Meet Kiki Ransom | Model, Beauty Enthusiast

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kiki Ransom and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kiki, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?

Launching The 411 came to life from the idea of giving me another platform to dive into detail around my self discovery and elevation journey. My editor, Chloe, made a joke that I talked too much for my typical weekend vlogs yet the information was super important, so naturally we felt a podcast made the most sense. At this point, I’d been modeling for 3.5 years and a beauty content creator for 1.5, so felt comfortable adding this new platform to my wheelhouse.

I’ve voiced this before on social media but in a nutshell, immediately after graduating University, I fell into a job that sparked a sense of aimlessness, anxiousness and encouraged an unhealthy habit of drinking, partying, and not prioritizing my mental and physical health. After a year of this lifestyle, I finally had enough, and gained the strength to quit that job and rediscover myself. I needed to completely break down my barriers and understand what my goals were. It was in this time off, learning about my body, healthy eating, seeing a therapist, and simply showing up for myself, that I got the opportunity to figure out what I wanted to do with my life. Traveling, from young, has always played a key role in helping me understand myself and it was on a solo trip to London that I found my passion. I met a group of incredible girls who showed me a lifestyle full of creativity and success and encouraged me to embark on this new journey.

It was the beginning to the rest of my life.

Shortly after, I got signed to model in NYC, London, Paris, and Germany.

I felt privileged getting direct access to experts in my field to learn first hand ways to elevate my skincare, makeup routines, fitness routines and many more. It started with me sharing the tips I learned with my mom and grandma but then it occurred to me to share this information with my online audience; especially at this point when I had been searching for an organic and authentic way to grow my community. I’ve always been a major advocate for access to information; it’s a quality I watched my mom and grandma both embody, and wanted to exhibit in my own way. Both instagram and tik tok felt too superficial to truly dive deep into unfolding ways my community could better themselves, so the podcast naturally made sense. I thought back to 2019 Kiki who felt so lost and what she would have needed to hear at that time. In a way, The 411 is an homage to my younger, lost self.

I was and still am overwhelmed at the support I received launching The 411. From world renowned brands like rhode to Saie Beauty to Nobu Pilates; I was welcomed with open arms for my idea and shown nothing but support to increase access to information and give my community a free and approachable toolbox on ways to elevate themselves; Be their own version of that girl.

I can’t wait to see what the future holds!

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.

It’s tough to be a digital creator today, let alone to be different and stand out, but in the most non cliche way possible, I really do feel when it comes to content creating, you have to be confident in yourself, your delivery, and believe no one can do it like you; It’s my confidence in my originality that makes me different. It took me roughly a year of figuring it all out and solidifying my personal brand, but once I did, I felt unstoppable. As mentioned, I’m a full time model, content creator, and now podcast host. I used to say I was lucky but I now know I manifested everything that’s happened to me.

One of my first modeling jobs was L’oreal which jump started my career in the beauty space. Shortly after, I confirmed jobs with Revlon, YSL Beauty, and many more. I’d be lying if I said it all felt organic and natural in the beginning. I constantly compared myself to models who had been in the space much longer than me; I’ve always strived to be great at what I did, and this was a growth process. I had to learn to be patient, and give myself the time and support to be the model I envisioned in my head. Eventually, she came alive.

My modeling afforded me the opportunity to live in London, and it was there, I tapped into my curiosity of content creation. With a thorough knowledge of beauty brands and a constant curiosity for trying new skincare and beauty products, I started to share my opinions and reviews online. Just like with any job, it took me some time to find my groove, but after 3 months of consistently posting, I got reached out to and asked to be a part of one of my biggest collaborations yet; Hailey Beiber’s Rhode Skin. I remember being shocked, wondering how they found me and if it was spam because at the time I only had 2,000 followers on Instagram and no joke 55 on Tik Tok. Once confirming the email was legit, I squealed! It was their highlight of  my personality and authenticity that made me the most excited; That was a major turning point for me and confirmation that being myself was my money maker.

From there, I started doing much larger scale partnerships and collaborating with my dream brands. Though I love modeling, it felt great to be valued and appreciated for being 100% myself. I felt proud of my authenticity and energy and knew my originality couldn’t be emulated.

