Seventeen-year-old Jenny Park has slowly made a name for herself on social media and in the South Korean modeling industry by showcasing her bubbly and vivacious persona. Ever since joining Esteem in 2021, she has done runways for local Korean D-ANTIDOTE, KwakHyunJoo Collection, and many more.
Alongside campaigns for domestic brands such as Dr.Jart+ and ELOREA and editorials for magazines like Maire Claire Korea and Vogue Korea, she’s also been featured in commercials for global brands like Samsung and made appearances at events like the 2023 Melon Music Awards.
She attributes her success to manifesting her goals with a diary. “I try my best to [prioritize] accomplishing my small wishes to my big goals,” Park tells Teen Vogue over Zoom. “When I write out my wishes in the diary, I make plans step by step and I slash out the wishes [and] dreams whenever I pursue one.”
Park’s rising social media presence alongside her blooming modeling career has helped solidify her as a rising influencer for Korean youth. If you search Jenny Park on Youtube, you'll see her YouTube channel, which just made it to the 1 million followers mark, and a plethora of videos about her daily life as a Korean student, being a young model, style tips, curly hair routines, and much more.
"I started my YouTube channel all the way back when I was in elementary school. I'm not really camera shy and my parents used to take videos and photos of me to capture my talents and memories,” Park shares. “I've always had a goal of getting a silver button, which I just got. I’m just excited to make more fresh and exciting videos.”
On Instagram and TikTok she has a combined total 1.6 million followers, which she gained by sharing fashion tips, outfit reveals, and a mix of personal content. Similar to many other Gen-Z creators she always tries to keep her content trendy but uniquely her own. For example, in one of her recent posts on Instagram, she contributed to the MBTI discourse by sharing how someone might dress if they have an ISTP personality versus ENTP.
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She became interested in being a model while in sixth grade and was determined to succeed despite others' doubts. “I wanted to prove to them that I could be a model. So that's why I tried and worked harder,” says Park.
As a Korean and Black model in the industry, she occasionally faces struggles with makeup artists and hairstylists who aren't used to dealing with her natural hair type and skin tone. “I have really curly 4C-type natural hair. Because of that, sometimes the hairstylist or the people around there get shocked and they don't know what to do with my hair,” she explains. “Also sometimes, makeup artists can't match my skin tone. My face will be whiter than the neck and stuff like that.” However, she adds that it's not usually an issue she experiences while on set.
Born to a Korean mother and Nigerian father, Park faced hardships growing up during a time when South Korea was largely thought to be homogeneous.
“In Korea, there are not a lot of mixed people, especially those of different [skin tones] or colors. I also grew up in a small town. So a lot of people would stare at me and view me differently," Park says. "But whenever that happened, I never stayed sad because I don't like to be emotional.”
Through some of the rough times of her childhood, Park shares that her mother was her rock. “My mom would always encourage me and tell me: ‘You are so special and so important Jenny.’” All of which helped to affirm her self-confidence and made her career in modeling possible.
The young model is hopeful she can make an impact on the overall representation of mixed-race models in the industry, especially models of Korean and African heritage like herself. “Before I was a model, I always tried my best to be a good role model to others. But now with my platform, I think I am actually able to make a difference for others like myself.”
She wants to show South Korea and its modeling world some of the cultural aspects of Black culture like “baby hair.” “In Korea, a lot of people don't know about things like ‘baby hair’ or they are not used to looking at curly hair,” she emphasizes.
Park continues, "When you see the baby and the kid models, they are now starting to have those kinds of hairstyles. And when the hairstylist brings a reference, then there's my picture as a reference. So, I think I can change Koreans’ thoughts of [mixed people] to be more positive.”
With any amount of success and acclaim, there is going to be criticism and sometimes hate. But Park tries not to pay attention to online trolls and says she de-stresses by eating her favorite Korean dishes (Tteokbokki and Buldak noodles). “Then I look through and read the positive comments from my fans and supporters. After that, I play Roblox,” she says laughing.
Though Park might do commercials, runways, and fashion shoots regularly, she’s still a regular Korean teen, who juggles her dream of being a supermodel with schoolwork and her social life.
“So recently, it was my exam week and I took one exam today,” she shares. “I like hanging out and chatting with friends. I'm still a student, so I love having time with friends.”
“But of course, studying is important in my life and I try hard to balance things out and not use too much energy on one side. Modeling and school are like french fries and ketchup [they go hand and hand],” she adds jokingly.
With Naomi Campbell as her inspiration, Park also has set her sights on becoming a global supermodel. “After high school, it will be more about going from one challenge to another like a board game,” she says. “I want to encounter new kinds of experiences that I couldn't do when I was a student. So that means I want to go abroad and experience modeling overseas.”
