Supermodel Jessica “Jypsy” White is ready to expand her horizons. After debuting her first single, “Bipolar Love” which was written and produced solely by her last summer, she is ready to explore her intimate love for music. But White still has a thriving modeling career and enjoys being a role model for women and men walking runways.
At the age of 13, she was on her way to stardom and shortly after signed to IMG modeling agency before her career took off. She was a beauty powerhouse campaigning for Cover Girl, Gap, Tommy Hilfiger and Ralph Lauren, as well as being featured in Teen Vogue, and even Harper’s Bazaar. In 2003 when she was featured in Sports Illustrated‘s Swim Suit Issue. She was the first Black woman to participate in three consecutive editions of the annual issue. She can also be seen in multiple music videos dating back to the early 2000s and King Magazine.
White has also taken a turn at acting, she appeared in the movie Big Momma’s House 2 starring Martin Lawrence, and the daytime soap opera “The Young and the Restless.”
Rolling out got a chance to speak with White about helpful tips for aspiring models, read on for what she had to say.
What are three tips you would give up-and-coming models breaking into the industry?
Beauty is definitely a standard, but it takes a tremendous amount of dedication, resilience and allowing your natural beauty to shine through all the glam. Stay true to yourself; show up to a casting with no makeup on, a plain T-shirt, hair slicked back or natural; it’s [about] simplicity. That’s how you get discovered. Stay positive.
What do you think has been the key to your success?
I think the key to my success has been vitality. I’m only interested in being myself and giving off a positive attitude.
What three tips would you give a model on staying fit?
Well, myself I do a lot of yoga, but I hate going to the gym. One winter I remember wanting to get back in shape after suffering from a harsh breakup and walking everywhere I went in NYC for two months straight. By the time spring rolled around I had buns of steel and felt like I was ready to take on the brisk summer breeze. I’m a nature baby so I’m really into outdoors, but that’s my advice to any woman trying to stay fit is to walk. It’s very therapeutic, of course, you may want to use the gym to strengthen your arms and upper body, but I must say walking is a great way to stay fit and in shape.
