"I consider myself ageless. Whenever I hear terms like "older," I try not to let it register because it takes me away from what I'm doing and the joy of doing it."
A testament to her magnetism in front of any camera, Johnson's latest fashion credits include walking in Ozwald Boateng's AI-themed show in Harlem, the Manhattan neighborhood she's originally from; starring in Pyer Moss ads; and now, appearing as a mystical muse in Rihanna's campaign for her Fenty Maison LVMH launch.
After appearing alongside Norma Kamali in a viral 2016 video dispelling beauty myths about aging gracefully, Johnson went on to walk runways for Eileen Fisher, Tome, Deveaux, and CDLM by Chris Peters. Her life until then had involved working as a receptionist and accountant, gigs with fashion executives affiliated with brands like Calvin Klein and Fiorucci, being a stay-at-home mom, and currently, her work off-the-runway as a certified tea-blender.
Johnson's career as a tea-blender requires her to give presentations on the history of tea, tea drinking trends, and more. For work, she travels internationally to lend her authoritative, poised voice to the community. Soon, the world will also know Johnson as a fashion star in her own right — a born and bred New Yorker, who stands at 5'4" and defies industry norms by simply being herself.
"Being Black and not of a certain height, in modeling terms, didn't give me a chance to get in the industry," Johnson says. "Now this is my time."
PAPER caught up with the booked and busy Johnson to talk about working with Rihanna and creating more diverse seats at fashion's table.
