Stacey McKenzie Biography

Stacey McKenzie (born in Kingston, Jamaica) is a Canadian fashion model, runway coach and most recently a model coach and judge on the Canadian reality television show Canada's Next Top Model.

Modeling career

After being told, early in her career, that she was too distinctive for the Canadian market, she moved to New York. She was immediately picked up by Elite Model Management.

Unprepared for the challenges of a modeling career, McKenzie returned to Canada and finished high school. In 1995, she moved to Paris, France to pursue modeling further. During her first season, she modeled for top designers including Jean Paul Gaultier, Thierry Mugler and Christian Lacroix. She also landed her first campaign with photographer Oliviero Toscani for Benetton.

In the wake of her initial success in Paris, McKenzie was commissioned to work in markets around the globe including Paris, London, Italy, Austria, United States and Japan. She worked for Alexander McQueen, Betsey Johnson, Tommy Hilfiger, Todd Oldham, Michiko Koshino and Jean Paul Gaultier. Her magazine covers include Essence, Le Monde and Panache, as well as editorials in Vogue (US, Japan, Korea, Britain, Spain), Harper's Bazaar, Interview, Flare, Fashion, and Vibe.

She has appeared in a number of major campaigns including Calvin Klein CK, Jean Paul Gaultier, MAC, Mexx, Reebok, Todd Oldham Jeans, Nordstrom, Barneys, and Banana Republic.

In February 2008, McKenzie modeled at New York Fashion Week. In 2009, McKenzie returned to Toronto Fashion Week where she walked the runway exclusively for Xuly Bet in the Arise African Collective fashion show.

Other Ventures

McKenzie has established a company called Walk This Way Workshops. Originally catered to aspiring and established models and all aspects of the modeling industry, Ms McKenzie decided to build Walk This Way Workshops as a self-esteem company geared to all different types of people. In May 2007, McKenzie added professional speaking to her offering and was a special speaker for a brunch benefit held by the Canadian Mental Health Association. In her speaking engagements Stacey McKenzie discusses the challenges of self-esteem in young adults and how to gain confidence through self-acceptance. Ms. McKenzie continues to do motivational speaking engagements to inner city kids and schools.

Stacey McKenzie also had a small part in the 1997 film, The Fifth Element, as a VIP Stewardess.

In February 2012, McKenzie is a panelist on Canada Reads, defending Dave Bidini's book On a Cold Road. On the first day, McKenzie controversially cast a tie-breaking vote to eliminate Prisoner of Tehran.