Jamaican born Fanny Eaton (1835-1924) was a painters’ model and domestic servant. After moving to London in her 20’s with her mother, she met and married James Eaton, a horse-cab proprietor and driver, and together had ten children.
Between being a loving wife, devoted mother and house cleaner, she began modelling for the Pre-Raphaelites Brotherhood (a group of English painters, poets and art critics); to support her working-class income for her growing family. Fanny Eaton's skin tone stood out amongst other artists of the time and her mixed heritage redefined beauty, making women of colour visible, where they were elsewhere traditionally invisible.
She was beautifully portrayed through life drawings by artists such as Dante Gabriel Rossetti, John Everett Millais, Simeon Soloman, Joanna Boyce Wells, Rebecca Soloman and Walter Fryer Stocks, to name a few.
Fast forward 100 years and the British modelling industry has come a long way, portraying strength, beauty and affluence in iconic women of colour such as Naomi Campbell, Jourdan Dunn, Leomie Anderson and Adwoa Aboah.
Supermodel Jourdan Dunn in our Bodysuit, shade Cinnamon
Fanny Eaton died in 1924 whilst living with her daughter and her family. Her body lays at rest in Hammersmith, London, but her beauty remains immortalised in artwork all over the world.
As a model, she would maybe wear the G-String or Perfect Thong and Wired Bra. For model castings, photoshoots and catwalks, to conceal her dignity whilst in front of the camera. With the hectic lifestyle of 10 children, she might try and make time for some yoga or pilates in her Wireless Bra or Bodysuit.
Whilst at work, she might wear our Organic Cotton panties and Organic Wireless Bra for comfort and organic moisture-wicking qualities. On a launch night with her modelling agency, the Plumetis Bodysuit could be her hero piece of choice, worn with mom jeans, a blazer and a small handbag.
