Janice Dickinson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Janice Dickinson
Janice Dickinson in 2014
Born	(1955-02-16) February 16, 1955 (age 70) New York City, U.S.
Occupation	Model television personality businesswoman
Years active	1969–present
Spouse(s)	Ron Levy ​ ​ (m. 1977; div. 1979)​ Simon Fields ​ ​ (m. 1987; div. 1993)​ Alan B. Gersten ​ ​ (m. 1995; div. 1996)​ Rocky Gerner ​ (m. 2016)​
Children	2
Relatives	Debbie Dickinson (sister)
Modeling information
Height	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Hair color	Dark brown
Eye color	Brown

Janice Doreen Dickinson (born February 16, 1955) is an American model, television personality, and businesswoman. She became one of the most successful models during the 1970s and 1980s. Janice Dickinson also served as a judge on the popular reality series America's Next Top Model for four seasons (from 2003 to 2006). In 2005, she opened her own modeling agency, which was featured in the reality show The Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency (2006–2008).

Dickinson appeared on several other reality television shows. In 2007, she was a contestant on the British show I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!, finishing as a runner-up. She also starred in the reality series Janice & Abbey in 2008, alongside British model Abbey Clancy. Later, in 2015, Dickinson was a contestant on Celebrity Big Brother 16. She has also written three autobiographical books.

Early Life and Family Background

Janice Dickinson was born on February 16, 1955. Her mother was Jennie Marie, and her father was Samuel Ray Dickinson. Her mother had Polish heritage, and her father was of Irish descent.

She grew up in Hollywood, Florida. Janice has two sisters: Alexis, who became a real estate agent, and Debbie, who also pursued a career in modeling.

Janice Dickinson's Modeling Career

Starting Out in New York City

In the early 1970s, Janice Dickinson moved to New York City to become a model. She had won a national competition called "Miss High Fashion Model." At that time, many models had blonde hair and blue eyes. Janice, with her unique look, was initially turned down by some modeling agents. One agent told her she was "much too ethnic" and would "never work."

Finding Success in Europe

A fashion photographer named Jacques Silberstein discovered Janice. His girlfriend, actress Lorraine Bracco, admired Dickinson's appearance. Soon after, Wilhelmina Cooper became Janice's first agent. Her modeling journey took her to Paris, France. There, her "exotic looks" helped her become well-known in the European fashion world.

Becoming a Supermodel

Janice Dickinson returned to New York City in 1978. For several years, she worked steadily and earned a high income. She eventually signed with Ford Models for a major ad campaign for a new JVC camera. By the 1980s, Janice was considered a supermodel. This meant she had a recognizable name and face, which is a big achievement in the modeling industry.

She appeared in and on the covers of many famous magazines. These included Harper's Bazaar, Cosmopolitan, Vogue, and Elle. She worked with top fashion designers like Bill Blass, Gianni Versace, and Calvin Klein. Janice appeared on the cover of Vogue (International editions) 37 times. She was also the face of advertising campaigns for brands such as Revlon, Christian Dior, and Max Factor.

Beyond the Runway

As she got older, Janice Dickinson explored new roles in the fashion industry. She became a fashion photographer. In 2008, she launched her own jewelry line on HSN. She also recorded a song called "Crazy" in 2009.

Television Appearances

Judging on America's Next Top Model

In 2003, Janice Dickinson gained new media attention as a judge on America's Next Top Model. The show's producer, Tyra Banks, hired her because she believed Janice could offer valuable advice to the contestants. Janice became known for her direct and honest feedback as a judge.

She sometimes had disagreements with other judges, including Kimora Lee Simmons. One common topic of discussion between Janice and Tyra Banks was about plus-size models. After four seasons, Tyra Banks decided to replace Janice with Twiggy. Janice felt sad about this decision. She believed she was simply being truthful to help the girls. She compared her judging style to Simon Cowell on American Idol. Even after leaving, Janice made guest appearances on later seasons of America's Next Top Model. She appeared as a photographer, a mentor, and for an interview challenge.

Other Reality TV Shows

In 2005, Janice Dickinson was a cast member on The Surreal Life. During her time on the show, she had some disagreements with a fellow castmate, Omarosa Manigault.

In 2006, Janice starred in her own reality show, The Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency. This program, which ran for four seasons, showed Janice starting her new career as a modeling agent. She also appeared with British model Abigail Clancy in Beauty & The Best. This series followed Abbey Clancy's efforts to succeed in the American modeling market.

In November 2007, Janice Dickinson joined the British reality show I'm a Celebrity…Get Me out of Here!. She competed in many challenges and finished in second place. She also participated in the American version of the show in June 2009.

Janice was a guest judge on the Finnish version of the Top Model franchise in 2009. She also made guest appearances on shows like Charmed and in Darren Hayes's music video "On the Verge of Something Wonderful". In 2010, she appeared on the British dinner-party show Come Dine with Me, where she had some lively discussions with other contestants.

In 2011, she guest-starred in an episode of 90210. In August 2015, Janice was a housemate on Celebrity Big Brother 16 in the UK. She was the seventh celebrity to leave the house. In 2020, Dickinson appeared on season 24 of The Bachelor.

In 2023, she returned for I'm a Celebrity... South Africa, an all-star series. She had to leave the show early after suffering a head injury that required hospital care. Despite this, she still placed 10th out of 15 contestants.

Personal Life and Family

Janice Dickinson has been married four times. Her past husbands include Ron Levy, Simon Fields, and Alan B. Gersten. She has two children, a son named Nathan and a daughter named Savannah. In December 2016, she married Dr. Robert Gerner, also known as "Rocky."

Books by Janice Dickinson

Janice Dickinson has written several autobiographical books. These include No Lifeguard on Duty (2002), Everything About Me Is Fake… And I'm Perfect (2004), and Check Please! Dating, Mating, and Extricating (2006). These books share stories from her life and career.

Filmography

See also

In Spanish: Janice Dickinson para niños

• List of people from Florida
• List of people from Brooklyn, New York
• List of women writers