1. When you were first coming up in the industry, did you have any sense of how groundbreaking your career would become—or were you just figuring it out as you went?
I had no idea. I was completely figuring it out as I went.
What I did know was that fashion looked like the most exciting, glamorous, beautiful world imaginable—and I wanted in. What captivated me was how women were portrayed: doctors, lawyers, mothers, adventurers—whatever they were, they seemed self-possessed and powerful.
I didn’t understand how the industry worked. I didn’t know where I fit. But I had a very clear instinct that I wanted to be part of it in a meaningful way. That instinct hasn’t changed.
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2. What did the industry feel like back then for you, especially as a Black model trying to find your place?
One of the first things I encountered—though I didn’t fully understand it at the time—was being told to adjust my expectations.
I would say I wanted to be on the cover of Vogue, to do major cosmetics campaigns globally. And I was told, quite plainly, “Black girls don’t really get covers. They don’t really get those ads.”
Now, the truth is most people don’t get those things. They’re rare for anyone. But what mattered was that I had already seen it happen. Iman had done it. Beverly Johnson had done it. So I knew it was possible.
I came into the industry as a child of the civil rights movement. My parents and their generation had fought—strategically and relentlessly—to expand opportunity. So even walking into an imperfect system, I walked in with a sense of possibility.
That didn’t mean the path was easy or fair. It meant I understood that my job was to show up, be disciplined, take my chances—and build on what had already been fought for.
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3. When you look at photos of your younger self on the runway or in campaigns, what goes through your mind now?
Honestly, I don’t remember the fear as much as I remember the energy.
At the time, I was often terrified, unsure, completely winging it. But I loved being part of it.
Now when I look back, I study those images. I look at what I was doing right, what I could have done better. Longevity belongs to people who are willing to learn—to review, refine, and stay engaged with their craft.
And ultimately, what stays with you isn’t the money or even the pictures. It’s the memories. The people. That’s the real currency.
Veronica Webb wears David Webb jewelry, Sergio Hudson dress, Gucci bag and shoes, and Cartier eyewear.
4. How has your idea of beauty changed from your early days to now?
When you’re young, beauty feels external. It’s about what you put on, how you present yourself. And you take for granted the strength and health that come with youth.
Now, beauty has completely shifted for me. Beauty is strength. It’s resilience. It’s inheritance.
When I look in the mirror, I see my mother. I see my ancestors. I feel their presence and their wisdom.
Beauty, to me now, is a form of wealth—something you carry, something you come from, and something you pass on.
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5. Do you feel like a different person today than when you started?
I’m calmer. Not because life is easier, but because I’ve walked the path enough times to trust it.
There’s a rhythm to things. If you stay in motion, if you keep showing up, things tend to resolve themselves. I don’t panic the way I used to.
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6. What do you understand about yourself now that you wish you knew at the beginning of your career?
That most of my insecurities were self-created.
You can spend so much time projecting doubt onto yourself that has nothing to do with reality.
And I also wish I had understood earlier not to confuse work with love. Work is transactional. Love and family are not.
If you don’t get the job, it doesn’t mean you’re rejected as a person. It just means it wasn’t yours that day. And if you stay in the game, you will land where you belong.
Veronica Webb wears David Webb jewelry courtesy of Yafa Signed Jewels, La DoubleJ poncho and skirt, Jacquemus bag, and Dries Van Noten shoes.
7. The pace of fashion used to be nonstop—do you experience it differently now?
Completely.
Fashion today is an unrelenting flood of images. It’s fast, accessible, and incredibly entertaining—but it can also feel overwhelming and disposable.
It used to be that you had to search for fashion. Now the real work is editing—deciding what’s worth your attention and what isn’t.
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8. What feels genuinely different about the industry now, and what still feels the same?
There’s been meaningful progress in some areas. Age, for example, is becoming more visible and more accepted.
But other areas—like size—still have a long way to go.
The conversation has expanded, but the work isn’t finished.
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9. What keeps you inspired at this stage in your life and career?
Curiosity.
Fashion opened the world to me. It took me places I never could have imagined and introduced me to extraordinary people.
That sense of discovery hasn’t left. There’s always more to learn, more to see, more to understand.
An 18k Yelow Gold Necklace set with approximately 600 carats of cushions-cut Amethysts and Diamonds- Van Cleef & Arpels Lady Arpels Féerie Watch
– A rare natural, no-heat, Padparadscha Sapphire 18.13 carats and white fancy-cut diamond ring
10. Being in Palm Beach for this shoot, how does this moment feel compared to those earlier years?
It feels like ease.
When you’ve done something long enough, stepping onto a set feels like diving into water—you know how to move, you trust your instincts.
It’s still exciting, but it’s also deeply familiar. That’s a pleasure.
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11. If you could speak to your younger self, what would you say?
You come from strong people. Stronger than you realize.
You’re built to handle more than you think.
Have faith, stay focused—and yes, look good while you’re doing it.
Music
Veronica Webb wears David Webb jewelry, Sergio Hudson skirt and top, Hermès bag, and Carel Paris shoes.
VIDEO BY HUGO NAVARRO