As for my podcast, The 411 With Kiki, I think it’s quite a rare perspective to offer inside scoop from a regular girl like myself that I’ve learned from key players in the beauty and overall wellness space. Rather than looking outside, I decided to look in my network and share the many gems I’ve learned along the way. I mean, I now find myself in rooms with fellow it girls  like Hailey Beiber, Roxie Nafousi, and Pat McGrath to name a few, and know first hand the number of girls who would give their everything to meet these incredible women and learn from them.

I also love connecting and highlighting the people behind the scenes responsible for unseen efforts that make these brands thrive. I’ve always been adamant that teamwork is essential to reach your dreams; One of my favorite African Proverbs highlights this; “if you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together.”

I figured by sharing my own personal self discovery journey with the support of experts I know, it would give my audience a personal perspective supported by experts to back what I’m sharing.

The podcast is a baby… only 6 months old, but the response and feedback has been incredible and I’m excited for what we have planned for the future. Little secret, but we have some great international events in the books with special guest that I know will make my community super proud and excited. I can’t wait for them to see!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?

Though I’m not a LA native or habitant, I do visit quite often so would say my own personal itinerary would be going to my friends Tyra and Lexi’s house and seeing all the girlies, getting the latest tea, and just having a true girls day. I then would go out for lunch at Found Oyster because the seafood is fab and head off to my friend Themba’s where we listen to music, have friends over to DJ, and just be in great company. I’d end the night at somebody’s party because Tyra is literally the social chair of LA and always has some sort of star studded connection. I accredit her for the reason I am never without a plan.

As a NYC native currently living in London, I do think LA has an incredible charm that took me a few visits to discover. I have such an appreciation for it now though, and understand its unique beauty.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?

I simply have to start with my mom. She’s always been my biggest support system, but as I navigate adulthood and specifically womanhood, I have such a greater appreciation for her. She navigated raising me at 19 years old with so much finesse and I admire how she’s created her own dynasty despite the odds. For context, no one in my family is a professional model/influencer; My mom made her living as a city worker. So safe to say, hearing my dream to model and eventually influence was a shock. But to show my mom’s character, it’s only now that I’m experiencing success, that she shares her previous doubts when I first embarked on the journey; And I quote “I thought you were literally crazy when you first presented this aspiration.” Yet she never once displayed that doubt to me and has always listened to my dreams and asked how she could support me. She’s the first person I speak to every morning, the person who makes me laugh the most, and truly my biggest cheerleader. I am proudly her daughter and everything I do and all I’m working toward is with her in mind. It’s an honor she can witness what I’ve accomplished and be a part of the journey.

With that being said I cannot withhold the Queen of our household; my grandma. If eloquence, class, and exquisiteness was a person, it would be my grandmother. She’s the greatest writer, public speaker, and public figure I know, and will always be one of my greatest inspirations. Whenever I get the question, “If you could have dinner with anyone, dead or alive, who would it be? ” It’s always her; Keep in mind I have access to dine with her whenever I want. She’s an incredible conversationalist whose attention to detail is unmatched. She leaves a lasting impression on everyone she meets and truly has a magic to her aura and words. She is Queen.

And lastly, I have to thank my small but mighty team. My right hand Chloe does anything and everything that revolves around editing, sound, design, and answering my crazy text entertaining the many ideas that come into my head. I never in a million years thought we would have been able to accomplish what we have in such little time with the podcast, but she is living proof with the right person by your side, anything is possible.

Lauren is my agent, aka left hand, that I definitely was apprehensive about starting a relationship with in the beginning. I had only heard trauma stories about agents, but she is anything but that. She understood me and my vision from the beginning and has played an integral role in helping me attain brand partnerships and overall increased visibility in my industry. I’m so thankful to have her help and support as I navigate a new territory of my career and to be surrounded by honest, good hearted souls.

And last but definitely not least, I have to mention my partner Jonny and our little man Murphy, (a 1 year old white whippet). I’m a huge believer that you need the right people around you to be the best version of yourself, and these two are exactly that. Living in another country and achieving what I have, would not have been possible without these two and I’m thankful each and every day to have them by my side. They’re here through the achievements and lessons, yet show me nothing but unconditional love. They’re a daily reminder of the little family I’ve created and with them by my side I truly feel unstoppable. I love you guys!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kiki.ransom/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3WMyNEcYsGl6VpStGs0ctg

Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@thekikiglow

Image Credits
– My partner in “My success Cocktail” Jonny Macaluso – Inclusivity In The Beauty Industry: Trish Swaney