This is from my vast vault of Polaroids of photo sessions along the way, many of them have been signed by the photographers at my request because there’s always the little girl in me and the person not too cool for school to fan girl out myself from time to time.

This photo is from the session I did on my first Harper’s Bazaar editorial in 1987; the one my label didn’t want to fly me out to NY for not seeing what an editorial feature in a fashion magazine had to do with selling records .. I covered the cost myself as I’ve shared over the decades). My solo debut really was a multi-faceted breakthrough in many ways – this is one. It wasn’t as if black artists were given this type of exposure. Today – it’s common to see now on covers, not just editorials. Back then, it was primarily a cover of Jet Magazine – if you were lucky. The takeaway is always invest in yourself even when others don’t see the vision or bigger picture…and always be yourself.

Working with the legendary photographer Francesco Scavullo was a dream – knowing he’d lensed some of the most iconic women in music, film and fashion..Diana Ross, Barbara Streisand, Lauren Bacall, Iman, Linda Evangelista to name a few. Mr. Scavullo was very kind and took away any nervousness I had of which I had a lot..walking into the studio he immediately put me at ease.

The hat is Chanel – this wasn’t used for the feature, so here it is! — and my brows!!

Wattage!