to her friend left a lasting impression on those watching at home. Roberta died on Sept. 10, 2023, just days before Ellen was set to start her journey on the show. Ellen said it was Roberta who ultimately inspired her to sign up for The Golden Bachelor, meaning she quite literally wouldn’t be on the show without her. Ellen also said that Roberta was a constant source of encouragement in her life.

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Roberta died from cancer at just 71 years old, and was a life-long fan of the show. Ellen is a former teacher, and she certainly made a strong first impression on Gerry. The Golden Bachelor may adhere to many of the rules that govern every season of the show, but it seems like this season may be a little more emotional and wholesome than your typical season.

‘The Golden Bachelor’ is already making fans cry.

Ellen’s story was just one of several that moved some viewers of The Golden Bachelor to tears just minutes into the premiere.

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Gerry’s own story is deeply moving, as he wasn’t a bachelor his whole life. In fact, Gerry was in a committed marriage for 43 years before his wife Tina died from a sudden illness just as they were beginning their retirement. That story, and Gerry’s full knowledge of what great love looks like, already got this season off to a much more contemplative start.

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Because of their advanced age, the contestants on this season of The Bachelor are likely to be much more grounded and have a deeper understanding of the world. That doesn’t mean that there won’t be plenty of typical Bachelor drama, but it does mean that this season of The Bachelor will likely balance that drama out with a hearty dose of sincerity. Thankfully, Bachelor in Paradise is airing right after, so if you want a little drama, you can just head over there.

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Dianne Feinstein’s Cause of Death: Everything We Know

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Senator Dianne Feinstein has passed away at the age of 90 after a long career that grew controversial near the end. What was her cause of death?

Dianne Feinstein leaves the Senate Chambers during a series of votes in the U.S. Capitol Building on May 11, 2022
Source: Getty Images

The Gist:

  • California Senator Dianne Feinstein has passed away at age 90.
  • Her cause of death has yet to be released.
  • Despite a career that was marred by health complications at the end, she was a trailblazer for women.

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On Sept. 29, 2023, it was announced that Dianne Feinstein passed away at age 90. At the time of her death, the California democrat was the oldest sitting senator and had been in office since 1992. The months leading up to her death were plagued with questions about her health as many called for her resignation. Here’s what we know about Senator Feinstein’s cause of death.

Front row L-R, U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), and Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), back row L-R, Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE), and Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)
Source: Getty Images

Senator Dianne Feinstein with various U.S. Senators

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What was Dianne Feinstein’s cause of death? Colleagues questioned her health for months.

The New York Times reported that Senator Dianne Feinstein “died on Thursday night, according to a family member.” As of the time of this writing, a cause of death has yet to be revealed and her staff was in the process of being apprised of the situation. Her health was a topic of great discussion on Capitol Hill since early 2023.

According to NBC News, Senator Feinstein had not “voted in the Senate since Feb. 16, 2023,” and in early March, she contracted shingles. At that point, she issued a vague statement regarding her status. “I intend to return as soon as possible once my medical team advises that it’s safe for me to travel,” she said.

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Senator Dianne Feinstein heads to the Senate floor for the Senate impeachment trial of President Donald Trump on Jan. 24, 2020
Source: Getty Images

Feinstein went on to say, “I understand that my absence could delay the important work of the Judiciary Committee, so I’ve asked Leader Schumer to ask the Senate to allow another Democratic senator to temporarily serve until I’m able to resume my committee work.” Politico also reported that during the two months she was away from the Capitol, Feinstein was briefly in the hospital.

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During a hearing on Nov. 17, 2020, Senator Feinstein asked then Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey a question about curbing the spread of misinformation on the social media platform. She then repeated herself, verbatim, despite already getting an answer. This gaffe raised some questions about Feinstein’s mental fitness.

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Although many felt that she should have retired long before her health declined, Feinstein’s contribution to the state of California and democracy in general were significant.

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Dianne Feinstein, her arms outstretched in celebration, in her office after she was elected mayor of San Francisco, at San Francisco City Hall in San Francisco, California, circa 1978.
Source: Getty Images

Dianne Feinstein, her arms outstretched in celebration, in her office after she was elected mayor of San Francisco, at San Francisco City Hall in San Francisco, California, circa 1978.

