Meet JiMin Kwon | Philosopher, Model, Singer-Songwriter

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

Hi JiMin, why did you pursue a creative career?
I’ve always loved singing and dressing up since I was a little girl. After I started my PhD, however, I suppressed my need to express myself through music and fashion because I didn’t want to draw the wrong kind of attention. Wearing makeup and eccentric clothing always did in the academic setting, which only worsened my feelings of being an imposter. Mid-graduate career and one month before the pandemic, a photographer asked me to come in for a test shoot. Within a few months, I was signed to multiple modeling agencies and now I work as a freelance model. Modeling is the perfect outlet for expressing my creativity for fashion that I couldn’t fulfill in my role as a philosopher.

When I was going through a severe depression, the thought of pursuing music was the only thing that got me out of bed for the first time in several months. So, in addition to modeling, I am currently writing my own songs with the plan of releasing them in the near future. Art gives me joy and life, literally. That’s why I’m convinced that art is the right path for me.

For those who are pondering their life’s purpose, I highly recommend reading Archetypes: Who Are You? by Caroline Myss and Who You Were Meant To Be by Lindsay Gibson. These books helped solidify my conviction that my life’s purpose is to inspire others through my art. Every time we fully express our authentic self, we give permission to others to be themselves.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My brand as a model is focused around natural, sophisticated beauty. It wasn’t always easy to embrace my appearance. In college I underwent a breast augmentation surgery because I thought it would make my body look more ‘perfect’. Two years later, however, I removed the implants because they felt out of alignment with who I am; I am proud to be on this path of authenticity.

Similarly, authenticity plays a huge role in my music. As a singer-songwriter, I aspire to write songs that stir up suppressed emotions and cater to our sensuality. I want to create music that honors every human experience through radical honesty and acceptance. I hope that my music will be a medium through which listeners feel and heal.

Even though I sang since I was a kid, I started writing my own songs less than a year ago, due to the self-limiting belief that I wasn’t creative enough to write originals. In order to write my very first song I had to first reprogram the belief that I wasn’t good enough. Today one of my biggest challenges is letting go of expectations. Not every song is going to be something I’d be proud of, and that’s okay. The most important thing is to let go of perfectionist tendencies and to keep writing — the more you write, the more songs you’ll have that may be publication-worthy!

maladaptive perfectionism is still the biggest roadblock to my songwriting, and I am working through this challenge by

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
There are SO many gorgeous spots in San Diego. If my best friend came to visit, I would take them the Sunset Cliffs to watch the sunset, and then to Ocean Beach farmer’s market to grab dinner. After that we might go out to the Holding Company to dance where my friends are DJing. The next day, I would take them to La Jolla cove to see the sea lions, grab a gelato at Bobboi, and hike around Black’s Beach. Solana beach and Torrey pines would also make a great hike!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I dedicate my shoutout to my sister, Valeria, who supports and loves me unconditionally. I am immensely grateful to her for accepting me as I am, even when I couldn’t seem to accept myself.