If you’re like most people, you constantly see tall, beautiful models gracing ad campaigns that run on billboards and commercials and assume that there’s not much to them past their looks. Think again. Kierra Bussey is the perfect example of how beauty is more than skin deep.
Statuesque, elegant and beautiful, Bussey recently worked the runway at Philadelphia Fashion Week for designers like Project Runway’s Kristin Simms and Veronica Couture. But don’t be fooled: she’s much more than a pretty face. Majoring in both Communications and Spanish, her life is as crazy as a backstage fashion show. She’s also the Opinion Editor for the Temple News and interns at the Department of Labor Public Affairs Office.
While she has the potential to make a successful career out of modeling, it’s not a priority in her life.
“Modeling is kind of my outlet,” says the modest beauty. “The rush and the energy is fun. If the opportunity arises, I wouldn’t shy away from it, but I’ve never really viewed it as a career.”
With her modeling history, it’s obvious that she is passionate about it nonetheless. With the encouragement of her grandmother, she attended Barbizon Modeling School at the tender age of 13, and began doing side jobs and competitions. In her sophomore year, she even made it to the semifinals of America’s Next Top Model.
But she’d rather put her energy towards making her voice heard.
“I’m very opinionated,” says Bussey. “Especially when it comes to issues that I’m passionate about.”
One of the things she’s most passionate about is teaching. She even took her study abroad trip to Oviedo, Spain as an opportunity to teach, volunteering to help Spanish-speaking children learn how to speak English. An activist for education, she hopes to go into Teach for America and, one day, own her own non-profit to help underprivileged children.
Even though she hates that models are basically products, she acknowledges that it is a great way to build confidence.
“I was teased a lot growing up,” she admits. “It wasn’t until adulthood that I learned to accept myself, and I want to bring that out in others.”