Zinnia Kumar

Modeling informationHeight1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)Hair colorBlackEye colorBrownAgency Websitewww.zinniakumar.com

Zinnia Kumar is an Australian fashion model and scientist.^[2][3] Her published research and advocacy has covered beauty ideals, well-being and sustainability.^[3] She is an ecologist (accredited by the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management) and a sustainability and well-being psychologist.^[1][4][3]

Career

Fashion Modelling

Kumar has appeared on magazine covers for Vogue Australia, Harpers Bazaar Australia, Vogue India, Russh, Jones, CAP74024, Love Want, More or Less and Porter which called her a 'Force of Nature'.^[5][6] Kumar rose to prominence as the first South Asian Australian (and first Indian) to cover Vogue Australia in 62 years.^[5] Kumar was recognised in 2019 as one of the 50 Most Influential Global Indians by Vogue India^[7][8] and in 2021 was nominated as a Social Mover and change maker by models.com.^[9][5]

Kumar has since 2019 featured in publications Russh, Interview Magazine, Another Magazine, British Vogue, Vogue China, Vogue Singapore, Vogue France, Vogue Italia, Vogue Germany, Vogue Korea, CAP74024, Vogue India^[8], Vogue Australia, Harpers Bazaar and walked shows for Dior, Jacquemus and Vivienne Westwood among others.^[5]

Noted for her style, Kumar has sat front row and attended red carpets for Miu Miu, Chanel, Rabanne, Victoria Beckham, Jacquemus, Mugler, Boss,^{[clarification needed]} Ellie Saab, Balenciaga, British Fashion Awards, the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre opening and gala at Paris Opera Ballet.^{[10][11][12][13]}

In film she has featured in Wonder Woman as an Amazonian warrior.^[14]

Sustainability and Ecology

Kumar holds degrees in ecology and sustainability psychology from UNSW and UCL.^{[clarification needed]} She is a field conservation ecologist accredited by the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management, and worked with Little Blue Penguins, invertebrates and wetland birds for organisations such as the New South Wales [[Environmental Protection Authority (New South Wales)|Environmental Protection Authority, Birdlife and the Australian Department of Environment primarily in the Australian outback.^{[15][3][16][2]} Kumar is the first ecologist to cover any international edition of Vogue Magazine in 128 years.^[17][5]

Beauty ideals and well-being

Kumar's beauty research has covered psychological disempowerment of women from colorism in Asia, representation for social belonging, and sexual attraction; her research has been published in scientific journals, featured on TV and print journalism.^[18][19][20]

Advocacy

Kumar's advocacy combines sustainability, empowerment, beauty representation for social belonging and well-being.^{[19][18][21][2]} Primarily communicating via keynotes and talks, podcasts, interviews, journalism and consulting with organisations.^[22][1][23] She has presented keynotes for G20 Empower, FIT NY, British Fashion Council, Vogue, Cancer Council, H&M, Australasian Evolution Society, Australian Museum, The Australian among others.^[24][2] She was a youth ambassador for the Australian Government, Department of Foreign Affairs^[24] and awarded a Rotary Youth Leadership Award for empowering disadvantaged girls in Australia, India and Thailand.^[25] She co-founded The Dotted Line, a social impact-driven advertising agency combining psychology and art to mindfully push fresh narratives and challenge sustainability and diversity dogma within the fashion and media industry.^[26][27][3]

In 2019 Zinnia was recognised as one of the 50 Most Influential Global Indians by Vogue India.^[7][8] In 2020 Zinnia became a member of the Vogue Values Diversity Council after presenting a case to Vogue Australia about the lack of historic diversity at the publication.^[27] During her role as councillor she advocated for the first dark skinned indigenous Australian, actress Magnolia Maymuru, the first Indian actress, Priyanka Chopra and the first Korean-Australian, singer Roseanne Park to be on the cover of Australian Vogue for the first time in 62 years.^[28] In 2021 Zinnia was nominated by models.com as a Social Mover and change maker.^[9]

In 2022, Kumar created a viral sustainable red carpet moment for the British Fashion awards, wearing an upcycled Yohji Yamamoto dress and sustainable diamonds from Chopard.^[29][30]

Early life and education

Zinnia Kumar was born in Sydney, Australia to Indian parents and grew up in Sydney's south-western suburbs.^[2][18] She is a 5th generation Indian immigrant, and her family have lived in Oceania since 1879.^[31] She has Northern, Southern & Eastern Indian ancestry.^[32][8]

Zinnia is neurodivergent and has Aspergers Syndrome.^[3] She had severe social anxiety^[27] and over came it by training in speaking and presenting at the National Institute of Dramatic Art and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, she has been a member of Toastmasters International (Public Speaking Society) for a decade and is a member of The Oxford Union.^[21]

She attended a disadvantaged public high school and self learned her final year studies.^[19] Zinnia Kumar attended University of New South Wales for a Bachelor of Advanced Science, in Ecology and Human Evolutionary Biology with First Class honours,^[2] she matriculated at Brasenose College, Oxford University for an MPhil in Modern South Asian Studies,^[33] and holds an MSc in Industrial, Organisational and Business Psychology at University College London focusing on sustainability and well-being.^[3][27]

Zinnia Kumar's journey into modelling was not easy, after being scouted she was rejected by every agency in her country of birth over her race.^[32] She was told by agencies “We only take Anglos or half-Anglos" and 'Indians don't work here'.^[2] Racism forced Zinnia to quit pursuing modelling and she moved to the UK to study. Whilst on her way to the library, she was approached by a model scout again (her current manager).^[34] "I was working three jobs at the time to pay for university...modelling and being paid for it sounded like a dream! ...I became the first (non-white) agency signed, Indian model from Australia ..."^[34]

Authored articles

• Kumar, Zinnia (8 June 2021). "Fairness Creams Continue To Amplify Light Skin Supremacy & Anti-Blackness". Homegrown India.
• Kumar, Zinnia (11 March 2021). "Zinnia Kumar on belonging, discrimination and the importance of storytelling". Vogue Australia.
• Kumar, Zinnia (22 November 2020). "Jameela Jamil on body image, therapy and the patriarchy". The Australian.

References