In Vogue’s series, “The Secret Lives of Models,” we’re talking to models about their off-duty careers in medicine, the arts, and beyond.
Ebony Riley has the kind of discovery story that most models—and, let’s be honest people—dream of. The Detroit native was living in Los Angeles when she flew to New York to give modeling a shot. She walked away with a contract with New York Models, and was plucked out by Ricardo Tisci himself, who put her in a Givenchy campaign that would jump start her career. “My life changed completely, 360,” Riley tells Vogue. “I went from being homeless to being able to travel.”
Since then, Riley—now signed with IMG—has appeared in campaigns for Gucci and Aimé Leon Dore, walked for Marni and Moschino, and starred in a Vogue France editorial for Beyoncé x Balmain. But she’s also made a name for herself as a singer. In 2020 she signed with Interscope records. She credits a higher power with guiding her throughout her ventures. “I did not get into this space that I’m in by coincidence,” she says. “There’s no way I got from modeling to signing a contract with Interscope.”
In February, the artist released her first EP, an R&B album aptly titled ebony. Currently, she’s on tour opening for Coco Jones. Riley called Vogue from the road for the latest installment of The Secret Lives of Models.
When did you start modeling?
I got discovered in October 2013. So I kind of just say 2014 because there were only two months left, so the world didn’t really know about me until that following January. But technically my first job was in October 2013.
How were you discovered?
I went into the agency. I’m from Detroit, but I was living in L.A. I went to New York Models and ended up signing with them, and they submitted my digitals to Patrizia Pilotti and Ricardo Tisci. He discovered me, he saw something, and then I shot the Givenchy campaign like a week after that.
What do people recognize you from?
I always say from that campaign. Everybody knew me from that, and it started everything.
How did you get into singing?