Invisible Beauty (2023) Documentary Movie Review

From the get-go of "Invisible Beauty," you'll notice the sheer magnitude of celebrities singing her praises – Zendaya, Tracee Ellis Ross, Tyson Beckford, Whoopi Goldberg. Their acknowledgment speaks volumes about her impactful career, reaching beyond personal lives to influence entire industries, including fashion. Even as you watch the documentary, recorded phone calls of Hardison discussing the film's format serve as a reminder that she's always in control.

In a time where diversity in fashion wasn't the norm, Hardison fearlessly asserted herself in predominantly white spaces. During the desegregation bussing era, she stood out by being selected for a new integrated high school. In a predominantly white setting, she became the first Black cheerleader, joined various clubs, and established herself as a prominent figure – a pattern she repeated on a global scale in the fashion industry.

Her journey began in the 1960s working in the garment district, where fashion designer Willi Smith discovered her on the street. Transitioning to print and runway, she formed a lasting friendship with the iconic Iman. However, success was measured against a backdrop of white models earning more and garnering more respect. As a Black androgynous model, she was a rare presence in a sea of underserved Black women in fashion. Fueled by this realization, she took matters into her own hands, starting her modeling agency and co-founding the Black Girls Coalition with Iman to advocate for better representation and address racial pay disparities.

"Invisible Beauty" doesn't just showcase Bethann Hardison; it paints her as a determined force, looking at her from all angles. The film praises her without putting her on a pedestal – she's portrayed as a fabulous and flawed person, not just a symbol with flaws hidden. The movie highlights how her unwavering determination to bring about change shook up a rigid industry, but it also explores the personal toll it took on her relationships.

While supermodel Naomi Campbell sees Hardison as a mother figure, her son, actor Kadeem Hardison, acknowledges her absence and distant support. Hardison herself contributes to the film, adding authenticity. She describes her stoic "momager" attitude, focusing on Kadeem's areas for improvement rather than proudly celebrating his successes.

"Invisible Beauty" immortalizes Hardison's influence, showcasing her straightforward approach and her desire to bring the beauty of Blackness into the mainstream spotlight. While she revolutionized the fashion industry, the film also acknowledges the challenges she faced. It sets the stage for a new generation of fashion activists, like Canadian designer Aurora James, who advocates for Black women to be on a label's board, not just in advertisements.

From Hardison's early days as a breakthrough model to her trailblazing role as an activist, "Invisible Beauty" is not only inspiring but also full of admiration. It emphasizes her undeniable impact, from influencing industry giants to promoting diversity in fashion. Through intimate interviews with colleagues, friends, family, and Hardison herself, the film expertly captures the origin and legacy of a woman who is arguably the most crucial figure in the fashion world.