The Career & Legacy of Crista Klayman

June 15th 2021

It’s often said that you should never meet your heroes. Crista Klayman at LA Models is the exception..

One of the most internationally respected and acclaimed Runway agents of all time, Crista has 30+ years of industry experience under her belt, working with designers like Oscar de la Renta, Gucci, Chanel, and Valentino. She is known for everything from discovering talent like Tyra Banks, to touching the lives of countless models living out their second careers like Edward Quinn on Tyler Perry’s “The Oval,” Jason Thompson and Michael Mealor as stars on “The Young and the Restless,” Brandi Glanville on Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, and the creation of Lizanne Falsetto’s “Think Bars.” Her expert testimony has been featured in dozens of television programs, some of the most notable being Lisa Ling’s “This is Life,” “E! True Hollywood Stories,” as well as the documentaries “Chasing Beauty” and “America the Beautiful.”

Most recently, she has spearheaded LA Models Curve (which includes Curve Men), championing a diverse and elite team of models who continue to prove that every(body) is beautiful.

“Crista makes me feel loved and gorgeous,” according to Jackie Sweasey, the first model in the LA Models Curve division. “I never thought modeling was in the cards for me… I would even be embarrassed thinking about wanting to model. Saying it out loud was out of the question,” she added.

Since age five, Jackie grew up with low self-esteem issues, in part, due to the sexual abuse she suffered from a family friend. She later found herself working four part-time jobs to make ends meet, contributing to the pre-existing doubt and self-loathing. She notes that never in her wildest dreams could she have imagined that the pain of her past and trauma would somehow manifest her prolific modeling career. Since working with Crista, she’s made headway with brands like Footlocker, MeUndies, Lunya, Nordstrom and Macy’s. “As crazy as it sounds, Crista is a second mother to me. She saved me. I owe my career to her and Darienne Arnold, my mother agent.”

Starting a Curve division from scratch is almost never an overnight success. It can be thankless and grueling. Despite the inevitable obstacles she may face, Crista continued full speed ahead. “I don’t do anything unless I can be the best,” according to Crista, “Jackie gave me the confidence to go all in. Once I met her it was a no brainer… I was committed to building this legacy at LA Models.”

With 24 new Curve models added to the division within the past six months, it’s irrefutable that this division is building momentum. Despite COVID and its toll on the industry, Crista has continued to find ways to stay scrapy and think outside of the box. While the economy may have lost momentum, Crista’s vision did not. “Beauty comes in all shapes and sizes… it doesn’t make sense to only represent size 2, 4 models when there’s a wealth of talent out there,” Crista added, “and now I have more new faces than I have hours in the day.”

Crista has architected a division she hopes may one day have a ‘beauty inclusive domino effect’ across the industry. While it’s foolish to contend that society will change overnight, it goes without saying that Crista continues to build the change she’d like to see in the world around her. “I have approached LA Models Curve in the same way that I have directed Runway for over 30 years… with dignity, grace, and a fierceness to advocate for my models.”

To learn more about Crista Klayman and her career, please visit: LA Models Curve, LA Models Runway, and Crista’s Instagram @cristaklayman ■

Jackie Sweasy, With LA Models Curve

Photo by @greglevittphotography