28
Her early-days approach to modeling foretold howd shed change the industry for better.
When Bethann Hardison was in her early 20s, she made the most consequential elevator pitch of her life.
While waiting in line to speak with Ozer, she overheard him talking about an upcoming fashion show.
It sounded like something Id want to participate in, Hardison tells Bustle.
When she got back to the office, Ozer had already called.
She got the job.
By the time she turned 28 just a few years later, shed been discovered by Willi Smith.
This month shes releasing the self-directed documentaryInvisible Beauty, with Naomi Campbell as an executive producer.
Take me back to the early 70s, when you were 28.
Did you have a signature style or makeup look?
I always had great style, but makeup was not something I would waste my time about.
As a kid, I was too much of a tomboy.
InInvisible Beauty, I noticed you had an iPad sticker that read Baddest b*tch in the room.
Did you feel that confident at 28?
I dont think I even used the word b*tch when I was 28.
What did you love most about being in New York at that time?
New York was great.
New York is always great.
Europeans all started coming back and saying how groovy it was.
There were some interesting young designers coming out.
The ones that we knew that were more established, they were all good.
Halston, Giorgio di Sant Angelo, Ralph Lauren, Oscar de la Renta.
Where did you hang out at that age?
Well, you had to go toStudio 54 people would just drag you along but I loved the Loft.
I loved Paradise Garage.
Those small places really promoted music and dance.
I had danced since I was little, so Ive always been a great freestyle dancer.
I was one of those.
I look at people now, standing on the floor with their drinks.
Girls have big pocketbooks on the back.
You dont do that.
You take your bags off.
You dont come to dance with a big bag.
If they want to drink, they [can] go to the bar.
The floor is only for dancing.
Was there anywhere you remember really wanting to visit?
I was already going to places Id never expected to go to.
Once I went to Ibiza because I was in Stockholm.
I met a guy at dinner, and his mother said, You should go with him.
What did you value in a partner (or in a romance!)
in the early 70s?
Everyone always says humor and all that, and I dont think that.
I had nice boyfriends.
If they were kind and had a good walk, I was interested.
Conversely, what were you like as a partner when you were 28?
What I didnt understand was why people were attracted to me in that way.
There were a lot of guys attracted to me.
I didnt get it.
I think I was appealing to a lot of people, even in high school.
You brother-zoned a lot of people.
I never thought they were interested or wanted to be my boyfriend.
They were my best friends and brothers, you know?
Maybe you were laser-focused on your career.
By 28, youd already been breaking barriers as a model.
I wouldnt have thought of myself as having had a career back then but I stayed busy.
I had to pay rent.
I had to check that I survived.
Thats the great thing about age.
You never stop learning.
At 28, you were already a mom to a young Kadeem.
What was the biggest joy of being a mom at that age?
Theres no joy in being a mom.
Maybe these young people think that today.
Theres all work, conscientiousness, and really hoping you dont fail.
But Kadeem was a nice kid.
Kadeem was someone you couldnt help but like and also love.
He listened to me.
He had good manners.
What was the biggest struggle of being a mom then?
Hoping that you could pay the rent, that you didnt lose your job.
The hardest thing was making sure you could [stick to your word].
Id say, Ill pay the rent and you do well in school.
But at the end of the day, its not easy.
If they begin to not do well in school, thats on you.
You have to change it.
I moved and danced down the runway.
Calvin was always a strong marketer, very smart, ahead of the game.
Who among todays young stars reminds you most of yourself at 28?
I look atAurora Jamesas someone whos defied the system.
I can relate to that.
Its different what we do, but shes trying to change the game and succeeding.
Is there anything you miss about being 28?
If you could give advice to your 28-year-old self, what would you tell her?
No ones going to hand you something.
Keep on thinking and being conscious about what it is that you would like to do.
Go on your own, and discover the world and let people discover you.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
This article was originally published onSep.