Dianne Feinstein got a lot done.

During the 30-plus years of Senator Feinstein’s time as a California Senator, she certainly made the most of it. In 1994, she helped pass the Assault Weapons Ban, after which the “number of deaths from mass shootings fell, and the increase in the annual number of incidents slowed down,” per the Ohio Capital Journal.

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She made some incredible strides in protecting our environment with the California Desert Protection Act (1994), passing legislation aimed at Protecting Catastrophic Wildfires (2003), and authorized legislation that “require the Environmental Protection Agency to issue a rule mandating all major sources of greenhouse gases to report their emissions every year,” per her website. As recently as 2019, she was still fighting to protect the planet.

Her concern didn’t stop there. In 2022 Senator Feinstein “authored the Senate version of the Respect for Marriage Act (Public Law 117-228), a bill to repeal the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act, enshrine marriage equality in federal law and provide additional legal protections for marriage equality,” per her website. After it passed, President Biden signed it into law on Dec. 13.

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Unfortunately Senator Feinstein’s last few months were some of the most difficult of her career. After sitting on the allegations against then–Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, she actually hugged Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham while arguing about appointee Amy Coney Barrett. This led to her stepping down as chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

The good she did far outweighed the missteps made during her final years in the senate. John Burton, a former California Democratic Party chair, told Politico that she “got s–t done by working with people on both sides of the aisle and refusing to get caught up in unnecessary nonsense. To those lining up to run for her seat, I hope you honor the fact that this powerful lady blazed the trail for you.”

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Izzy’s Lost and Found Drawer on Love Is Blind Is Kind of Icky

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Izzy shows Stacy his lost and found in his apartment on ‘Love Is Blind’ and it shows how many different women have been to his place over the years.

Izzy in the pods on Love Is Blind
Source: Netflix

The Gist:

  • Izzy and Stacy get engaged in Season 5 of Love Is Blind.
  • When Stacy visits Izzy’s apartment, she has some serious concerns about the way he lives.
  • Izzy has a drawer full of items from other women he has slept with over the years, called his “lost and found.”

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Spoiler warning: This article contains spoilers for Season 5 of Love Is Blind.

Some of Love Is Blind‘s contestants might think the worst is over when they leave the pods, meet their respective fiancés face-to-face, and begin the next part of their journeys. But that’s where the drama really gets started and Izzy and Stacy prove that in Season 5. Especially when Izzy shows Stacy his apartment for the first time and introduces her to his “lost and found.”

Stacy and Izzy meet for the first time on Love Is Blind
Source: Netflix

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It’s a drawer full of things that past hook-ups left behind in his home. Izzy does little to hide this part of his apartment. In fact, he is open about it to a fault and Stacy is not happy about the idea of her husband-to-be having such a crass way of describing and organizing other women’s belongings. Can you really blame her?

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Izzy actually has a lost and found in his apartment on ‘Love Is Blind.’

Izzy explains that he keeps earrings and other small items that women have left in his apartment in a drawer in the bathroom. It doesn’t look like the drawer is spilling over with items, but still. The fact that he has a lost and found for that sort of thing and calls it that is a major red flag for Stacy. She says as much and it’s clear that this is part of Izzy’s life that gives her the ick.

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Izzy gets emotional in the Love Is Blind pods
Source: Netflix

It’s safe to say that the part of Izzy’s life that involves bringing women home for one night stands is over. However, Stacy just can’t fathom why he wouldn’t throw out these lost and found items before he left home to film in the Love Is Blind pods. It’s a fair question.

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‘Love Is Blind’ fans don’t see Izzy and Stacy working out.

The fact that Stacy is majorly turned off by Izzy’s lost and found on Love Is Blind just adds to the handful of reasons why some fans don’t see this pair working out long-term. One viewer tweeted that both Stacy and Izzy are “emotionally unavailable.” Another wrote that they don’t think Stacy is even ready to get engaged, let alone married.

And now that Stacy is seeing some red (or, at the very least, a mix of red and green) flags in Izzy, those fans could be right. Stacy has yet to say “I love you,” and she appears to be concerned about Izzy’s finances. Now, we have this side of him that no one expected. There’s just a lot going on and they haven’t even picked out wedding flowers yet.

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Watch Love Is Blind on Netflix.

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