Naked Beauty Kim Baker on Survival and Reinvention In The Beauty Industry
Kim Baker has lived an iconic life. From her first photoshoot at 13 years old to being managed by Bethann Hardisson, she divided her time between breaking down barriers and partying with fashion legends. In this episode, Kim walks us through the beginning of her fashion career and how her mother instilled unshakeable confidence in her by detailing the beauty of Black history. Kim offers us a peek into the highs and lows of the modeling industry in the 1980s, namely, early sexual harassment and stringent expectations about her body and weight. Kim doesn’t hold back when it comes to sharing her experiences with other iconic cultural figures, including meeting Jean Michel Basquiat and going into labor at Grace Jones’ birthday party at Studio 54.
Kim doesn’t hold back when it comes to other difficult experiences, like how a whirlwind romance led to her facing a 65-year prison sentence. But Kim is no stranger to reinvention. She pioneered plus-size modeling in the 1990s, stepped behind the camera and became a makeup artist, and worked with Bobbi Brown for 14 years as one of her earliest employees. Kim’s career leveled up again when she accepted an opportunity to do glam for Tom Cruise and Laurence Fishburne. She realized a prediction she made at the age of nine and launched her own makeup line, Glamazon Beauty, in 2016. Kim’s transparency about her career, motherhood, and her faith illuminates why she has remained a staple in the beauty and fashion scene.
Tune in as we discuss:
(1:44) Kim’s Beauty and Fashion Background
(2:55) Learning About Beauty From Her Mother
(5:55) Being Managed By Bethann Hardisson
(7:45) Working With Legendary Photographers Bill King Arthur Elgort
(9:05) Meeting Keith Haring, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and Andy Warhol at Studio 54
(10:25) Going Into Labor at Grace Jones’ Party
(21:20) Pioneering The Plus-Size Modeling Industry
(26:26) Joining Bobbi Brown And Staying For 14 Years
(30:45) Working with Tom Cruise and Laurence Fishburne
(40:25) Her Simple and Effective Skincare Routine
(48:23) Kim’s Daughter Natasha Talks About Growing Up With Kim
(52:13) When She Feels The Most Beautiful
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