Jessica Angel White[3] (born June 21, 1984) is an American fashion model, actress and television personality.[4] She is best known for being a Victoria's Secret runway model,[5] Maybelline spokesperson[6][7] and working for CoverGirl, as well as her appearances in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issues.[8] Outside of modeling, she has appeared on several television series, such as The Young and the Restless, America's Next Top Model, Famously Single, Zoe Ever After, Hip Hop Squares and Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta.

Jessica White
White at Jacob's Cure 'Dream Big!' Annual Gala 2012
Born (1984-06-21) June 21, 1984 (age 40)[1]
NationalityAmerican
Alma materKensington High School
Modeling information
Height1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)[1]
Hair colorBlack[1]
Eye colorHoney Gold [1]
Agency
  • Modelwerk (Hamburg)
  • VISION Los Angeles (Los Angeles)[2]

Early life

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White was born on June 21, 1984, in Buffalo, New York.[9] Her father was a pastor and she sang in a church-driven girl group as a child.[10] She attended Kensington High School.[11][12][13]

Career

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At the age of 12, White was scouted in her hometown of Buffalo, New York, and had gone to Personal Best modeling school at age sixteen. After modeling for one week, her first job was an editorial for Vogue after meeting Anna Wintour.[14] In Paris, she signed a contract with international modeling agency IMG Models. She has modeled for several magazines, including Sports Illustrated, W, Harper's Bazaar, Teen Vogue, King and Maxim.[15][16] She has walked the runway for Philipp Plein, Victoria's Secret, Alice Roi, Baby Phat, Oscar de la Renta, Tracy Reese, Zang Toi, Sonia Rykiel, Alberta Ferretti, Ralph Lauren, Marc Jacobs and DKNY.[15] She has appeared in advertisements for Chloé, CoverGirl, Gap, Maybelline, RocaWear and Tommy Jeans.[15] She has also modeled for Joanne Gair's body painting works in these editions.[17]

She has appeared in music videos for Big & Rich ("Comin' To Your City"), John Legend, Jay-Z ("Change Clothes"), Robin Thicke ("The Sweetest Love"), and Trey Songz ("Neighbors Know My Name"). White had a small role as Bra Model in the crime comedy film Big Momma's House 2 (2006). In 2008, she appeared as herself in two episodes of CBS's soap opera The Young and the Restless. On October 14, 2009, White appeared as a guest judge on America's Next Top Model. She appeared on E!'s reality television series Famously Single, which premiered on June 14, 2016.[18] The series follows eight single celebrities who all move in together and try to solve their romantic relationships. She landed the role of Tammi in the romantic comedy film The Perfect Match (2016). The film grossed over $10 million worldwide.[19]

White wrote and produced her debut single, "Bipolar Love", released under her stage name "Jypsy" on June 21, 2016.[10]

In June 2023, White joined the main cast of the reality television series, Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta for the show's eleventh season.

Philanthropy

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White has created a women's philanthropic organization, Angel Wings Foundation.[20][21]

Personal life

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White has given interviews about her cocaine addiction[22] and her mental illness.[11][13][22][23] She used cocaine to cope with the problems her mother had.[20] She overdosed on cocaine at 20 after her battle with depression.

She is now off cocaine and considers her mother to be her best friend.[20]

As a child, she witnessed violence and was molested by a family member.[20] She looks to modeling as her savior saying "[it allowed me] to leave and travel to Paris and New York when I could finally relax and be out of the abusive environment."[20]

In October 2010, White was arrested for assaulting a woman in New York City.[24][25][26][27]

Filmography

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Film roles
Year Title Role Notes
2000 First, Last and Deposit Tessa
2003 Little Erin Merryweather Patty Cake Girl #2
2006 Big Momma's House 2 Bra Model
2016 The Perfect Match Tammi
2018 Easter Egg Jypsy
Television roles
Year Title Role Notes
1996 The Making of a Hollywood Madam Young Shana Fleiss Television film
2007 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show Herself TV special
2008 The Young and the Restless Herself / model 2 episodes
2009 America's Next Top Model Guest Judge / Supermodel Episode: "Petite Ninja Warriors"
2015 Real Husbands of Hollywood Herself Episode: "Model Behavior"
2016 Famously Single Herself 8 episodes
2016 Zoe Ever After Herself 3 episodes
2017 Hip Hop Squares Herself / Contestant Episode: "Jessica White vs Joe Budden"
2017 The Climb Copper Amazon original series
2023–present Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta Herself Season 11–present
Music videos
Year Title Artist
2003 "Change Clothes" Jay-Z
2005 "Comin' To Your City" Big & Rich
2005 "So High" John Legend
2008 "The Sweetest Love" Robin Thicke
2009 "I Invented Sex" Trey Songz
2009 "I Invented Sex/Say Aah"
2010 "Say Aah"
2010 "Neighbors Know My Name"
2010 "Power" Kanye West
2013 "XO" Beyoncé

