Kelsey Merritt

Last updated

Kelsey Merritt
Kelsey Merritt in 2019 - 4.jpg
Merritt in 2018
Born
Kelsey Alaine Merritt

(1996-10-01) October 1, 1996 (age 27)
Angeles City, Pampanga, Philippines
Alma mater Ateneo de Manila University
Modeling information
Height1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Hair colorBrown
Eye colorDark Brown
Agency

Kelsey Alaine Merritt (born October 1, 1996) is a Filipino-American [1] model best known for being the first Filipino to walk in the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show [2] and to appear in the pages of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. [3]

Contents

Life and career

Merritt was born on October 1, 1996, in Angeles City, Pampanga, Philippines to a Filipina mother and American soldier father of French, German, British and Irish descent who was semi-retired in Clark, Angeles City. [4] In May 2017, she graduated from Ateneo de Manila University in Quezon City, Metro Manila, with a degree in communications. [5] She has been modelling in the Philippines from a young age and is currently based in New York City and Los Angeles.

During her career in the Philippines, she did commercials with Palmolive, San Miguel Light, clothing brand Kashieca, and posed for numerous magazine covers. After finishing her studies she moved to New York where she signed with Wilhelmina. [6] [7] On October 9, 2019, Kelsey posted on her Instagram that she signed with her new management, The Society in New York City.

In 2018, she walked for in the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in New York and was announced to be the first Filipino-American model to walk the runway. It was also her first ever runway show. [8] [9]

She was featured in the pages of the 2019 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. [3]

On June 13, 2020, she signed her contract with the Viva Artists Agency. [10]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frankie Rayder</span> American model (born 1975)

Francesca "Frankie" Rayder is an American model. She has a portfolio of covergirl appearances for high fashion magazines and was once a VH1/Vogue Fashion Awards for Model of the Year nominee. She has performed in runway shows, including the annual Victoria's Secret Fashion Show four times and the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue twice. She has also been featured in print ad campaigns. At the peak of her fame, she was an it girl according to The New York Times and GQ once named her the Sexiest Woman in the World.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Izabel Goulart</span> Brazilian model

Maria Izabel Goulart Dourado is a Brazilian fashion model. She is best known as having been one of the Victoria's Secret Angels from 2005 to 2008 and for her work with Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue and Armani Exchange.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Angela Lindvall</span> American model

Angela Lindvall is an American model and actress. She was first discovered by an IMG scout when she was 14 years old, and was immediately signed with IMG New York. She took a brief break from modeling but returned when she was 17. From the late 1990s to the early 2000s, she was featured on numerous magazine covers including Vogue, Elle, Harper's Bazaar, Marie Claire, Numéro, and W. She has been the face of major brands including Chanel, Calvin Klein, Dior, Versace, and Louis Vuitton.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Selita Ebanks</span> Caymanian model

Selita Ebanks is a Caymanian model. She was a Victoria's Secret Angel from 2005 to 2010. She has also worked for high fashion brands Neiman Marcus and Ralph Lauren, and appeared in magazines such as the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, Vogue, and Glamour.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jessica White</span> American actress and model (born 1984)

Jessica White is an American fashion model, actress and television personality. She is best known for being a Victoria's Secret runway model, Maybelline spokesperson and working for CoverGirl, as well as her appearances in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issues. Outside of modeling, she has appeared on several television series, such as The Young and the Restless, America's Next Top Model, Famously Single, Zoe Ever After, Hip Hop Squares and Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Irina Shayk</span> Russian model (born 1986)

Irina Valeryevna Shaykhlislamova, known professionally as Irina Shayk, is a Russian model. Shayk received international recognition when she appeared as the first Russian model on the cover of the 2011 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. In 2022, the website Models.com placed her on their list of the New Supers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Erin Heatherton</span> American model

Erin Heather Bubley, known professionally as Erin Heatherton, is an American model. She was a Victoria's Secret Angel from 2010 to 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jessica Hart (model)</span> Australian model (born 1986)

