Paloma Elsesser

Personal Details :

• Full Name: Paloma Kai Shockley Elsesser
• Date of Birth: April 12, 1992
• Place of Birth: Camden, London, England
• Nationality: American
• Height: 5′6½″ (169 cm)
• Hair Color: Black
• Eye Color: Brown
• Body Type: Plus-size / Curve
• Zodiac Sign: Aries
• Ethnicity: Mixed — African-American mother and Chilean-Swiss father
• Languages: English (fluent)
• Religion: Not publicly disclosed
• Sexual Orientation: Not publicly specified
• Family: Sister Ama Elsesser (model/actor), brother Sage Elsesser (rapper Navy Blue), sister Kanyessa McMahon (director)
• Education: Studied psychology and literature at The New School, New York City
• Raised In: Los Angeles, California, USA

Social Media Presence :

• Instagram: @palomija
• TikTok: @palomija

Career Overview :

Here’s a detailed look at Paloma Elsesser’s career, from her discovery to her influential role in redefining the fashion industry:

 Early Discovery & Breakthrough

• Discovered in 2015: Makeup legend Pat McGrath found her on Instagram and cast her in the inaugural campaign for Pat McGrath Labs—a pivotal launchpad.

• Signed by IMG Models: Joined one of the world’s leading agencies shortly after, gaining representation across New York, Paris, Milan, London, and Sydney .

Editorial & Campaign Success

• Magazine Covers: Featured on i‑D, Teen Vogue, Glamour, Elle, W, Wonderland, and multiple international editions of Vogue—notably British Vogue (April 2018 alongside top models) and American Vogue (January 2021) en.wikipedia.org.

• Major Campaigns: Worked with brands like Nike, Fenty Beauty, Mercedes‑Benz, Balenciaga, Coach, Marc Jacobs, Marni, Supreme, and Victoria’s Secret.

Runway Breakthrough

• 2016–2020 Rise: Debuted at New York Fashion Week, then walked notable shows in Milan and Paris—Fendi, Alexander McQueen, Lanvin, Ferragamo, Eckhaus Latta, Burberry, Tory Burch—marking a significant presence as a curve‑size model .

• Historic Walks: Became one of two plus‑size models to walk Fendi in 2020 and 2021; one of the first to walk for Ferragamo teenvogue.com.

• Victoria’s Secret Debut: Walked in the 2024 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show as one of the first plus‑size Angels—a milestone for body representation .

 Awards & Recognition

• Fashion Awards 2023: Made history as the first plus‑size model to win Model of the Year .

• Industry Recognition: Nominated as Models.com’s 2024 Model of the Year; named one of British Vogue’s “New Supers”; a regular commentator at the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund .

Creative Ventures & Advocacy

• i‑D Editor & Host: Serves as contributing editor at i‑D magazine and hosts their chat‑show The Squeeze imgmodels.com+1imgmodels.com+1.

• Brand Collaborations: Designed capsule collections—e.g., with Miaou in 2022 and Ganni in SS24—offering extended size ranges and promoting inclusivity .

• Advocacy & Activism: Vocal advocate for body acceptance, mental health, and racial justice. Collaborated on initiatives like “Gurls Talk × The North Face” and supported Black Lives Matter bio-famous.com.

 Other Highlights

• Acting Debut: Appeared in the Safdie brothers’ film Uncut Gems (2019) .

• Industry Impact: Instrumental behind‑the‑scenes—working collaboratively with stylists and pushing brands to produce diverse size options cnn.com.

 Her Voice & Vision

• Inclusivity Pioneer: Continuously challenges norms—believes luxury brands benefit from representing diverse bodies, insists they sell what they showcase vogue.com.

• Personal Integrity: Says she brings empathy and authority to the industry, making spaces more inclusive and revolutionizing perceptions of beauty .

Paloma Elsesser is not only a model but a change-maker—blending high-fashion success with activism, design, and cultural influence. Her presence reshapes representation in luxury fashion, paving the way for future generations.

Personal Life & Interests :

Here’s a comprehensive overview of Paloma Elsesser’s personal life and interests:

Family & Background

• Born & Raised

  • Born in London (April 12, 1992) to a multicultural family—African-American mother and Chilean-Swiss father .

  • Grew up in Los Angeles; maintains close ties with her family, including her mother Anedra and siblings Kanyessa (director), Ama (model/actor), and Sage (rapper/skateboarder) .

• Family Philosophy

  • Raised in a creative, socially active household—“hippie poor” with grandparents involved in Black Methodist church, and a grandfather who was a WWII conscientious objector vogue.co.uk.

 Living & Community

• Brooklyn-based

  • Resides in a Victorian townhouse in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn—chosen for its connection to her roots in a historically Black/brown neighborhood architecturaldigest.com.

• Community-Oriented

  • Prioritizes supportive relationships with friends and family. She credits her community for sustaining her through career challenges .

 Education & Inner Life

• Academic Path

  • Studied psychology and literature at The New School in NYC beginning 2010; paused school as her modeling career progressed .

• Self-Care & Wellness

  • Advocates holistic self-care: meditation (via Calm app), limiting phone usage, reading, walking, yoga, Pilates, massages, and quality sleep .

 Hobbies & Personal Interests

• Vintage Fashion & Sustainability

  • Enthusiastic about thrift shopping and vintage pieces—owns Jean-Paul Gaultier, Vivienne Westwood items. Champions sustainable practices in fashion and production .

• Reading & Writing

  • A voracious reader across genres (fiction, non‑fiction, poetry), with aspirations to write a book and pursue psychology informationcradle.com.

• Travel

  • Loves exploring new cultures; has traveled extensively, including Brazil, Spain, Japan, Nigeria, Jamaica (her favorite spot) tvovermind.com.

