ART & SOUL

How gorgeous model, photographer and artist CINDY KIMBERLY built her massive social media following...

- ZEYNEP YENISEY

At what point does modelling become art? For sultry Spanish beauty Cindy Kimberly, they’re one and the same. The 22-year-old is art personified; a model, photographer, designer, artist, and painter, all in one stunning package of full lips, perfectly sculpted curves, and striking brown eyes that exude an irresistible self-assurance impossible to ignore.

Born in Amsterdam to a Spanish mother and Indonesian father, the brunette beauty is an international icon who was catapulted into stardom in 2015 when, in an unexpected turn of events, she caught the eye of Justin Bieber — who posted her picture on Instagram with the caption: “Omg who is this!!” Clearly, even the Biebs couldn’t resist her ethereal beauty. And who can blame him?

With that single photo and four-word caption, he unleashed an internet search party to unveil the identity of the mystery bombshell. And so, the internet did its thing, and a star was born. “When I was younger I had a Justin Bieber fan account for like five years,” she says, echoing the sentiments of countless teenage girls around the world. “The running joke between my friends was that one day he would post a photo of me.” Well, what can we say? Life works in mysterious ways.

“When it happened I thought my friends were pranking me, so I didn’t even check his profile until hours later. I genuinely thought I had to be dreaming for a minute.” After Bieber’s post, Kimberly was picked up by Spanish modelling agency Uno Models, and has since gone on to sign with industry powerhouse The Lions as well. Since being discovered, she’s scored multiple modelling campaigns for names like Charlotte Tilbury, Alo Yoga, Revolve, and Marc Jacobs, and walked runway shows for the likes of Philipp Plein and GCDS.