Beverly Johnson - Johnson: 'It's My Mission To Speak Out For Domestic Violence Survivors'

The stunning 59 year old, who was the first black model to grace the cover of Vogue magazine, took her ex, golfer Mark Burk, to court in 2008 after claiming he broke into her house and threatened to kill her.

Burk was convicted in 2009 of making terrorist threats against Johnson. He was handed 36 months' probation and three days in jail.

He has since filed lawsuits involving Johnson, including a defamation suit against her. In one interview Burk denied making threats against his ex, claiming she lied and faked her injuries.

But Johnson insists she wasn't faking anything and she's now making it her "mission" to be a voice for domestic violence survivors.

In an appearance on the Oprah Winfrey Show on Friday (04Feb11), she said, "I am a victim of domestic violence. I just think we've become so desensitised towards women being beaten and abused and murdered that everybody just thinks it's OK, and it's not."