• Artistic Sensibilities

  • Enjoys ceramics, homewares, history, religion, music (grew up surrounded by music, from Björk to heavy metal karaoke like “Toxicity”) victoriassecret.com.

 Day-to-Day Quirks & Favorites

• Skincare & Beauty

  • Prefers French pharmacy staples (e.g., Mustela, Bioderma), practices daily exfoliation and mindful sustainability in beauty routines russh.com.

• Perfume

  • Loves distinct scents (e.g., Byredo Inflorescence, Magie Noire, Neandertal) and selects fragrances that reflect mood and environment .

• Personal Preferences

  • Favorite tea: Tulsi Sweet Rose; karaoke pick: heavy metal; dislikes blackout curtains; describes herself as “affectionate, honest, wordy” .

 Overcoming Challenges

• Mental Health & Addiction

  • Open about overcoming addiction and navigating mental health; emphasizes authenticity and recognizing both public success and private struggles.

• Self-Love & Body Confidence

  • Raised to combat negative self-talk, guided by her family values and unwavering encouragement from loved ones

Net Worth :

Estimates of Paloma Elsesser’s net worth vary significantly, and public figures like hers typically don’t disclose detailed financials. Here’s a breakdown of different sources and a realistic range:

Published Estimates

• MoneySnoop (2025):

  • Places her net worth at $2 million, attributing ~$1M to modeling and ~$1M to acting .

• BuzzLearns & Celebrity-Birthdays:

  • Suggest a broader range of $1–5 million, with the latter estimating approximately $5 million .

• LifestyleNetWorth / ModelsNetWorth:

  • Give more conservative figures: around $300K–$500K .

• CelebsMoney:

  • Estimates a range of $100K–$1M as of 2025

Reddit Insight

Reddit users often criticize celebrity net worth sites for being unreliable and inflated:

“Any celeb net worth online is most likely complete garbage. They don’t know, they’re just pulling numbers out of their asses lol”

This reflects a common skepticism toward unaudited figures.

 Industry Context & Realistic Estimate

• Modeling & Campaign Work:
  Elsesser has modeled for major global brands like Nike, Fenty Beauty, Victoria’s Secret, Mercedes-Benz, and more—plus runway appearances and magazine covers (Vogue, Elle). These engagements tend to be high-paying.

• Acting:
  She debuted in the acclaimed film Uncut Gems and may have additional roles, though acting income likely remains secondary.

Considering her visibility, major campaigns, being awarded Model of the Year in 2023, and runway success, it’s reasonable to place her net worth in the low-to-mid single-digit millions—likely between $1–3 million.

Summary Table

Awards & Achievements :

Here’s a polished summary of Paloma Elsesser’s awards and achievements, showcasing her trailblazing journey:

 Major Awards & Honors

• Fashion Awards 2023 (British Fashion Council) – Model of the Year

  • First ever plus-size model to win this award, making history on December 4, 2023 .

  • Delivered a heartfelt acceptance speech, emphasizing representation and resilience amid backlash .

• Models.com Industry Awards 2020 – Model of the Year (Women)

  • Recognized by industry vote for reshaping representation in fashion .

Honors & Recognitions

• TIME 100 Next (2019)

  • Listed as one of the most promising emerging leaders, celebrated for breaking fashion norms .

• Models.com 2024 Nominee – Model of the Year

  • Named among the year’s top models on the influential ranking .

• Vogue “New Supers”

  • Highlighted by British Vogue as part of a new generation of top-tier models

Industry Leadership & Contributions

• • Host – Fashion Scholarship Fund Awards 2024

    • Emceed the 87th FSF LIVE, supporting over 130 design scholars and advocating for connections in the industry .

  • CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund

    • Invited to serve on the selection committee, mentoring upcoming designers

  • i‑D Magazine

    • Holds the role of contributing editor and hosts the conversational series The Squeeze

Fun Facts :

Here are some fun and revealing facts about Paloma Elsesser:

Name Meaning & Heritage

• Her name, Paloma, means “dove” in Spanish—a nickname her grandfather used by calling her “Palomita,” meaning “little dove.”

 Karaoke & Music Vibes

• Her top karaoke song? “Toxicity” by System of a Down—a surprising heavy-metal pick for a fashion icon!

• She grew up in a “neo-bohemian” household filled with diverse music—from Björk and Kate Bush to Christina Aguilera—with deep roots in her family’s musical backgrounds. herbeauty.co

 Dual Citizenship & Early Life

• Born in London in 1992, she moved to L.A. at age two. She holds British, Swiss, and U.S. citizenship.

 Academic & Aspirational

• Studied psychology and literature at The New School before modeling took over.

• Passionate about writing, poetry, and has aspirations to write a book or pursue psychology further.

Sustainable & Personal Style

• Frequently sells second-hand clothes on Depop, practices vintage shopping, and champions sustainability.

 Creative Hobbies

• Loves ceramics, homewares, history, religion, and keeps a thoughtful, textured appreciation for crafts and aesthetics.

Quirky Favorites

• Favorite tea: Tulsi Sweet Rose

• Sensitive to textures, sounds & smells, and hates blackout curtains.

Travel & Cultural Love

• Favorite place on earth? Jamaica—a spot she loves deeply.

Reflective & Resilient

• Writes candidly about her emotional journey, including resisting moments of self-doubt and stepping away from social media after harassment post-award wins. She once prayed, “Please don’t let me win,” before modeling history unfolded.

 Friendship & Collaboration

• • Collaborated on fashion with her best friend Alexia Elkaim (founder of Miaou). They are so close that Alexia still calls her “Meow” and Paloma once fainted at a get-together—classic bond moments.