Star quality

It takes more than beauty, symmetry, and height to become a star. All great models have star quality - for some it comes naturally, some work very hard to develop it.

Diana Ross has star quality. Besides being a great singer & actress, she is a fantastic model. Like all good models, she adapted her look as fashions changed. Francesco Scavullo photographed Miss Ross for the cover of her 1980 album diana, with her natural hair slicked back, wearing a t-shirt & Gia's jeans. This showed that Diana could leave her Bob Mackie gowns behind and show the real Diana behind the Miss Ross persona.

Originally, the Supremes were Diana Ross, Florence Ballard & Mary Wilson. The head of Motown Records, Berry Gordy, saw the star quality in Diana & chose her to be the lead singer of the group. In 1996, Berry Gordy explained why Diana should be the lead singer.

Look, Diana had magic. She had feeling. Exuberance. Florence had a good voice,
sure. Florence was fine. She did what she did, but she wasn't unique. Mary was
fine. She did what she did. It was fine. No one ever said those two couldn't
sing. They wouldn't have been in the group if they couldn't sing. But, Diana?
She was more than fine. Her voice was totally unique, totally something you
never heard before. It wasn't just a big voice, you know, a loud voice. Just
because a person sings louder than the other person doesn't make that person a
better singer. Also, Diana put everything into it, her shoulders, her
body....all of it.

The Supremes evolved into Diana Ross & The Supremes, & then Diana went solo. Her success was bittersweet for Mary & Flo, who didn't have the same level of success after Diana left the Supremes. I have observed the same situation amongst models. Several will arrive in NY at the same time, and after being polaroided & tested a star will emerge from the group. She may not be the tallest, thinnest, or most beautiful but her star quality will make great photographers want to shoot her & inspire stylists to want to use her for editorials & shows. Her roommates in the models apartment may be happy for her...or envy her success. They will think: "Why her & not me? It's not fair!". No one ever said that life was fair. If you want to become a star, you must put all of your energy into making it happen. Like Diana, models should keep their eyes on the prize.

In Maghogany, Diana plays an aspiring designer named Tracy who moves to Milano, changes her name to Mahogany, and becomes a supermodel. She learns a valuable lesson: success is nothing, without someone you love to share it with.