Biography

Born in San Jose, California in June 1967, Jenny grew up in Santa Maria, California and attended California State University, Northridge on a basketball scholarship. She later moved to Los Angeles to open a car garage. Soon after, Jenny was approached by a casting director while saddling her motorcycle outside an L.A. nightclub and introduced to Calvin and Kelly Klein. The designers were looking for a singular, androgynous face to represent their new fragrance, CK One. She landed her first fashion show for Calvin Klein at the Hollywood Bowl, followed by the pioneering black and white ad campaign. After came Banana Republic's "American Beauty" campaign by Bruce Weber, which cast Jenny front and center on a Times Square billboard. From there, Jenny worked for such designers as Versace, Prada, Jean Paul Gaultier, Yohji Yamamoto, Donna Karan, Anna Sui, Thierry Mugler, Levi's, J. Crew, The Gap, L.A. Eyeworks and the United Colors of Benetton. In addition, she also modeled in the world-renowned Pirelli calendar and was featured in beauty campaigns for Clinique and Shiseido. Throughout the 90's Jenny appeared in magazine editorials for Italian Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, Glamour, Allure, Elle, Marie Clare, Italian Glamour, French Glamour and the cover of Australian Vogue. Jenny has shot with fashion's most celebrated photographers including Richard Avedon, Bruce Weber, Irving Penn, Steven Meisel, Michael Thompson, Mario Sorrenti, Michel Comte, Mario Testino, Ellen Von Unwerth, Paolo Roversi, David LaChapelle, Sean Mortensen, Dusan Reljin and David Sims to name a few.

Likewise, her image is exhibited in museums and books all over the world. Exhibits include The Model as Muse (Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2009) and Catherine Opie: American Photographer, Retrospective (Guggenheim Museum, 2008); as well as a permanent exhibit at the Pirelli Museum. Books include Any Objections? by Mario Testino; Couples by Ellen Von Unwerth; The Art of Makeup by Kevyn Aucoin; Fifty Years of Fashion: New Look to Now by Valerie Steele; and The House of Klein: Fashion, Controversy and Business Obsession by Lisa Marsh.

In 1993 Jenny became personally involved with Madonna, after making a cameo in the music video "Rain" (1993). Then came Foxfire (1996), Jenny's first feature film and leading role, cast opposite of former love, Angelina Jolie. Despite the flood of gossip she received, Jenny has never been shy or apologetic of her high profile relationships. While in her early 20's Todd Hughes cast Jenny in the madcap, John Waters-esque murder mystery Ding Dong (1995) and in the early 2000's the two reunited in The New Women (2001). Jenny's recent works includes the award-winning feature film, Itty Bitty Titty Committee (2007) directed by Jamie Babbitt; two short films, Four Steps (2009) and Tools 4 Fools (2009); and the feature film, Bob's New Suit (2010).

Jenny's television roles include a special appearance on the "coming-out" episode of Ellen (1997) and playing Elena on Here Television's Dante's Cove (2007). Since 2005, Jenny has been celebrated for her unique beauty in E Television's Sexiest Top Models (2005) and UK Channel 4's 100 Greatest Sex Symbols (2007). Making a critically acclaimed shift into reality television, Jenny appeared on "America's Next Top Model," (2005), Logo Television's Curl Girls (2007), and as a guest judge on RuPaul's Drag Race (2009). Jenny is also a series regular judge, with fellow supermodel Tyson Beckford, on Bravo's Make Me a Supermodel (2009).

To date, Jenny was ranked as one of the 10 Most Amazing Women in Show Business by Power Up and one of A Magazine's "100 Most Influential Asian Americans of the Decade 1989-1999" and the "Philadelphia International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival 2006 Lesbian Icon Award." When she's not acting or modeling, Jenny can be found restoring Bentleys, Rolls Royces and Cadillacs from the 40's, 50's and 60's. She is also an avid motorcycle rider with a love for Ducati's.
- IMDb mini biography by: Jenny Shimizu Online