Jourdan Dunn facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jourdan Dunn
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Dunn in 2019
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| Born |
Jourdan Sherise Dunn
3 August 1990 London Borough of Ealing, London, England
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| Occupation | Model |
| Years active | 2006–present |
| Children | 1 |
| Modeling information | |
| Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) |
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Jourdan Sherise Dunn (born 3 August 1990) is a famous British model. She was discovered by a modeling agency in a Primark store in Hammersmith, London, in 2006. She started walking on international fashion runways just a year later.
In February 2008, she made history. She became the first Black model in over ten years to walk in a fashion show for the famous brand Prada. Because of her success, she is considered one of the supermodels of her generation. In April 2014, she became a new face for the makeup brand Maybelline New York.
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Early Life and Discovery
Jourdan Dunn grew up in London and went to Elthorne Park High School. Her family background is Jamaican, Syrian, and Grenadan. As a teenager, she said she felt self-conscious because she was tall and thin. People often told her she should be a model, but she wasn't sure what models actually did. Watching shows like America's Next Top Model helped her understand the job better.
On 1 February 2020, Dunn got engaged to rapper Dion Hamilton. She has one son.
Modeling Career
Rise to Fame
At just 16 years old, Dunn started her career on the runway in New York in 2007. She walked in shows for major designers like Marc Jacobs and Polo Ralph Lauren. She quickly became a star in the fashion world. In 2007, British Vogue called her a "new star."
She walked in 75 shows during the spring/summer 2008 season, including for Louis Vuitton and Valentino. Dunn became known for her amazing walk and long legs. She was often the only Black model in a show and spoke out against this, asking for more diversity in fashion.
Magazine Covers and Campaigns
In July 2008, Dunn was on the cover of Vogue Italia. This special issue featured only Black models. She has also been on the cover of many other famous magazines, including American Vogue, British Vogue, Elle, and i-D.
Dunn has worked with many top brands. She has been in advertising campaigns for Burberry, Calvin Klein, Michael Kors, Victoria's Secret, Tommy Hilfiger, and H&M. She was also the face of Rihanna's clothing collection for River Island.
Breaking Barriers
Dunn has often spoken about the challenges she faced as a Black model. In 2013, she said that some casting agents told her that clients "didn't want any more black girls." She also tweeted that she was removed from a Dior fashion show because the clothes didn't fit her properly.
When she was 18, she announced she was expecting a baby. She continued to model until she was six months pregnant. She even walked in a Jean Paul Gaultier show with her baby bump. Just ten weeks after her son was born, she was back on the runway for London Fashion Week. She said her son motivated her to work even harder.
Major Career Moments
2012 London Olympics
During the closing ceremony of the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Dunn was one of several British models chosen to showcase British fashion. She wore a stunning gold and white dress designed by Jonathan Saunders. Other famous models like Naomi Campbell and Kate Moss also took part in the event.
Supermodel Status
In 2014, Forbes magazine listed Dunn as one of the world's top-earning models. She was the first Black British model to make the list. In 2015, she appeared on the cover of British Vogue by herself. She was the first solo Black model to be on the cover in 12 years.
By 2015, the website models.com called her a "New Super," a title for models who have become famous celebrities and brands.
Business Ventures
Besides modeling, Dunn has also designed clothes. In 2016, she created a children's clothing line for Marks & Spencer called "Lil' LonDunn." In 2017, she worked with the fashion company Missguided on a collection of athletic wear.
Other Work
Dunn has appeared in several music videos. She was in Beyoncé's videos for the songs "Yoncé" and "XO". She also appeared in videos for artists like Drake and Katy Perry.
She hosted her own cooking show on Jay Z's YouTube channel called Well Dunn. On the show, she cooked with celebrity guests like Karlie Kloss and Cara Delevingne. Dunn has also been a guest on TV shows like The Jonathan Ross Show and a guest judge on RuPaul's Drag Race UK.
Awards and Recognition
Jourdan Dunn has won many awards for her work in fashion.
- Model of the Year at the British Fashion Awards (2008, 2015)
- Model of the Year at the Harper's Bazaar Women of the Year Awards (2013)
- Inspiration Award at the Glamour Women of the Year Awards (2015) for her work raising awareness for Sickle-cell disease and for promoting diversity in modeling.
- Style Influencer of the Year at the Elle Style Awards (2016)
- Entrepreneur of the Year at the Glamour Women of the Year Awards (2017)
See also
In Spanish: Jourdan Dunn para niños
