June 2024
Month 20xx
Brianna Bailey & Blanca Nagel
Charmaine Gooden
Jacob Marion
Highlights
At 17, Kimberlyn Parris walked into a fashion world that, at the time, was not ready for someone like her. A young Black woman from Hamilton, Ontario, Parris’ unique blend of talent, resilience and ambition took her from local modelling competitions to high-fashion runways in Paris, Milan and New York.
Despite facing numerous challenges, like racism, lack of representation and a beauty standard that seldom included people who looked like her, she built a career that not only opened doors for herself but also for other Black and multiracial models. Today, as she continues her journey, Parris reflects on the evolution of the fashion industry, the barriers she broke and the lessons she learned along the way.
Early Life and Career
Parris grew up in the small city of Hamilton, where she was exposed to a tight-knit, yet culturally diverse, community. Her Barbadian heritage was a strong influence in her upbringing, and her family’s encouragement allowed her to pursue a variety of interests, from basketball, track and working as a library page, to playing piano. She was a standout athlete while attending Sir Allan MacNab Secondary School, winning the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations (OFSAA) championship in track and field. But it was modelling that would ultimately become her career.
Parris’ introduction to modelling came by chance. At 17, while returning clothes at a store in Lime Ridge Mall, she was spotted by Elmer Olsen, one of Canada’s top modelling agents. He encouraged her to enter the Elite Model World competition, a decision that would change her life. She placed in the top five of the competition and soon found herself travelling to Nice, France, for the prestigious Elite Model Look competition, representing Canada on an international stage. There, she competed alongside 300 other hopefuls and, despite the intense competition, emerged victorious in the runway competition, placing first.
Norwayne Anderson, Parris’ modelling agent from the early 2000s says, “With her radiant dark skin and a smile that could light up a thousand stars, Kimberlyn was always a model destined for success.”
This special section creates a spread of 2 photos that will jut out into the side margin.
Sometimes I was pigeonholed into more commercial work because my look didn’t always fit into the high-fashion mould,” she says. “But I found my niche, and my smile became my signature. I booked over a dozen American national TV commercials.
Throughout her career, Parris has worked with some of the biggest names in fashion and advertising, including international campaigns and runway shows for brands like Diesel, Vogue, J.Crew, United Colors of Benetton and Cabi. Perhaps her proudest moment came when she was able to support herself financially as a young woman, living in various countries and making a name for herself in a notoriously difficult industry.
“Living out of a suitcase, travelling the world, learning from different cultures, it was the best experience I could have had,” she reflects. “I didn’t go to university, but the fashion industry taught me so much.”
Her international work in places like South Africa, Germany, Barcelona and Greece allowed her to build her portfolio, immerse herself in different cultural environments, and each experience further cemented her place in the industry.
“At the time, I encouraged my models of colour to return to the motherland, Africa. This experience was transformative; it taught them that their Blackness and melanin were not threats but sources of greatness,” says Anderson.
By the time she landed back in Canada, Parris had become a sought-after international model, with higher rates and a solid reputation for her skills and professionalism.
Fashion and Diversity
Despite her early success, Parris’ path in the modelling industry was not without its struggles. As one of the few Black models in a predominantly white work environment, she often found herself being the only Black woman on set. “In the 2000s, a lot of makeup artists didn’t know or have the products to match my skin tone,” she recalls. “I’d have to bring my own Bobbi Brown foundation to every photoshoot, or commercial set, making sure my skin didn’t look ashy.”
As she advanced in her career, moving between fashion capitals like Milan, London and New York, Parris realized that fashion was slow to embrace diversity. Casting calls were often disheartening. “I’d walk into a casting room, and they wouldn’t even look at my portfolio,” she remembers. “You could tell right away if they were looking for someone like me or not.” Despite these obstacles, she persisted, refusing to let the industry’s bias hold her back.
Her resilience and determination helped her land high-profile gigs, from working with elite agencies like Wilhelmina Models, Why Not Models and One Management, to gracing J.Crew ads and walking the runway for major brands at every fashion week.
However, Parris also faced challenges due to her distinctive features. “Sometimes I was pigeonholed into more commercial work because my look didn’t always fit into the high-fashion mould,” she says. “But I found my niche, and my smile became my signature. I booked over a dozen American national TV commercials.”
Despite the lack of representation, Parris found strength in her uniqueness, believing that her distinct look was an asset that would set her apart in an overcrowded industry. “I was the only Black girl on set most of the time, but it taught me to stand out and not be afraid to embrace my identity,” she says.
Influence and Legacy
Parris’ legacy is a reflection of the changes that were slowly but surely taking place in the fashion industry. By the time she hit her stride in the early 2000s, she had become part of the larger movement toward more diversity in fashion. She proudly represents a generation of Black and multiracial models who fought for recognition in a space that, until then, had been defined by narrow beauty standards.
Anderson emphasized that Parris’ impact on racial diversity in fashion encourages people to see themselves not just by the colour of their skin, but as a presence that stands on its own. “The fashion industry, with its politics and insecurities, is constantly evolving,” says Anderson. “One thing is certain: as the world changes, so too do the faces of fashion,” he adds.
As a role model for aspiring Black and multiracial models, Parris offers advice for the next generation: “Nowadays, you need a backup plan. The industry has changed a lot. With the rise of social media and AI models, it’s not just about how you look anymore, it’s about staying relevant, constantly reinventing yourself and working with agents who will push for you.”
Living out of a suitcase, travelling the world, learning from different cultures, it was the best experience I could have had,” she reflects. “I didn’t go to university, but the fashion industry taught me so much.
Alongside modelling, Parris created and produced an international talent show, God has a plan for me! in loving memory of her Father, Adelbert Parris. She gave scholarships from the proceeds to students in Barbados, Hamilton and Los Angeles. “When my father passed away suddenly, providing scholarships while sharing my father’s favourite hobbies was a huge part of my healing,” she reminisces. Her competition’s first winner, Hailey Lewis, now works in theatre as the lead in the SIX American tour.
Recently, Parris has added real estate to her list of accomplishments. Joining the luxury real estate firm, Sotheby’s International Realty, she continues to work on a global scale.
Parris’ contributions to the fashion industry, both in front of and behind the camera, will leave a lasting impact. “I never took anything for granted, and I wouldn’t change a thing,” she says. “It’s been an incredible journey, and I’m proud of the doors I helped open for the next generation of models.”
