Zinnia Kumar

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Zinnia Kumar
ZinniaKumar.jpg
Born (1995-03-30) 30 March 1995 (age 26)
Sydney, New South Wales[1]
NationalityAustralian
Alma mater
OccupationModel; Scientist; Activist
Modeling information
Height1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Hair colorBlack
Eye colorBrown
Agency
Websitewww.zinniakumar.com

Zinnia Kumar, also known as Zinnia, is an Australian fashion model,[1] CIEEM accredited ecologist,[2] colorism and ethnic representation advocate[3][4][5][6]

Fashion Model[]

Zinnia Kumar is the first ecologist to cover any international edition of Vogue Magazine in 128 years.[7][8] She is the first Indian & the first South Asian Australian to cover Australian Vogue in 62 years.[8] Zinnia appeared on the Porter Magazine August 2021 cover and was labelled 'Force of Nature'. Zinnia was named the 50 Most Influential Global Indians by Vogue India in 2019.[9][10] In 2021 Zinnia was nominated as a Social Mover and change maker by models.com.[11]

Zinnia has worked for Tommy Hilfiger, MSGM,[12] Off-White,[13] H&M, Interview Magazine, Another Magazine, Vogue India[10], Vogue Australia, Harpers Bazaar among others.[14]

Filmography[]

Year Title Role Language Notes
2017 Wonder Woman Amazon Warrior English Hollywood debut[15]

Ecology, sustainability & conservation[]

Zinnia is a field conservation ecologist having worked with Little Blue Penguins, invertebrates and wetland birds for the EPA, Birdlife and Department of Environment among others.[16] She is a former Australian Museum science communicator.[2] Zinnia is a CIEEM accredited Ecologist, sustainability consultant and is the CEO and founder of ecology, sustainability and inclusion consultancy '' .[2][17]

Scientific Research[]

Kumar has published two original scientific research papers on negative frequency-dependant selection on human traits: the first about men's facial hair and the second on women's hair colour. Zinnia's study of attractiveness of facial hair in men was the first time negative frequency dependant selection had been applied to a human trait, since Charles Darwin coined the term.[5][4] The published paper found that attractiveness varies with novelty, less common facial hair types were considered most attractive by men and women. This research went viral on the internet and was covered by many news outlets BBC, The Washington Post, Time, The Guardian, Science Magazine and Forbes, coining a new social term 'Peak Beard'[1].

Colorism & Ethnic representation[]

Zinnia Kumar is a vocal colorism and ethnic representation advocate, with a documentary on the topic currently in production.[4][18][1] Zinnia is interested in decolonising and deconstructing beauty ideals and histories of scientific racism. She has researched how colorism disempowers women whilst at the University of Oxford. Her beauty advocacy involves educating, writing & speaking using mixed media.[19][3][2]

Education & empowerment[]

Zinnia has a keen interest in educational access as a tool for transformation. Zinnia spent a decade empowering refugee and disadvantaged children in Australia, India and Thailand.[20] She was selected by the Department of Foreign Affairs as a youth ambassador and is a Rotary Youth Leadership Awardee.[21]

Motivational talks & keynotes[]

Zinnia grew up with social anxiety she over came it by training in speaking & presenting at NIDA & RADA, she has been a member of Toastmasters International (Public Speaking Society) for a decade and is a member of The Oxford Union.[21] She has presented, spoken and delivered keynotes for British Fashion Council, Vogue, Cancer Council, H&M, , Australian Museum, The Australian among others. Her work covers motivational speaking and advocacy in beauty, inclusion, education, sustainability and female empowerment.[19]

Documentary[]

Zinnia is due to release the first season of her own podcast ' interviewing key figures in fashion, beauty & sustainability in mid 2021.[21] She is currently in production on a presenter led feature-length documentary exploring colorism in the Global South.[21]

Early life[]

Zinnia Kumar was born in Sydney, Australia to Indian parents and grew up in Sydney's south-western suburbs.[4][1] She attended a disadvantaged high school and self learned her final year studies.[18] Zinnia Kumar attended University of New South Wales for a Bachelor of Advanced Science, with First Class honours,[4] Brasenose College, Oxford University for an MPhil in Modern South Asian Studies,[22] and MSc in Industrial, Organisational and Business Psychology at University College London focusing on sustainability and CSR.[2]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d Kumar, Zinnia (11 March 2021). "Model Zinnia Kumar on belonging and the importance of storytelling". Vogue Australia. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d e "About Zinnia". ZINNIA KUMAR. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
  3. ^ a b "My Fashion Life: Zinnia Kumar AW19". www.matchesfashion.com. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Sauce chats with Zinnia Kumar - Published Scientist, activist & model". Sauce. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
  5. ^ a b Kumar, Zinnia; Brooks, Robert C.; Dixson, Barnaby J. (2014). "Negative frequency-dependent preferences and variation in male facial hair". Biology Letters. 10 (4): 20130958. doi:10.1098/rsbl.2013.0958. PMC 4013690. PMID 24740903.
  6. ^ Ferere, Cassell. "H&M Conscious Exclusive A/W20 Collection Is Giving Evening Wear Fashion A New Life". Forbes. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  7. ^ "Megha Kapoor ushers in a new era for Vogue India". www.condenast.com. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  8. ^ a b "Zinnia Kumar - Model". MODELS.com. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  9. ^ "January 2019 Issue". Vogue India.
  10. ^ a b "49 incredible Indian women who are creating legacies across the globe". VOGUE India. 5 February 2019. Retrieved 8 March 2019.
  11. ^ "StackPath". models.com. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  12. ^ Pithers, Ellie (27 September 2020). "MSGM Spring 2021 Ready-to-Wear Collection". Vogue. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
  13. ^ "OFF-WHITE™ | FW20 Advertising". ZINNIA KUMAR. 11 October 2020. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
  14. ^ "Zinnia Kumar - Model". MODELS.com. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  15. ^ "Zinnia Kumar". IMDb. Retrieved 13 March 2017.
  16. ^ "Little Penguin research". Little Penguin research. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  17. ^ Ferere, Cassell. "H&M Conscious Exclusive A/W20 Collection Is Giving Evening Wear Fashion A New Life". Forbes. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  18. ^ a b "Scientist and model Zinnia Kumar on colourism, the serious issue of skin colour stigma in South Asia and why science and spirituality can co-exist. - Offline, The Podcast: Honest Conversations About True Self". Spotify. 6 June 2020. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
  19. ^ a b "The Ecologist With A Color Correcting Lip Stain". Into The Gloss. 20 May 2021. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  20. ^ "Zinnia Kumar on Dismantling Beauty Standards & DIY Skincare". Rose Inc. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  21. ^ a b c d Porter, Magazine (9 August 2021). "Porter Magazine Cover Story Zinnia Kumar". Netaporter.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  22. ^ The Brazen Nose (PDF). University of Oxford, Brasenose College. 2018. p. 29.
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