Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Marcellas Reynolds. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Marcellas, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

I created what I call the ‘SUPREME universe,’ which includes ‘Supreme Models’ (2022), the documentary adaptation of my first book, ‘Supreme Models: Iconic Black Women Who Revolutionized Fashion.’ It’s a six-part documentary detailing the history, impact, and importance of the Black female model in fashion, executive produced by me, supermodel Iman, and ‘Vogue.’ ‘Supreme Models’ is now live at youtube.com/vogue and will be available on Netflix in January. The ‘SUPREME universe’ also features three books: ‘Supreme Models’ (2019), ‘Supreme Actresses’ (2021), and the latest addition, ‘Supreme Sirens,’ which made its debut in January 2024.

My art books are the first ever to explore the experiences of Black women in entertainment and fashion, as is my documentary. My books are important because they have allowed many women profiled to tell their stories in their own words. Often, Black people and women are not given a voice. Their histories are told through a white, usually male, lens. People must be allowed to tell their stories in an unbiased manner. I aim to do that with my work as an author and documentarian.

On a personal note, early in my career, I did something, though brave, I regret. In 2002, I became the first openly gay Black male cast member of a major network reality series. I blazed a trail and opened the door for people like the cast of “Queer Eye for The Straight Guy,” Karamo Brown from “The Real World,” and numerous other gay men and people of color in entertainment. In retrospect, it wasn’t how I wanted to enter the public eye. I’ve worked hard to define myself as something other than a cast member of a trashy reality series or a failed game show contestant. Being an author and documentarian is a legacy I am proud of achieving.

Marcellas, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My journey began when the legendary model agent Marie Anderson discovered me waiting tables. I traveled the globe for five years, modeling for stores like Jigsaw and Marks and Spencer in London and Gap, Macy’s, and Saks Fifth Avenue in the United States. I also modeled for super designers Tommy Hilfiger, Ralph Lauren, and Nautica. I worked with numerous fashion photographers, including notable shoots with Tim Morrison for ‘L’Uomo Vogue’ and Norman Jean Roy for ‘Body & Soul: The Black Male Book.’ Modeling led to a career in fashion styling for British GQ, Grazia, InStyle, and British Vogue, and styling Rebecca Hall, Sharon Stone, and Justin Timberlake. Modeling and fashion styling led me to Hollywood and a career as an entertainment reporter and television host. I am the first openly gay Black man to host a series on BET, E! Entertainment Television, and the Style Channel. Since then, I’ve appeared on ABC News, Access Hollywood, Good Morning America, and Watch What Happens Live.

In 2019, I published my first book, “Supreme Models: Iconic Black Women Who Revolutionized Fashion,” which American Vogue praised as “one of the best fashion books ever.” Following this success, my second book, “Supreme Actresses: Iconic Black Women Who Revolutionized Hollywood,” was published in 2021 and received similar acclaim. The Library of Congress included both books in its esteemed collection of historical books. In 2022, I partnered with Iman to produce ‘Supreme Models,’ a six-part documentary series from YouTube Originals in collaboration with American Vogue. The series garnered over 8.3 million combined views. Building on this success, in 2024, Abrams Books published my third book, “Supreme Sirens: Iconic Black Women Who Revolutionized Music.” Supreme Sirens features Missy Elliott on the cover and includes interviews with Brandy, Roberta Flack, Samara Joy, Chaka Khan, Stephanie Mills, Monica, Jill Scott, and Vanessa Williams. “Supreme Sirens” was also added to the Library of Congress’ collection.

I’m proud of my career. I want my contributions to entertainment, fashion, and publishing to position me as an authority. Above all, I am dedicated to celebrating the achievements of the often-overlooked.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

I’ve blazed many trails throughout my career. In the mid-nineties, I was one of a handful of openly gay male models working at a top level in fashion. I may have been more successful had I been in the closet. Despite working for many top designers and appearing in advertising campaigns and on the runway, some brands and designers wouldn’t hire me, and the big campaigns and contracts eluded me. Even when I started my career in television, in 2002, my homosexuality was an issue for networks. People said no to me many times, with comments like “We already represent a Black guy,” “You’ll never have an acting career if you are out,” “No one will take you seriously as a reporter because you’re gay,” “If you want to work, you have to be snarky, gayer,” and “A book about Black women won’t sell.” But, I stayed true to myself and brought honesty and integrity to my television career, journalism, and writing. My challenge was to prove people wrong by never giving up. I hope my success makes it easier for other people of color, LGBTQIA+ people, and any “other” to achieve their dreams. When they are told no, they can say, “Well, Marcellas Reynolds did it, so I can, too.”

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

Though I’ve always been a voracious reader, there isn’t one book that inspired my journey. What book could be the blueprint for a little gay, Black boy growing up in America in the 1970s? What book could tell a child, the victim of homophobia and racism, “You’re going to be okay.” I did find inspiration in my grandmother’s home by reading magazines like Black Enterprise, Ebony, Essence, and Jet. I spent most of my time inside as a child. Because I am gay, whenever I left the house, I was beaten, bullied, and taunted. Outside and school were scary spaces for me. I was safest at home reading to my grandmother and learning lessons at her knee.

When I turned eight, my grandmother bought me a set of encyclopedias for Christmas. The combination of those magazines and that set of encyclopedias opened up a vista into a world beyond the ghetto, where, maybe, hate and violence didn’t exist. As I got older, I purchased art books on numerous topics to educate myself. I still collect art books. That love of reading and facts I learned from my grandmother led me to my current work as a documentarian and an author. I hope my books, the Supreme Models documentary, and my future documentaries can do that for others.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://marcellasreynolds.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/marqueemarc
• Facebook: facebook.com/Marcellas Reynolds
• Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/marcellasreynolds
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/MarcellasReynolds

Image Credits

“Supreme Sirens” Derek Blanks
“Supreme Actresses” James White
“Supreme Models” Txema Yeste
Marcellas Reynolds by Josh Kaplan