Kiko

See Kiko’s whole story: https://youtu.be/rvt3ZYj4njA 

See Kiko’s interview with Humans of Paris: https://www.facebook.com/HOPAIP/posts/1036098023188905:0

Kiko’s Instagram: http://instagram.com/kikokikokikooo

“I’m originally from Japan, but currently living in France for my study. I will stay here for more than 5 years. I have also lived in Canada before for about a year and that’s where everything has changed in my life. When I was 17, I got involved in the fashion industry in Canada. After signing up with a well known modeling agency there, I was told to lose weight. When I was on my diet at such a young age, I was not eating enough and exercising a lot. I lied to my host family that I was eating enough until I

ended up in the  emergency room and I was so close to having a heart attack. My heart rate was 38 per min. The average is around 85.

I was alone, I was depressed, I hated myself, and I didn’t know what I was passionate about in life anymore.

Although this was the hardest time of my life, this experience shaped me who I am and I’m so thankful for ever single hard time I spent with my family, host family, teachers, friends, model agents etc. Because otherwise i wouldn’t be able to share my story with lots of young women, men and models dealing with the same issues now, and  listen to their stories as well as work on my project that I’m starting an association in Paris. Today, my passion is encouraging young men, women and models to love their bodies and themselves just the way they are. They are beautiful enough. As an association (High Fashion Renaissance), We seek to bring positivity and self-respect to people in the fashion industry. Also, partnering like-minded organizations. In today’s society, I feel like we always want something more to be had, but we can be grateful for what we have today. Like your health, your healthy body, your beautiful face without scars, your countable clothes, your comfort food, the love from your family etc. And I think that’s how we find happiness in little things. I wish I could share my story with you because the information that you put out there does matter, and I suppose this message; the importance of being who we are, feeling good about ourselves just the way we are, feel gratitude for what we have already is something that more young people should be aware of.” – Kiko