Ify Jones

Interview by Visual Collaborative
October 2019 4 min read

Ify Jones is a supermodel and entrepreneur based in Los Angeles. As a feature in our “Supernova” interview series, Jones tells us about her emergence of strutting runways and working with celebrities globally, starting in the world fashion capital of New York City. She shares insights to her business ventures and involvement in real estate among other experiences in her world. 

(VC) Your career as supermodel spans across several different agencies, strutting the runway and working with numerous personalities as a guest actress. You have evolved adding entrepreneur to your resume. Did this happen all organically or it was part of a bigger plan?

(Ify Jones) Actually it was all part of the bigger plan, and not too far fetched being that I was a fashion model in a fashion capital. I have always had a passion for clothes and the art of fashion in general. I knew I couldn’t be a fashion designer because I don’t know how to sketch or design and I didn’t want to just hire people, to do it for me slapping my name on it. I wanted to be an authentic designer if I were to be a fashion designer. Unfortunately, I’ve been so busy I haven’t had the time to learn so I decided to do the next best thing, start my own online clothing store and build my brand from there. Adding real estate to my resume came from my love for design and architecture. Just like clothes, great architecture tells an even greater story. I figured why not make money from another thing that I love.

(VC) You have spent quite some time in the melting pot of New York City which has its own fashion culture and Avant-Garde attitude. Do you express some of this when you are in California?

(Ify Jones) Oh, New York and California have different tastes in fashion. While New York is more Avant-Garde California is more glamorous! They don’t really care about clothes and high fashion, they care more about how great their make up hair looks. Unless it’s a red carpet event. I’ve lived in LA for 4 years and I have so many clothes I haven’t even worn yet because I fear I may look too “high fashion” New York as opposed to wearing a revealing outfit that fits the LA standards.

(VC) In your field you work with a number of American celebrities and prominent figures, how does this affect your personal relationships especially with friends who may get star struck?

(Ify Jones) I just tell my friends ahead of time not to get star-struck when they are around these celebrities. But of course, sometimes people get too excited and honestly these celebrities are nicer and more down to earth than you think. I think maybe because it’s an LA thing, celebs are everywhere and the chances of you meeting a celebrity one on one is higher in LA because someone knows someone that knows someone [Ify laughs]. Like its easy to know a celebs makeup artist or stylist, manager, cousin, close source, etc and your favorite celebrity could be shopping next to you at a grocery store or buying a pack of cigarettes at a CVS or something.

to be turned down a lot and that has a way of making any model feel a little insecure like they’re not good enough. So they have to be prepared and take every no as a blessing and opportunity for better doors to open

(VC) Among the four changing seasons what is your favorite and what is your style garment of choice to wear?

(Ify Jones) Spring is my favorite because I love wearing floral prints and dresses! I also love wearing denim shorts and blazers in the spring.

(VC) The present moment is probably the most powerful of times, but If you can time warp back to any era what time would it be and why?

(Ify Jones) I would say they should keep their heads up and stay confident because they’re going to be turned down a lot and that has a way of making any model feel a little insecure like they’re not good enough. So they have to be prepared and take every no as a blessing and opportunity for better doors to open. Sometimes a client will turn you down because you don’t just fit the job, not because you are less pretty than the other girl they select over you. That is the major challenge. Just keep working hard, stay focus, work hard an be persistent.

(VC) The present moment is probably the most powerful of times, but If you can time warp back to any era what time would it be and why?

(Ify Jones) My early 20s living in the big apple for sure. Meeting great people in the fashion industry and when I worked with Naomi Campbell, simply amazing moments of my life!

(VC) Congratulations on all your awards, What kind of commercial or personal work can the world expect from Ify Jones within the next 24 months?

(Ify Jones) Well hopefully selling million-dollar houses and more acting and TV commercial work.