Getty ImagesBeverly Johnson wants her voice heard.
The former model stopped by the Today this morning to discuss her detailed account of being allegedly drugged and attacked by Bill Cosby.
"I most certainly did not think of my legacy as the first African-American supermodel to grace the cover of Vogue—and drugged by Bill Cosby," she explained on Today.
"I wanted him to know that I knew that he had drugged me and I just went on survival mode. I woke up the next day I was totally disoriented, and then when I remembered exactly what happened I was devastated and disappointed."
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And when asked about why she decided to go public with her claims now, Johnson admitted that she grappled with the decision for many, many years.
"At the time, I felt that it would hurt my career. Most certainly he was a very powerful man," she shared, explaining why she didn't go to authorities immediately after the alleged incident.
She says it was her daughter, Anasa Sims, who helped give her the courage to come forward.
"I told her, what would you tell your daughter, my granddaughter, if she ever came to her and said, 'Hey mom, I've been drugged'? What would you do? And she said, 'Mom, you're doing the right thing. I suppose and love you and yes, you're doing the right thing.'"
Johnson continued, "I want to stand with these women that have come out. I want to have a platform for one out of every six women who are sexually assaulted
"This is bigger than Bill Cosby. This is about women and violence on women. This is about women finding their voice. I feel that Cosby took my power that evening and that I took my power back."
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