Kalyn James truly embodies a renaissance woman whose versatile talents are blazing a trail for a new generation of influencers. This Mobile, Alabama, native has carved out her own niche and is enjoying a multifaceted platform to engage people who follow fashion, arts and entertainment.
Kalyn began charting her career by making history at being crowned the first, and only, African-American Miss Alabama where she placed as a top ten semi-finalist in the 1994 Miss America Pageant. Kalyn was the face and spokesmodel of the UPN network in Birmingham, Alabama and served as a television journalist on The Fox Sports Network’s show Behind the Game.
She is an accomplished model, voice over talent, dancer and choreographer with more than 30 years of dance training. Since moving to Miami she has performed in the MTV Video Music Awards, the Latin Video Music Awards, the Latin Billboard Awards, and danced and choreographed on the Latin Univision and Telemundo Television Networks in Miami. She has worked extensively as an events emcee, a print and television model appearing on the pages of Glamour, Ebony, Essence, Jet, and O Magazine. She was also featured in the Old Navy “Bermuda Shorts” commercial and with her entire family in a national Disney World commercial.
Kalyn made an indelible mark on the South Florida arts and culture scene for four years as the Emmy-nominated host of ARTLOFT, an Emmy Award winning PBS weekly television show highlighting local and national artists, openings, installations, performances, and art organizations. Kalyn is also the host of her web-based show Fashion Style Miami highlighting designers, fashion, art, design, and culture in the Miami area.
Kalyn was named one of Legacy Miami Magazine’s 25 Most Influential and Prominent Black Women in Business and Leadership in 2014. She received the 2015 In The Company of Women award for Outstanding Woman in Arts & Entertainment and was listed among Miami Today’s 2016 Best of Miami in Arts & Culture.
Kalyn is married to video producer, Rico James and has two daughters, Phoenix and Zen.