About
Precious Lee is an Atlanta-born fashion model whose career has become a rallying point for size inclusivity and authentic Black representation on the runway. After years of steady success, she arrived in 2025 as a bona-fide “super”—landing the May cover of ELLE Canada and topping Models.com’s “New Supers” short-list, honors that underline both her star power and her staying power. Audiences gravitate to Lee’s confident presence, playful sense of style, and willingness to share the work behind her poise, rather than just the finished photo.
Runway directors count on that presence. She has stormed catwalks for Versace, Mugler, Fendi, and Balmain, often closing shows in looks that celebrate bold color and curve-hugging tailoring. Versace’s spring–summer 2024 show in Milan made headlines for casting Lee in its opening trio; a year later she dazzled at the 2025 Met Gala in a bronze Prabal Gurung catsuit and custom Charles & Keith platforms—proof that her red-carpet magnetism rivals her runway sway.
Before Fame
Born on September 13, 1990, Lee grew up on Atlanta’s southwest side in a tight-knit, academically driven household. Her mother was an educator with a history of dabbling in modeling, and her father worked as a small-business owner. Dinnertime conversations covered everything from Black culture to the power of showing up in style, lessons Lee carried into high school, where she served on student government and was crowned homecoming queen.
College opened a new lane. While studying mass-media arts at Clark Atlanta University—an HBCU known for producing media leaders—Lee tagged along to an open casting call. An agent encouraged her to sign on the spot, sparking a part-time modeling hustle she balanced with lectures and cross-registered business courses at Morehouse. After graduation, she gave herself one year in New York to turn modeling into a career, delaying her original plan to attend law school. That leap of faith paid off when Ford Models (and later IMG) added her to their boards, setting the stage for her barrier-breaking work.
Trivia
- Sports Illustrated milestone: In 2016 Lee became the first Black plus-size model featured in a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue advertisement, a Lane Bryant campaign that challenged old ideas about who belongs in beachwear.
- Social reach: Her self-described “Instagram love-fest” has grown to well over 460k followers, where she shares behind-the-scenes snaps, beauty experiments, and pep talks on body confidence.
- Model-of-the-Year regular: Since 2020, Lee has appeared on Models.com’s annual Model of the Year lists—underscoring that her influence is more than a viral moment.
Family Life
Though Lee guards her relatives’ privacy, she frequently credits her parents for nurturing both ambition and self-acceptance. Her mother’s creative flair informed Lee’s love of dramatic silhouettes, while her father’s entrepreneurial spirit inspired her to treat modeling as a business. The loss of her older sister Charisma in a childhood car accident left an indelible mark; Lee honors her sibling’s memory by mentoring young creatives and pushing for grief-friendly spaces in fashion. Family gatherings in Atlanta remain her reset button—a place for Sunday dinners, comedic storytelling, and the occasional impromptu runway down the living-room hallway.
Associated With
On campaigns and catwalks, Lee regularly collaborates with fashion heavyweights. Donatella Versace tapped her for multiple seasons, and designers like Olivier Rousteing (Balmain) and Casey Cadwallader (Mugler) have followed suit. In Versace’s spring 2021 campaign she shared the frame with Kendall Jenner, Hailey Bieber, and Mona Tougaard—an ensemble that underscored her mainstream appeal. Beyond designers, she has championed fellow curve pioneers Ashley Graham and Paloma Elsesser, praising their collective push for broader sizing. Off-duty, Lee’s circle extends to filmmakers, stylists, and activists focused on mental health and voting rights, reflecting her belief that fashion is most powerful when it intersects with community.
