Kelsey Merritt, the first Filipino woman to walk in the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show and appear in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, recently talked about how her modeling career began. She grew up in a small town in the Philippines and did not know much about the fashion industry at first. Coming from outside Manila, she was unaware of what modeling involved.
Her journey started when she was discovered in Manila while still in college. A New York director from Wilhelmina Models found her on Instagram and invited her to model in New York City. She was only 17 years old at the time and a sophomore in college when she received the offer to work in one of the world’s biggest fashion cities.
Her father was cautious about her going to New York alone and spoke with the director before allowing her to travel. Despite the concerns, Kelsey was confident she could handle the challenge. Looking back, she understands why her father was worried.
Kelsey’s experience also involved a shift in how she saw herself. Growing up in the Philippines, she was often seen as the white girl because of her biracial background. However, in New York, people saw her as Asian. This change was confusing for her but showed how identity can be different depending on where you are.
Besides modeling, Kelsey has made investments, including buying a house in Los Angeles. She credits her success to both modeling and content creation on social media. This combination has helped her build a strong personal brand and earn income from different sources.
Her achievements have made her a role model for many young Filipinos and Asian talents. Breaking into big shows like Victoria’s Secret and appearing in Sports Illustrated are significant milestones in her career. It shows that people from smaller towns and countries can reach international success.
Social media played a big role in Kelsey’s discovery and career growth. Today, platforms like Instagram allow scouts and directors to find new models worldwide, not just in traditional fashion capitals. This has changed the way the modeling industry works and created more opportunities.
