Beverly Johnson of 'She's Got the Look'

Beverly Johnson continues to break barriers.

In 1974, she was the first black model to grace the cover of Vogue. On Thursday, July 30, Johnson helps pick the next winner of TV Land's She's Got the Look, the modeling contest for women over 35.

Now 55 and as exquisite as ever, Johnson describes her on-air look as "kind of fashiony, elegant and bold but not exotic. Because I just wanted to make sure to have the message -- this was about fashion, about a modeling career. It wasn't necessarily that I dress that way, but I wanted the contestants to have the feeling that this is all about modeling."

Although Johnson certainly can pull together an outfit and do her hair and makeup, she works with stylist Robert Dupont to ensure her look is right.

"He shows me the different things he has chosen," Johnson says. "Some things I think, 'Oh, no. This is terrible!' Now I try on everything because I have been wrong so many times. Even though I hate it on the hanger, I try it on. He keeps me tuned in to what is happening in fashion. You can get stuck. Robert keeps me fresh."

Dupont puts Johnson in a lot of Lloyd Klein and Nicole Miller. He also loves the fancier dresses by Allen Schwartz. The classic staples of Diane Von Furstenberg dresses and separates have also been used.

Johnson favors shoes designed by Taryn Rose, an orthopedic surgeon who designs luxury shoes. For any woman who has ever gingerly peeled off heels and wanted to auto-amputate, these shoes look divine.

Like many women assured of their own tastes, Johnson knows what she wants.

"Beverly doesn't go for trends," Dupont says. "She is not afraid of color."

Dupont advises other women to "not overaccessorize, especially when using color. Have your own style."

Though Johnson certainly looks much younger than her years, she's very clear that everyone, including her, must work to maintain it. She recalls a publicist questioning why Johnson needed hair and makeup professionals for an event.

"It would be great if I could roll out of bed, shave and show up," she says. "It doesn't work that way. Aging gracefully means keeping oneself healthy and abreast of all of the scientific genius of man. And as far as ... different things one can do for their health, mammograms and colonoscopy (are things) that one needs to do in order to remain healthy. And then we can start with the outside -- once we keep the inside as best as we can, and really respect our bodies in a healthy way.

"It's not just aging gracefully, rocking back and forth in a rocking chair," Johnson continues. "One still has to make an effort to age gracefully."

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