Jessica Rae Hart is an Australian model and founder of LUMABeauty. She was discovered in Melbourne and has appeared on the cover of Australian Vogue.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jarah Mariano</span> American model

Jarah-Evelyn Makalapua Mariano is an American model best known for her appearances in the 2008 and 2009 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Editions, as well as Victoria's Secret.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barbara Palvin</span> Hungarian model (born 1993)

Barbara Sprouse is a Hungarian model. She first appeared in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue in 2016. In 2019, she became a Victoria's Secret Angel. She is also an Armani Beauty ambassador.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kate Upton</span> American model and actress (born 1992)

Katherine Elizabeth Upton is an American model and actress. She first appeared in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue in 2011, and was the cover model for the 2012, 2013 and 2017 issues. In addition, she was the subject of the 100th-anniversary Vanity Fair cover.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sara Sampaio</span> Portuguese model

Sara Pinto Sampaio is a Portuguese model best known for being a Victoria's Secret Angel. Sampaio is a Giorgio Armani beauty ambassador and works for Calzedonia. She was the first Portuguese model in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue (2014).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kelly Gale</span> Swedish model (born 1995)

Kelly Olivia Gale is a Swedish model. She is known globally for her work for Victoria's Secret, the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, and Playboy, as well as being featured in the music video of "Duele el Corazón" by Enrique Iglesias.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alanna Arrington</span> American model from Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Alanna Lynn Arrington is an American model from Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She has been on the cover of Maxim and Elle U.K. She is a model for Victoria’s Secret.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gracie Carvalho</span> Brazilian model

Gracie Carvalho is a Brazilian model.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leyna Bloom</span> American actress, model, dancer, and activist

Leyna Bloom is an American actress, model, dancer, and activist. She has attracted press as a trailblazer for transgender performers in the entertainment and fashion industries.

Danielle Nicole Herrington is an American model known for her appearances in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, including the cover of 2018 edition where she became the third African-American woman to appear on the cover — after Tyra Banks (1997) and Beyonce (2007).

Sharam-Sharam da Conceição Diniz, known professionally as Sharam Diniz, is an Angolan-Portuguese fashion model and businesswoman. She is known for her appearances in the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show.

Roosmarijn"Roos"de Kok is a Dutch fashion model, best known for her work for Victoria's Secret.

References

  1. "Meet Kelsey Merritt, the 21-year-old who will make history as the first Filipino woman to walk the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show". INSIDER. Retrieved November 16, 2018.
  2. "Kelsey Merritt Responds to Being Called a "White Passing" Filipino Victoria's Secret Model". Teen Vogue. Retrieved November 16, 2018.
  3. 1 2 James, Xandria (February 16, 2019), Drumroll, Please! Kelsey Merritt Is the Latest SI Swimsuit Rookie , retrieved April 30, 2019
  4. "Kelsey Merritt Just Learned More About Her Ancestry". Cosmopolitan Philippines.
  5. "7 Things to Know About Kelsey Merritt, the First Filipino Model in the VS Fashion Show". Teen Vogue. Retrieved November 23, 2018.
  6. "KELSEY MERRITT Wilhelmina". www.wilhelmina.com. Retrieved November 16, 2018.
  7. "Kelsey Merritt felt self-conscious around English-speaking classmates in Ateneo". GMA News. Retrieved November 16, 2018.
  8. Vogue (November 13, 2018), Victoria's Secret Model Kelsey Merritt's Guide to Freckles & Better Brows | Beauty Secrets | Vogue , retrieved November 16, 2018
  9. Yam, Kimberly (November 12, 2018). "First Filipina Victoria's Secret Show Model Fielded Criticism For Being 'White-Passing'". Huffington Post. Retrieved November 16, 2018.
  10. "Kelsey Merritt joins Viva's roster of talents". Rappler. June 13, 2020. Retrieved June 14, 2020.