“I always wanted Thelma to look like a girl you’d want to be friends with—not just a pretty face.” — Bernadette Stanis, Essence interview, 2019
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: Her versatility was unmatched, moving effortlessly between a classic 70s afro , high buns, and elegant ringlets. Dance-Inspired Style bernadette stanis nude photos
, maintaining the same grace and "glow" that made her a household name at 71. high-resolution prints of her most famous covers? “I always wanted Thelma to look like a
A crucial element of the Stanis style gallery is her hair. During an era where the Afro was a powerful political and fashion statement, Stanis popularized the "middle"—a sleek, sophisticated, and versatile natural hairstyle. In high-fashion photoshoots, her hair was often adorned with headbands or styled in a way that framed her face with regal precision. This aesthetic offered a softer, yet equally empowered, alternative to the larger Afros seen on contemporaries like Angela Davis, influencing how young Black women viewed their own hair texture. A crucial element of the Stanis style gallery is her hair
Some of her fashion influences include: