February 29, 2024

Renauld White: The Male Model Icon

Ambassador Digital Magazine Editor-In-Chief Musa Jackson interviews and pays homage to his model mentor the trailblazing legendary model Renauld White.

Task

Born and raised in Newark and East Orange New Jersey, Renny as he is called by his family and close associates is living fashion history. His career spans six decades from the 1960s to the present. His unparalleled 55 year reign in the modelling industry as the country’s original male supermodel icon is celebrated for his many first. His career began at the height of Civil Rights and Black Power movements. He challenged “the authorities” but not without struggle to break down barriers. He was able to accomplish the following; the first African American male model to appear on the cover of GQ, to endorse a white man’s hair product/ Vitalis, to work for A-list American designers Bill Blass, Calvin Klein, Jeffrey Banks, Donna Karan and Ralph Lauren. He appeared on the cover of Essence, editorial pages of American Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Ebony, Esquire magazines. His L’Uomo Vogue cover remains a monumental fashion moment. His Right On magazine cover went into outerspace and is currently preserved historically in the Smithsonian Institute. Internationally he’s walked for Yves Saint Laurent, Armani, Versace, Kenzo and Valentino. He’s been photographed by the world’s great photographers i.e. Bruce Weber and Scavullo to name a few. He’s been in dozens of commercials including Delta Airlines, Jamaica Tourist Board, Miller Lite and Chrysler. He’s one of the few models to be honored by Fortune magazine and also receive the Style Award given by Fashion Outreach Organization. As an actor, he received acclaim in theater as Julis Caesar and as Malcolm X in When Chickens Come Home to Roost. And appeared on CBS Guiding Light and ABC One Life To Live. He’s committed to giving back through motivational speaking to help students understand the modeling industry and also community service. He’s an ambassador for Laureus Sport For Good Foundation, grassroots nonprofit organization dedicated to work amongst the communities it represents to bring about social change. Over the past 20 years Renny has credited martial arts for keeping his spiritually, mentally and physically fit. He’s inspired generations of Black male models, myself included.

"People find it hard to believe that I was once an overweight kid. I wanted to be a money making model then you have to present yourself as one. God gave me a different kind light to follow. Someone who wasn’t perfect but had a great personality."

Interview

MUSA Tell us about what New Jersey was like growing up?

RENAULD It was an amazing experience. My grandfather was renting a house for the whole family around WWII. Downtown where I grew up was industrial buildings. Working on things that needed to be sent to Europe to help the American troopers. We were one of the only black families growing up around this almost white factory, that would be used for the war for the next few years. I played with family members until I went to kindergarten. I stood out because I was overweight. So it wasn’t pleasant. But it made me respond a certain way. I was the only black kid in school. I had wonderful uncles that I watched and hung out with. I also was with my grandparents going places as well with my parents. I spent a lot of time watching and observing my family. I loved them. They made me who I am.

MUSA Who you get your good looking model genes from?

RENAULD I inherited it from my father and my mother. Born of them were beautiful people. My father was tall. Six foot two with a mustache. He was in the army in WWII stationed in France. My mother was from Newark, New Jersey she was a beautiful woman. She worked in a factory and she had me in the early ‘40s. I think got the best of both of them. My father was a dignified dresser, a cool black man. He wore fitted jackets and had a great physique. He looked like a movie star. My mother was gorgeous. My father was stationed in France and my mother had my older brother but decided to stay in Newark. My family had migrated from North Carolina and Georgia. My mother decided to stay because she was interested in working in the fashion world. Little did I know that life in fashion was in store for me.

MUSA How did you get into the modeling industry?

RENAULD I got into modeling by accident. It came about it in an odd way. My dad looked like a model he looked wealthy but he wasn’t. He was a truck driver. I certainly didn’t want to be a truck driver. So I went and got a job at the department store Orbachs. I started to wear the clothes and saw the trends. I got into modelling not in a fashionable way. I was just watching how people were dressing. It was the beginning of the hippie era. Black power movement. It was cool.</p> <p>I got into modeling by accident. It came about it in an odd way. My dad looked like a model he looked wealthy but he wasn’t. He was a truck driver. I certainly didn’t want to be a truck driver. So I went and got a job at the department store Orbachs. I started to wear the clothes and saw the trends. I got into modelling not in a fashionable way. I was just watching how people were dressing. It was the beginning of the hippie era. Black power movement. It was cool.

MUSA Tell us about Zoli Agency.

RENAULD I heard about Zoli from other models. They would have open calls maybe two or three times a week. It was mostly for women back then. The girls would go in and would have no problem. You were either right or you weren’t. But the guys became an important figure because girls needed dates. It gave it a life. I went in. It was close I wasn’t sure if I was going to make it or not but they called me back in. They said we like how you present yourself. We would like to take a chance on you. Are you available to start work? I said sure. I worked in an office and I’m they sure would be thrilled to hear that I got a callback. They weren’t giving me an opportunity to sign right away. Every time I went back I noticed something. It was rare that they were looking at a black man. Most of the people were older models. The were creating newness based on that English style. They knew they had to represent black women but the men took more time.

MUSA You’ve worked for major designers and photographers. Was there one that stood out?

RENAULD I connected with Stephen Burrows. He was our man from Newark, New Jersey. And no one saw him coming. But I used to see him because he wasn’t to far from my High school. His family lives in Bergen. I would see him from time to time walking the street because I did a lot of walking. To walk off the weight. The fact there was a very small chance that something could happen. People find it hard to believe that I was once an overweight kid. I wanted to be a money making model then you have to present yourself as one. God gave me a different kind light to follow. Someone who wasn’t perfect but had a great personality. I really broke in the business because of my friendship with Stephen Burrows.

MUSA How did you becoming the first African American male model to get on GQ cover come about in 1979? How did it make feel?

RENAULD I just wanted to be a leading man for us black men. My intention was always to be on the cover. When it came out I thought was that really me. I was going downtown by train when I saw a woman holding a GQ magazine. I saw what looked like me on the cover. I wanted to be sure so I went over. I didn’t want her to think I was stalking her but I said to the woman that might be me on the cover. She looked at then lifted it next to my face and was like, “Oh my God. This is gorgeous. That is you.” I went back upstairs across the street to a newsstand and bought a couple of copies. I had the rest of the morning to carry this around. I wanted shout to out Hallelujah. I wasn’t certain that it was the first black cover. But it was historical. I had been working hard for the next couple years toward that.</p> <p>*the first Black male model on the cover of GQ was Urs Althaus. He was born in Switzerland.

MUSA So what happened when you got signed to Wilhelmina?

RENAULD I went to the agency. And the late Wilhelmina had an office on 54th street and Madison Avenue. I made an appointment and went up there. I didn’t get enough attention when I went there. They said something to fact that it was a crazy office and if I didn’t have the time to come back. I said I didn’t have the time. Here I was at one of the worlds top agencies and they didn’t have a lot of black models. I then asked the agent if she could take a moment since their wasn’t anyone really there. She said to me how dare you. We only take the best models in the world. I said you’re looking at him. I knew that I was going to have to fight for it. I was still a bit overweight but I had a face that was interesting. I said to her I’m a black man, who wears clothes very well. I have a family and that exposure might bring me money to help them out. I can help make Wilhelmina be great. Just treat me with dignity and respect. She said I can’t promise you anything but let’s give it a try. That’s how it happened. I’m going to knock them on their butt.

MUSA How did you handle the pressure of being a beautiful model?

RENAULD First it was my job. The clothes were nice and it was my job to make people want to buy them. You wear your own style after five o’clock and you want people to look at you also. At a different time you want the evening people to see you walk into a restaurant either with people or by yourself. You want them to go look at that black guy he’s so handsome. You’re building up your own billboard. You’re walking across the floor in a nightclub is no easy deal. You’re going to have people stop eating and looking. They low key wish that you’d come back again and show off. Or you take the opportunity to say I’ve got the spotlight on me. Everyone is going to look and you turn and look. It goes back and forth. That’s how I do it. People noticed me.

