Kim Alexis

Kim Alexis was born in Lockport, New York, and grew up in the suburbs of Buffalo. Her father, Robert, was a chemical engineer, and her mother was Barbara. She began swimming competitively at age six and continued through her senior year at Lockport High School. Alexis attended the University of Rhode Island, where she was accepted into a five-year pharmacy program. At 17, while still in high school, she decided to explore modeling to earn extra money. She initially joined a modeling agency in Buffalo after attending a charm school. Despite her initial plans to pursue pharmacy, her modeling tests were sent to New York, leading to a contract with Elite Model Management. Upon graduating from high school and turning 18, Alexis’s modeling career began rapidly. Her first job involved traveling to Paris and Rome. She secured her first magazine cover with Harper’s Bazaar within four days of beginning her professional modeling work. Alexis went on to appear on approximately 500 magazine covers and received numerous job offers daily. She became a prominent figure in the fashion industry during the late 1970s and early to mid-1980s, alongside models such as Christie Brinkley and Paulina Porizkova. In 1983, Alexis became the face of Revlon’s premium Ultima II line, succeeding Lauren Hutton. Her work included collaborations with major designers like Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, and Versace, showcasing her versatility across haute couture and sportswear.

Beyond modeling, Alexis expanded her professional activities into television and film. In the early 1990s, she hosted health-focused shows such as “Healthy Kids” on the Family Channel and Lifetime. Later in the decade, she hosted “Daily Edition,” a syndicated program distributed by MGM. Alexis made an appearance in the final episode of “Cheers,” “One for the Road,” in 1993. Her film credits include roles in “Body Bags” in 1993 and “Holy Man” in 1998, where she appeared alongside Eddie Murphy. In 2005, she participated in VH1’s reality competition “But Can They Sing?” where she was eliminated in week two. Throughout her career, Alexis has maintained an active lifestyle, engaging in activities such as running, biking, and hiking, stemming from her early love for swimming and sports. This affinity for sports also made working with publications like Sports Illustrated particularly enjoyable for her. She later founded the Kim Alexis Foundation in the early 2000s, dedicated to supporting charitable initiatives in education, healthcare, and social justice. Alexis continues to serve as an author and advocate, sharing insights into the modeling business and promoting healthy living, aiming to inspire individuals to pursue their passions and maintain confidence.