Model, restaurateur and lifestyle icon Barbara Elaine Smith, known most commonly as B. Smith, died Saturday at age 70 after a seven year fight with Alzheimer’s disease.
Smith was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s in 2013.
“It is with great sadness that my daughter Dana and I announce the passing of my wife, Barbara Elaine Smith,” Dan Gasby, Smith’s husband, said in a statement. “Thank you to all the friends and fans who supported B. and our family during her journey. Thank you to everyone for respecting our privacy during this agonizing time.”
Smith was perhaps most well-known for her work in modeling, when she became the second black model to appear on the cover of Mademoiselle magazine in 1976. She later went on to host “B. Smith With Style,” a home decoration and cooking show. She also authored several cookbooks and opened three restaurants.
