Toukie Smith, an Unforgettable Face of the Runway, Has Died at 74

American model and actress Toukie Smith, who left her mark on the runways of the 1970s, died in a New York hospital on 4 November 2026 at the age of 74. Her children, Airyn and Julian, confirmed the news to The Hollywood Reporter on Monday, 9 November. The family said Smith passed away after a long illness.

Born Doris Smith on 25 September 1952 in Philadelphia, Toukie was given her stage name by her grandmother as a child. Her bond with fashion began at a school desk: after graduating from the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in New York in 1972, she stepped into modelling.

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A career from Givenchy to Mugler

In the 1970s, Smith walked in Paris and New York for the most powerful names of the era. The houses named in the reports include Hubert de Givenchy, Thierry Mugler, Issey Miyake and Patrick Kelly; she also appeared in a Yves Saint Laurent campaign. Her photographs were published in magazines such as Vogue, Ebony, Cosmopolitan and Seventeen. Bloomingdale’s named her “Model of the Year” in 1978.

The list is all the more meaningful given how hard Black models had to fight for a place on the runway in those years. Smith was part of the generation that also witnessed the rise of Black designers such as Patrick Kelly.

Muse to her brother Willi Smith

Toukie Smith’s place in fashion history cannot be separated from her brother, designer Willi Smith. She also modelled for Willi Smith, the founder of the WilliWear label who brought street style together with ambitious design, and became his muse. Willi Smith died in 1987, aged 39, of complications related to AIDS. According to a profile published by the Los Angeles Times in 1990, Toukie was at the time preparing an AIDS awareness event in her brother’s memory. In the same interview she described herself with the words “I’ve always had lots of energy”.

From the runway to the screen

Turning to acting in the second half of the 1980s, Smith played the character Angie in three episodes of NBC’s Miami Vice between 1987 and 1988. Her greatest recognition came with the role of the painter Eva Rawley in the last two seasons of 227, also on NBC, in 1989–1990. She also appeared in the films Talkin’ Dirty After Dark (1991), I Like It Like That (1994), Joe’s Apartment and The Preacher’s Wife (1996). In a 1992 statement to The New York Times, she stressed that she saw herself above all as an actor, saying “I am an actress first”.

In their statement to The Hollywood Reporter, her children Airyn and Julian remembered their mother as “a force of nature” and said she left an indelible mark on the hearts of everyone who knew her.

Why it matters

In our view, Toukie Smith’s story reminds us that the runway of the 1970s should be read not only through the names of great designers but also through the models who carried those clothes and fought for visibility. If we see more diverse faces on the runways today, the path opened by Smith’s generation has a large share in that. The creative partnership she built with her brother is also a fine example of how fashion is nourished by family, friendship and inspiration.

From Türkiye’s point of view there is a familiar lesson too: being a model is not just about posing for photographs; it requires training, discipline and a long-term career plan. Smith’s journey, which began at FIT, is a good example of this. Those interested in the field can take a look at our guide to what it takes to become a model.

Sources

Image: The Fashion Institute of Technology building in New York (representative image) — Ajay Suresh, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0

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