She was very active as an African American Rights Activist and spoke several times on civil liberties in low income communities and was supportive of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.
She was a staunch liberal Democrat who strongly supported the presidencies of John F. Kennedy and Jimmy Carter.
Upon her death, she was cremated and her ashes were scattered at sea in the Pacific Ocean.
During her modeling period she appeared in advertisements for brands like Maxwell House Coffee, Hallmark Greeting Cards, Westinghouse, Walgreens, Sears Roebuck, and Hersey's Chocolates.