Taylor was born in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City to a Trinidadian mother and a father from St.

[1] Several news outlets have published stories regarding trans model Tracey Norman, in which it is said that Taylor played a direct role in her exile from the industry after her transness was discovered.

[11][12] The Magazine Publishers of America gave Taylor its Henry Johnson Fisher Award, considered one of the industry's highest honors, in 1998.

[1][13] In 2002, Taylor was inducted into the American Society of Magazine Editors' Hall of Fame for her work at Essence.

[17] Taylor is an honorary member of Delta Sigma Theta sorority; she was inducted on July 13, 2013.

[19] Taylor's daughter, Shana, owns a beauty supply business and is married to NBA Hall of Fame inductee Bernard King.