We recently connected with Kim Alexis and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Kim thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?

I grew up with parents that always enforced that I could do anything I put my mind to. The taught me to reach higher in life and if I could think it, then I could attain it. As a senior in high school, I thought the traditional path of heading off to college after picking my career path in my teens, would be the most prudent thing for me to do as everyone else was doing it back then (if their parents could afford it). I was enrolled into college at the Univ of Rhode Island at 17 while still in high school taking college calculus. I was practical and thought I had my life planned. I was asked to change plans and go to NYC to model. This was back in the late 70’s when modeling was not that big of a deal and the money wasn’t as good. My parents met with the owner of the modeling agency and after discussions told me that I should try it so I would have no regrets later. Because of thier support, I was off to the Big Apple after my high school graduation and then my 18th birthday.
I had numerous opportunities over the years to start new career paths as modeling is not a long lived career. So, what my parents taught me, had stayed with me to this day as I try new things and develop ideas and money making deals stemming from that first step into the unknown.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I stared as a model at 18 in New York City. My first job was in Rome and Paris for Italian Bazaar for the collections. Magazines take 3 months to come out so when I got back to NYC, I started to be introduced to many art directors, photographers and editors of the fashion magazines by walking the streets of NYC for these meetings sometimes getting in 10-12 different ones in a day. Once I started to work in New York, I had to be on time, prepared and ready to work hard with no complaints while setting and maintaining healthy boundaries. This was hard at 18 coming from living under my parents roof and obeying them and also my teachers as they were my elders. I had to learn that not all elders had my best interest at heart and their idea of art or entertainment was different than mine.
What set me apart was not only how I looked in the magazines, but how I conducted myself and my business and how hard I was willing to work. I would have up to 14 job offers a day and this was important because I was self employed and could only rely on myself and what I had to offer and not rest on a 9-5 job with a paycheck.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

When I was about 23 years old and had been working a lot and on numerous magazine covers, as well as in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit editions, I got picked up by Revlon’s Ultima II beauty line. I had a multi year contract which was a big deal back then. I was paid to be exclusive to Revlon so therefore stopped all other work. When the Revlon contract finished up 3 years later, I found that I couldnt go back so I had to learn to pivot. I looked around and wondered what else I could do as ell as my modeling career. I was doing small fitness correspondent tv segments locally in Florida to promote my 2 health clubs that owned at the time. Good Morning America saw these and asked me to be the Fashion Editor for GMA which I said yes to immediately without thinking. I was on weekly for 3 years even though I lived in Florida at the time and had a small son. I made it work!
I had that built in confidence that I could do anything I put my mind to and I wanted to be on TV. I found that I loved being able to communicate with my audience differently than just standing in clothes. I got to talk, interview on live tv and teach people about new designers, fashion and trends. I loved it so I started to host tv shows and found that I had a passion for bringing out information from others to teach the audience.. I then went on to speak at different events, write books and develop my passion for healthy living and fitness. That love was always there but just needed new ways to come out.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

After taking personality tests, I found that I was a teacher. Not a traditional teacher (which are very valuable by the way) but a teacher of health, wellness and an overall sense of living cleanly. What I thought I wanted to do back when I was a teen in high school of studying pharmacy, turned into a passion for discovering and “teaching” other show to live, eat and live in this toxic world in the best way possible. I started to study nutrition in my spare time and still have a passion for finding a new supplement’s benefits or a new way to exercise.
I found that I had to prove I was an athlete while modeling as I was never super thin. I swam competitively for 12 years of my youth and I loved staying and being fit and healthy so I decided to run marathons to prove this. I ended up running with marathons and even ran one with a mic pack on for Good Morning America in LA covering a piece for Body Glove fitness wear. My time was a 4:07.
I want to be an inspiration to others by setting the bar high and hoping and cheering on others who can go higher than me.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.KimAlexis.com
• Instagram: the_kimalexis
• Facebook: TheKimAlexis
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kim-alexis-690ba89/
• Twitter: TheKimAlexis
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCo7ppvr4OEYxc2raEj9qblA

Image Credits
Phyllis Lane (white portfolio shot) Ron Keneski (Black and white in leotard)