New York, September 24, 2024 (Yes Punjab News)
Jenny Shimizu was at the height of her modeling career in the 1990s, and she certainly made the most of it, both professionally and personally.
As one of the first openly gay supermodels, Shimizu was breaking barriers in the fashion world, while also leading a colorful and adventurous life behind the scenes. Now, at 57, the former Calvin Klein and Banana Republic model is opening up about that era in her life in the docuseries In Vogue: The 90s.
Romping Around Europe with Madonna
One of the more jaw-dropping revelations from the series involves Shimizu’s romantic escapades with none other than Madonna. Shimizu recalls how their relationship began in the whirlwind of the ’90s fashion and music scene.
“I mean, you’re not gonna say no to Madonna in the ’90s,” Shimizu candidly shares in the series. “Not only was it great feeling like a high-class hooker—because really it was. You’d get a phone call like, ‘Hey, can you meet me at my Paris show? You’re in Europe, right?’”
Shimizu recounts how she would fly across Europe just to meet Madonna for intimate encounters, describing how she would finish a modeling gig with Prada in Milan, hop on a plane, and meet Madonna at the Ritz in Paris in the middle of the night. “I’d go over to her hotel, to the Ritz, at like 4 in the morning, have sex, and then fly back to Milan,” she says.
Reflecting on the wild times, Shimizu jokes in the docuseries, “My wife is going to kill me,” referring to Michelle Harper, whom she married in 2014.
Not About Love, But About Desire
Shimizu also touches on her relationship with Madonna in her memoir, released last year. She reflects on how their connection was driven by passion rather than emotional intimacy. “It wasn’t about an emotional bond; it was about taking each other to the heights of sexual ecstasy,” Shimizu writes. “I loved the fact that I was at this woman’s beck and call. It turned me on, being ordered to her room whenever she felt like sex.”
A Connection With Angelina Jolie
During that same period, Shimizu’s love life intertwined with another Hollywood star—Angelina Jolie. According to reports, Shimizu and Jolie were romantically involved while Shimizu was still seeing Madonna. Jolie, who spoke to Girlfriends magazine in 1997, reflected on her deep connection with Shimizu.
“I probably would have married Jenny Shimizu if I hadn’t married my husband,” Jolie said, referring to her ex-husband Jonny Lee Miller. “I fell in love with her the first second I saw her.” She even described Shimizu as someone who “could have been a deep love” for her, highlighting the intense bond they shared.
A Groundbreaking Moment in Fashion
Shimizu wasn’t just known for her personal life—her professional work in the fashion industry made waves as well. She was one of the first Asian-American models to break into the high-fashion world at a time when diversity was limited. One memorable moment that still stands out to her was her first big campaign in New York City.
“I remember my friends brought me to Times Square and said, ‘Look!’ And I had just done a Banana Republic campaign. And underneath it said, ‘American Beauty,’” Shimizu recalls. “Never in my life had I been described as American or as a beauty.”
Coming from a Japanese-American family that had endured internment camps during World War II, and growing up as a gay woman, Shimizu faced countless forms of discrimination. “To walk down the street and always get harassed in some way, for one second, seeing that campaign… it was such a big statement,” she says. “And I really am grateful to Calvin [Klein] because he actually did something that was so positive globally.”
A Legacy of Breaking Barriers
Jenny Shimizu’s career was about more than modeling clothes—it was about defying conventions, breaking down stereotypes, and living her truth. She became an icon not only for her unique look and rebellious attitude but for representing a broader idea of what beauty could be.
Whether romping around Europe with Madonna, sharing intense love with Angelina Jolie, or making history on New York City billboards, Shimizu has always followed her own path. As she reflects on her life and career in In Vogue: The 90s, it’s clear that her influence in fashion and pop culture still resonates today.
