User:Tong.sa-24/Briana King

Early Life

Briana King grew up in east LA [Jenkem]. At 18, she moved to Australia to model full-time before being deported back to the United States in 2017. She currently resides in New York.

Modeling

While living in LA, people approached King and her sister about modeling but their mother would not let them. Eventually, she was casted for a job for Macy's off of MySpace. King took the job and moved to Australia by herself with $200.00, where she pursued modeling full-time. King states she chose Australia because it was the furthest English-speaking location she could think of. [Jordan]

Upon returning to the United States, King still modeled, alongside skateboarding. She has stated that skateboarding has made her more confident in her modeling because falling down on her skateboard all the time taught her that she does not always need to be perfect.

King has modeled for brands like Drew House and been recruited for a Calvin Klein advertisement. She has also appeared in music videos for A$AP Rocky and Doja Cat.

Skateboarding

King's first skateboard was a fake Zero board that she received at a swap meet when she was 12. After a few weeks of practicing, she tried to ollie a four stair and broker her leg. King did not pick up skateboarding again until she was 24. One of the first friends she made in New York skated a lot, and consequently, King was drawn in as well. The first skate sesh she attended in New York was a House of Vans skate sesh. King says she skated for about 7 hours a day that year. King has stated that she suffers a lot from anxiety, but that when she skates she is not as anxious. She says was taking medications for a time, but stopped when she began skating.

While in Australia, King would often go to skateparks. She would watch the skaters and observe their technique, but felt too intimidated to join in. Consequently, King understood the importance of having a safe space where non-traditional skaters could feel comfortable. This, along with friends often commenting on King's good skateboard teaching skills, inspired her to bring women and queer skaters together with her Girl & Queer Skate Sesh where they can skate and enjoy themselves without fearing being judged. King and her Girl & Queer Skate Sesh have been sponsored by brands like Zappos, Reebok, Vans, and JBL.

King started her Tik Tok during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her account, which is dedicated to showing skateboarding beginner tips and tricks, has accumulated over 400,000 followers.

Briana suffers from a lot of anxiety, when she skates is when she is not as anxious... was taking medications for a time, stopped that when she began skateboarding "i feel [skateboarding] is definitely one of my medications"

Sources

Jenkem

- first got a skateboard (fake Zero) when she was 12 at a swap meet, went to ollie a four stair and broke her leg

- didn't pick up skateboarding again until she was 24

- first skate sesh in NY was a House of Vans sesh

- grew up in East LA and Montebello

- been sponsored by Zappos

- started her Tik Tok during the COVID-19 pandemic [insert LINK]

Coveteur

- featured in A$AP Rocky's [insert LINK] "A$AP Forever" visual, sole female skateboarder

- skated for 7 hours every day for a year

- when she was unable to find a community in New York skating that catered toward femme and queer skaters, she created "Display Only"

- she redistributed free merch (from skating) to those who attend her skate seshes

- has partnered with Rebook, Vans, JBL [insert LINKs]

- modeled for Drew House [insert LINK]

- appeared in a Doja Cat [insert LINK] video

- recruited for a Calvin Klein [insert LINK] perfume ad

- has over 400k followers on Tik Tok [insert LINK]

A$AP Forever

VICE Life

- wasn't really allowed to have friends growing up, kept in a bubble by her mom

- when she turned 18, left home and began modeling full time

- currently lives in NY

- first friend she made in NY was Yasmeen/Yazmine, a large part of Yasmeen's life involved skateboarding -> Briana King picked it up too

- skateboarding allows her to be goofy

- Briana suffers from a lot of anxiety, when she skates is when she is not as anxious... was taking medications for a time, stopped that when she began skateboarding "i feel [skateboarding] is definitely one of my medications"

JORDAN

- grew up in the Projects [insert LINK] in LA (shootings, drive-byes, cops not doing anything)

- never dreamt of anything more (traveling, etc.) because no one ever let her know she could become more

- people would approach her and her sister to model, but their mother would not let them

- spent a lot of time online, someone casted her for a job for Macy's [insert LINK] off of MySpace [insert LINK]

- after she accepted the job, she left and moved to the furthest English speaking location and moved to Australia with $200

- "bringing modeling and skateboarding together... that's what my whole entire life is"

- skateboarding made her confident with herself

- already look the goofiest she can look when she falls off her skateboard -> when modeling tries new poses and feels confident

Briana King Girl & Queer Skate Sesh: New York

- she was helping others when they told her she's a good teacher and Briana realized it feels good to teach and natural and makes her happy and is easy, what she's meant to do

- creating a comfortable space for a bunch of people to come together, enjoy themselves, and not fear judgement

In the Mind

- the one negative thing that came from being a model and skateboarder was that people think you're just doing it to be cooler -> people no longer thinking that way

- falling down on skateboard taught her she doesn't need to be perfect all the time -> take that to modeling

- so important having a space, being a non-traditional skateboarder you don't feel comfortable everywhere