MUSA Give us a brief description of what it was like to work with the following American designers that you were first to work with. Bill Blass, Calvin Klein, Jeffrey Banks, Donna Karan and Ralph Lauren.

RENAULD Bill Blass was powerful, worldly, open and lovable human being. Calvin Klein is a good person that has a number of people who helps him make decisions. He’s very clear on how he wants to keep his art, his brand. Ralph Lauren is a hometown guy. He has a nephew or cousin that works on his production staff. So he creates a happy family working environment. So it makes the business work which is alot easier when it’s blood and not something else. Jeffrey Banks reminds you of a British type personality. He wears his image or personality in the suits he elects to wear that particular day. He knows clothing so well. Donna Karan is an amazing human being. She knows what she wants and she brings the luxury of being a female in the way she meets people and how she takes compliments. And even how she might change direction in how she wants to deliver something when she sends it out. She’s open, she’s human and she’s doing what she loves.

MUSA You have had the longest career of any Black male model. Having worked in every decade since the ‘60s to the present. Most recently doing a Dolce & Gabbana campaign. What do attribute that longevity too?

RENAULD I think it’s how I was raised. I come from a low middle class community. We all lived together. The world was changing and we wanted to be apart of it too. I just try to do the best that can all these years.

MUSA You knew Aretha Franklin. Tell us a little bit about that relationship.

RENAULD I had a few instances with her. She was one of the most important voices of our time. I’m not sure how we met. She might of seen my picture and commented. She was very generous in how she thanked me for what I was doing. She liked that I was available and not in Europe but was able to come to the City Center to hear her. She loved fashion. She knew that her size was big but she had great taste. So when she went on stage she wanted to wow them. My father got to meet her when he came with me to City Center. He was so excited because his son knew Aretha Franklin.

"Aretha loved fashion. She knew that her size was big but she had great taste. So when she went on stage she wanted to wow them. My father got to meet her when he came with me to City Center. He was so excited because his son knew Aretha Franklin."

MUSA In 1983 African American astronaut Bluford S. Guion took your Right On magazine cover into outerspace which subsequently landed it in the Smithsonian Institute. How did you feel when you heard that?

RENAULD I was honored. I’m glad to be a part of history.

MUSA You are into martial arts. Tell us about how important that is to you?

RENAULD It motivates me to do more. If you do it in a very prescribed way you’re going to be fine. It takes a sense of endurance. You use it for good. Count your blessings.

MUSA What advice would you give to models today?

RENAULD I would say they are blessed. Things have changed greatly. They will experience it their way. It’s a bit scary but that’s okay.

MUSA When you look at the diversity in the industry are you aware you had something to do with that? And what do you think about that?

RENAULD I think its good. It’s giving the new young people an opportunity to learn from the group that went before them. I think they are curious and want to be a part of history.

MUSA What do you want your legacy to be?

RENAULD Never give up. I’m not going anywhere.

Talent: Renauld White @renauldwhite

Photographer: J.Monroe @jmnroe

Producer: @stevenbwalters

Stylist: @the_real_re_edit for @thestylemonsters

Stylist Assistant: @d0minici

Interviewer: @iammusajackson

Special Thanks to Monroe Media @monroe.media and shot on location at Saxum Studios @saxumstudios_

Looks:

Jacket and pants: @RalphLauren

Kimono: @MarcoHall

Shoes: @maisonMargiela

Suit: @Stefan_fashion

Shirt: @AndrewNowell_menswear

Shoes: @maisonMargiela

Necklace: @HausofTopper

Jumpsuit: @MarcoHall

Shirt: @AlexanderMcQueen

Sneakers: @Dior

Glasses are Stylist’s own

T-Shirt and jeans are Model’s own

NY TEAM:

Founder & Editor In Chief:

Musa Jackson @iammusajackson

Art Director/ Cover & Editorial Graphics:

Paul Morejon @Paulmorejon

www.ambassadordigitalmag.com

IG: @ambassador_mag

YouTube: Ambassador Digital Magazine

Facebook: Ambassador Digital Magazine

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