Luigi Cazzaniga
Donyale Luna.
This is the name I chose for my soul in a lifetime of dreams, visions and great cultural change.
They say I revolutionized the fashion industry as the world’s first Black supermodel during the ‘60s and ‘70s, but I just followed the wind that came upon me and pushed me through a life of discoveries and incredible adventures worldwide that I couldn’t resist. I simply followed my own vocation, my inner truth and watched my life evolve exactly how it was supposed to.
I was born in Detroit on August 31, 1945, the middle child of three sisters. My mum called me Little Peggy, that was my given name as well as hers, Peggy Ann Freeman.
It was not easy for me to fit in that box, or in any box.
photographed by Charlotte March for Twen magazine, March, 1966
I have always really wanted to make a life for myself and seize all the opportunities the world could offer.
I love Life. I love the purity of souls. I am happy and joyful and thankful for all the Beauty of the Universe.
So much to explore, so much to create…lots and lots and more and more and more…
I really needed to live and see places that reflected the colorful kaleidoscope I felt in my heart. As a young teen walking home from school one day, I met photographer David McCabe. He gave me his card and told me that if I ever come to New York, I must look him up and as soon as I could, I left Detroit and followed the shining lights of the big apple and did just that.
An unforeseen success came to me, unexpected but so enchanting: famous designers, internationally renowned magazines, the exclusive magic of the Living Theater and so much more that I could have accessed only in my dreams before that…Pure hearted geniuses Andy Warhol and beloved Richard Avedon helped launch my journey. They could really see me. They sought inspiration from me and we created magic together. I loved to fly on the highest heights of New York and so much more…
But America was not ready for me. I couldn’t let that stop my journey so I had to change course.
I left for Europe where so much appreciation was waiting for me instead. My new friends were delightful, so much fun and love..and recognition were bestowed upon me!
The Stones were ecstatically Rolling, the Beatles were spreading joy, Dali was blowing minds and Fellini was creating avant guard visuals. I was in the midst of glamorous minds and everything felt like an ongoing exclusive party.
But I began to feel impure love. So many people wanted me whilst all I wanted was to be me and to fly higher and higher. So much noise, so much loudness…why is all so messy? Order please! Let's just dance and elevate ourselves “cheek-a-boom”!!
Until one day, in Italy, my heart was caught up by a Star who embraced my soul and never let go. My Soulmate (Luigi ed.)! My Star… Let's create! Let's explore! And more and more and more..let's love each other! This is what really matters in the world.
And then years later, my Dream came true. My baby… Martin Luther King shared his, and years later I had one too .
This life was short for me. But I gave it my all, I gave all I could. Please don't take anything for granted. Live to the fullest and Love to the highest.
Short but real, some say brave I say ....Hey ! Make these years of mine count.
My journey was a quest for Love, my vision was a personal search for inner Truth, my delicate feet made an indelible mark in the world.
I look at my granddaughters’ eyes and souls and now I know how much all of this was really worth it.
Love, Luna
(This script is called “A love letter from Luna”, it is a fictitious autobiographical letter written by her daughter Dream Cazzaniga based on memories from Donyale Luna’s diaries and the autobiographical unpublished picture book “Lunaflylabye” written and edited by Donyale Luna and Luigi Cazzaniga)