About
Paloma Kai Shockley Elsesser, born April 12, 1992, in London and raised in Los Angeles, is a Swiss‑Chilean‑African‑American model who has become one of fashion’s most visible advocates for body diversity. Signed to IMG, she has fronted campaigns for Nike, Fenty Beauty, Coach and countless Vogue editions—including the historic January 2021 U.S. cover and an April 2025 Vogue Adria cover—while also claiming the 2023 Fashion Awards “Model of the Year” honor. In May 2025 she stepped onto the Met Gala carpet in a Ferragamo look that paid homage to designer Maximilian Davis, underscoring her knack for turning red‑carpet moments into conversations about representation.
Before Fame
Paloma’s childhood unfolded in a creative, multicultural household: an African‑American mother, a Chilean‑Swiss father, and siblings who skateboarded, made music and shot films. At eighteen she relocated to New York City to study psychology and literature at The New School, juggling classes with café shifts. Her break arrived via Instagram, when legendary makeup artist Pat McGrath messaged her in 2014; the DM led to global beauty campaigns and runway bookings almost overnight. Paloma later revealed that she briefly stepped back for surgery in 2023—an experience she recounts in her memoir‑style book Treasure—returning for the spring 2024 shows with fresh purpose.
Trivia
- Silver‑screen debut: She appeared opposite Adam Sandler in the Safdie brothers’ thriller Uncut Gems (2019), playing a jewel‑shop employee.
- Award trailblazer: Winning “Model of the Year” in 2023 marked the first time a plus‑size model captured the British Fashion Council’s top honor.
- Literary side: A lifelong journal keeper, she often quotes Audre Lorde and bell hooks on her social channels. (She once joked that highlighting passages calms backstage nerves.)
- Wellness advocate: Open about recovery from addiction, she champions therapy and body‑neutral language, saying fashion “should feel like possibility, not permission.”
Family Life
Family remains Paloma’s anchor. Her mother, Anedra, whom she calls her “fearless leader,” instilled a love of storytelling and vintage jewelry. Older sister Kanyessa is a filmmaker; younger sister Ama models; brother Sage—better known as rapper and skateboarder Navy Blue—supplies the family soundtrack. A 2021 Vogue photo essay captured their first coast‑to‑coast reunion after the pandemic, complete with heirloom pieces and homemade food. Though Paloma now divides her time between Brooklyn and London shoots, she says Sunday group chats and nieces’ school recitals “keep the runway in perspective.”
Associated With
- Pat McGrath: The beauty icon who discovered her and still casts her in major campaigns.
- Rihanna & Fenty Beauty: Paloma starred in Fenty’s boundary‑pushing launch visuals, reinforcing the brand’s inclusive ethos.
- Maximilian Davis & Ferragamo: Her 2025 Met Gala look doubled as a tribute to her longtime friend and Ferragamo’s creative director.
- Safdie Brothers: Directors of Uncut Gems, giving her an unexpected acting credit.
- Sage “Navy Blue” Elsesser: Brother and frequent sounding board; she sometimes appears in his music videos.
