Jenny Shimizu

Jenny Lynn Shimizu is a prominent American model and actress, born in June 1967 in San Jose, California. Raised in Santa Maria, she excelled in sports and earned a basketball scholarship to attend California State University, Northridge. Following her studies, Jenny relocated to Los Angeles with aspirations of operating a car garage.

Her life took a significant turn when a casting director discovered her as she was parking her motorcycle outside a nightclub, leading to her collaboration with renowned designers Calvin and Kelly Klein. Jenny became the face of their groundbreaking fragrance CK One, marking her debut in the fashion industry. She made a striking entrance into the modeling world at the Hollywood Bowl’s Calvin Klein fashion show and starred in a trailblazing black and white advertising campaign that solidified her status as a unique, androgynous model.

Throughout her career, Jenny has garnered recognition for her contributions to entertainment and culture. She was honored as one of the "10 Most Amazing Women in Show Business" by Power Up and was listed among A Magazine's "100 Most Influential Asian Americans of the Decade" from 1989 to 1999. Additionally, she received the Lesbian Icon Award at the 2006 Philadelphia International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, further underscoring her impact as a trailblazer in both modeling and LGBTQ+ advocacy.