Jenny Lynn Shimizu (born June 16, 1967) is an American[2] model and actress.
Early life
Shimizu was born in San Jose, California, and raised in
Santa Maria.[3]
Career
While working as a mechanic,[2][4][3] Shimizu was approached to model for the
Calvin Klein CK1 fragrance ads and model Calvin Klein fashions. She later was featured in the
Banana Republic "American Beauty" campaign.
She became the first Asian model to walk for the highly influential catwalk
Prada and also became the first minority model to open the show.[5]
In 2019, Shimizu appeared in the acclaimed documentary
House of Cardin, discussing the ground breaking Pierre Cardin model, Hiroko Matsumoto. [10]
Personal life
In the mid-1990s, Shimizu had a romantic relationship with
Angelina Jolie, which Jolie confirmed in a 1997 interview when she said, "I fell in love with her the first second I saw her. I would probably have married Jenny if I hadn't married my [first] husband (
Jonny Lee Miller)."[11]
In 2005, to protest against America's laws on gay marriage, Shimizu took part in a staged wedding ceremony with
Rebecca Loos on the
Sky documentary Power Lesbian UK (broadcast as Power Lesbians on
LOGO in the U.S.).[12] The two had a relationship for a period thereafter.
In 2012, Shimizu met Michelle Harper at a party.[13] They married in August 2014.[14]