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e FMD profile. Retrieved on 2009-09-14.
  2. ^ "Jessica White - Model".
  3. ^ "Jessica Angel White - Ancestry.com". www.ancestry.com. Retrieved November 7, 2024.
  4. ^ "Jessica White | TV Guide". TVGuide.com. Retrieved July 27, 2019.
  5. ^ Fan, Supermodel. "Jessica White – 5 Sureally Sexy – Victoria's Secret Fashion Show 2007 | Supermodel.Pictures". Retrieved July 27, 2019.
  6. ^ "Lucire Beauty - Maybelline signs Jessica White - The global fashion magazine". lucire.com. Retrieved July 27, 2019.
  7. ^ Janetos, Stephanie (April 14, 2015). "Jessica White Spills Beauty Insider Tips and Tricks". Galore. Retrieved July 27, 2019.
  8. ^ "Model Behavior: Jessica White". Essence. Retrieved July 27, 2019.
  9. ^ "25 in 2009: Jessica White". PAPER. September 11, 2009. Retrieved July 27, 2019.
  10. ^ a b "REVOLT Premiere: Jessica "Jypsy" White's Debut Single, "Bipolar Love"". Retrieved July 14, 2016.
  11. ^ a b "Jessica White: Like A Tattoo". GIANTlife. February 17, 2009. Retrieved September 15, 2013.
  12. ^ "Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Babe Jessica White: I Was Victim of Childhood Sexual Abuse | E! Online UK". Eonline.com. May 31, 2011. Retrieved September 15, 2013.
  13. ^ a b Messer, Lesley (March 30, 2011). "Sean Penn Ex Girlfriend Jessica White on Assault". People.com. Retrieved September 15, 2013.
  14. ^ "Jessica White". tmz. Retrieved November 13, 2012.
  15. ^ a b c FashionModelDirectory.com, The FMD-. "Jessica White - Fashion Model | Models | Photos, Editorials & Latest News | The FMD". The FMD - FashionModelDirectory.com. Retrieved July 26, 2019. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  16. ^ "Buffalo woman appears in Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition – Buffalo News Live | The Buffalo News". Blogs.buffalonews.com. February 16, 2011. Archived from the original on April 3, 2013. Retrieved September 15, 2013.
  17. ^ "SI Swimsuit Collection: Jessica White". Time Inc. Archived from the original on May 25, 2005. Retrieved February 18, 2008.
  18. ^ "Are The 'Famously Single' Cast Still Flying Solo?". Bustle. August 3, 2016. Retrieved July 26, 2019.
  19. ^ "The Perfect Match (2016) - Box Office Mojo". www.boxofficemojo.com. Retrieved July 26, 2019.
  20. ^ a b c d e Messer, Lesley (March 30, 2011). "Jessica White says she is In an awesome place now". People.com. Retrieved June 19, 2016.
  21. ^ "Jessica White Reveals Abusive Childhood & Partners With Russell Simmons on Anti-Child Abuse Campaign | The Young, Black, and Fabulous". Theybf.com. Retrieved September 15, 2013.
  22. ^ a b "Jessica White Opens Up About Assault, Abusive Past & Drugs | CocoPerez.com". Perezhilton.com. March 31, 2011. Archived from the original on September 27, 2013. Retrieved September 15, 2013.
  23. ^ "Model Jessica White Talks Painful Past, Molestation, & Cocaine Overdose". Necole Bitchie.com. March 30, 2011. Archived from the original on April 2, 2011. Retrieved September 15, 2013.
  24. ^ "Jessica White Arrested". People.com. October 26, 2010. Retrieved September 15, 2013.
  25. ^ "Sean Penn's Model Friend Jessica White Arrested for Sean Penn-Like Behavior | E! Online UK". Eonline.com. October 26, 2010. Retrieved September 15, 2013.
  26. ^ "'Sports Illustrated' model Jessica White arrested in NYC". Content.usatoday.com. October 26, 2010. Retrieved September 15, 2013.
  27. ^ "Model Jessica White Arrested After Fight Over NYC Taxi". chicagotribune.com. October 26, 2010. Retrieved September 15, 2013.
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