Lyndsey Scott facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lyndsey Scott
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Scott in 2016, photographed by Lucas Traian.
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| Born | December 7, 1984 |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Model, software developer |
| Years active | 2008–present |
| Modeling information | |
| Height | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) |
| Hair color | Dark brown |
| Eye color | Dark brown |
Lyndsey Scott is an American model and a software developer who creates mobile apps for iOS devices like the iPhone. She was the first African American model to get an exclusive contract to walk the runway for the famous fashion brand Calvin Klein. She has also modeled for other major brands like Gucci, Prada, and Victoria's Secret.
Besides modeling, Scott writes computer programs for mobile apps. She also spends time teaching and encouraging young women to learn computer programming. Scott is known for challenging common ideas, or stereotypes, about what models and computer programmers are like.
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Early Life and Education
Lyndsey Scott was born in 1984 and grew up in West Orange, New Jersey. She is the oldest of four children. Her father worked as a programmer for the National Security Agency before starting his own company. At age nine, she began practicing martial arts and later earned a black belt in Taekwondo.
During her teenage years, Scott faced bullying at her high school, Newark Academy. She was one of the few Black students and was very tall and thin. She said that other students would sometimes exclude her from parties or social groups. "It got so bad in high school I couldn't even look people in the face," she recalled.
Scott attended Amherst College, where she studied theatre, economics, physics, and computer science. She was also a talented athlete on the track and field team, competing in running and the high jump. She earned a special honor called All-America status for her performance in the 400 meter dash. In 2006, she graduated with a degree in both theatre and computer science.
A Career in Modeling
After college, Scott wanted to be an actress and started going to auditions in New York City. She also decided to try modeling after friends encouraged her. For two years, she was turned down by modeling agencies. Her parents suggested she should look for a job in computer science instead.
Scott didn't give up. She posted her photo on a website called Models.com. In 2008, an agency named Click Model Management contacted her. She was 24 years old, which is sometimes considered older for a new model. The agency even asked her to say she was younger than she really was.
At first, finding work was still difficult. But in early 2009, she received a life-changing call from the fashion company Calvin Klein. During New York Fashion Week, she became the first Black model ever to sign an exclusive contract with them. This meant she would only walk the runway for their brand during that week. Fashion experts said her success was a huge moment.
After that, many other exciting jobs came her way. She modeled for top designers like Vera Wang, DKNY, Gucci, and Louis Vuitton. She also walked in the 2009 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. Her face appeared in popular magazines like the Italian version of Elle and Teen Vogue.
By 2013, people started to notice her other talent: computer programming. News articles wrote about her being a model with a "secret identity" as a coder. She helped show the world that you can't judge people based on stereotypes.
A Passion for Programming
Scott’s interest in coding began when she was just 12 years old. She taught herself how to write simple games for her TI-89 graphing calculator and shared them with her friends. In college, she learned more advanced programming languages like Java and C++. She also taught herself how to create apps for iPhones using languages like Python and Objective C.
Helping Others Learn to Code
Scott is passionate about helping young women learn how to program. She is an active member of Stack Overflow, a popular website where programmers can ask and answer questions. She has answered hundreds of questions and is ranked among the top users on the site.
She has worked with organizations like Code.org and Girls Who Code to create lessons and mentor teenage girls. She has given talks at schools in Harlem and at NYU. Because she is successful in two very different fields, she is seen as an inspiration to many young people.
Creating Her Own Apps
In 2011, Scott started her own company called Standable, Inc. to publish the apps she created.
- Educate! Her first app was made to support a non-profit organization that helps young students in Uganda.
- iPort This app was designed to help models carry their portfolios (a collection of their best photos) on a digital device instead of in a heavy book.
- Code Made Cool This app taught girls the basics of programming in a fun way, using a drag-and-drop game.
Today, Lyndsey works as the lead iOS software engineer for a company called Rallybound. There, she builds apps that help non-profit organizations raise money for their causes.
In 2022, she started the Lyndsey Scott Coding+ Scholarship. This scholarship helps LGBTQIA+ students, women, and BIPOC students who are studying computer science.
See also
In Spanish: Lyndsey Scott para niños
