Who is Grace Jones?
Grace Jones has been in the spotlight since the 1970s, playing a wide variety of roles such as singer, songwriter, supermodel, actor, fashion icon, and music producer. Her boundary-pushing aesthetic created a space for individualism and self-expression.
Jones was born in 1948 in Spanish Town, Jamaica, and grew up in a Pentecostal family that was also abusive. She had a firm upbringing, which led her to rebel. After enrolling at Onondaga Community College in New York, she started drinking, going to gay bars with her brother, and using LSD and other drugs. She also had been earning money as a go-go dancer at the time. This was a lifestyle her family would never have approved of, and for most young people growing up in a conservative household, attending college is an opportunity to escape and experience new things.
Grace accepted her first modeling contract with Wilhelmina Models in New York. She relocated to Paris in 1970 after feeling disregarded for the way she looked. Jones is well-known for not only her distinctive beauty, but also for embracing androgyny. "I like dressing like a guy. I love it," she told Interview magazine in 1984. "The future is no sex. You can be a boy, a girl, whatever you want." Many of her outstanding images show her with a flat top, powerful cheekbones, a finely sculpted jawline, and angular padded apparel.
The model utilized her physical characteristics to her advantage to challenge gender stereotypes. Jones said simply, “I go feminine, I go masculine – I am both, actually. I think the male side is a bit stronger in me and I have to tone it down sometimes. I’m not like a normal woman, that’s for sure...”. The Paris fashion industry praised her for her original, gender fluid, and assertive style. Nevertheless, Jones's non-binary appearance in the 1980s shocked the public. Her unique sense of style has a prominent influence.
Jones truly made her mark in Paris, collaborating with significant brands and appearing on the covers of Elle, Vogue, and Der Stern. Grace graced the runways of fashion shows, ensuring her status as an icon of fashion, and she also collaborated with photographers such as Jean-Paul Goude, Helmut Newton, Guy Bourdin, and Andy Warhol.
In a matter of months of modeling Jones started pursuing music. Her career pivot occurred in the late 1970s, when she moved from runways to music studios. Jones began her recording career in 1975 with the disco single "I Need a Man," which became her first number one on Billboard's Hot Dance Club Songs chart two years later. In 1977, she signed with Island Records. On September 6, 1977, Grace Jones released her first album, Portfolio, which was produced by disco godfather Tom Molton. Despite gaining popularity in the North American club scene and transforming into a disco sensation, Jones' musical career did not end with disco.
Albums such as "Warm Leatherette" (May 9, 1980), "Nightclubbing" (May 11, 1981), and "Slave to the Rhythm" (October 28, 1985) all drew inspiration from reggae, r&b, dub, go-go, and funk styles. Jones recorded ten albums over the period of 30 years, covering a wide range of genres and inspired many current artists. Her alternative music style reflects her personality in that she refuses to be boxed in. What sets apart Grace Jones is that she cannot be described in only one single way, and this is reflected in her musical journey, where she experiments with various genres and sounds.
Jones landed many significant film roles that earned her numerous award nominations, including her first mainstream appearance as Zula in Arnold Schwarzenegger's fantasy-action film Conan the Destroyer (1984) and her role as May Day in James Bond's film A View to a Kill (1985). She also appeared in the Eddie Murphy film Boomerang and contributed to its soundtrack. Grace's cinematic roles frequently reflected her true nature; her on-screen high energy was far from an act. Instead of being typecast, she accepted parts that spoke to her inner spark.
Grace Jones is known for intimidating even the most macho men in Hollywood. Her captivating appeal and stern confidence, especially as a black woman, could leave some people uneasy. Jones has received numerous accolades over the years, including a Lifetime Achievement Award, a Career Achievement Award, and the title of Best Female Actress. She has been honored for all of her career choices and has had a career that will be remembered forever. By presenting such a polarizing paradox and a multifaceted image, Grace Jones has become one of the industry's few original creatives. She has always remained herself throughout her career and is still regarded as an exceptional all-round icon.