Precious Lee

Precious Lee is an American curve model recognized as the first African American plus-size model to collaborate with several established luxury fashion houses. She has gained widespread recognition for her runway appearances and high-profile magazine features across the global fashion industry.

Born on September 13, 1990, Lee was raised in Atlanta, Georgia, by an entrepreneur father and a mother who worked as an educator and model. Growing up alongside three older siblings, she developed an early interest in style through the influence of her parents and her late sister, Charisma, who passed away during Lee's childhood. As a student, Lee participated in numerous extracurricular pursuits, including debate, student council, cheerleading, theater, and concert band, ultimately being elected homecoming queen in her final year of high school.

Her modeling career began while attending Clark Atlanta University. After accompanying a friend to an open casting call for Elite Models, Lee was offered a contract herself. She balanced part-time catalog work with her undergraduate studies before relocating to New York City to pursue modeling full-time under Ford Models. Though she initially intended to study law if modeling did not succeed, her career progressed rapidly. She drew early professional motivation from established curve models like Crystal Renn and Toccara Jones.

Lee achieved a major milestone during the Spring 2021 runway show for Versace, becoming the first Black curve model to walk for the fashion house. Over the course of her career, she has walked the runway for prominent brands including Fendi, Moschino, Mugler, Balmain, Lanvin, Tommy Hilfiger, and Michael Kors, in addition to modeling couture for Jean Paul Gaultier. She has also maintained an extended promotional relationship with YSL Beauty.

Her print catalog includes cover features for numerous international publications, including British Vogue, Vogue Arabia, Vogue Brazil, Vogue Portugal, Vogue Netherlands, Italian Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, Dazed, i-D, and multiple editions of Elle. Outside of modeling, Lee made her acting debut in 2021 on the television series Run the World, appeared as a guest judge on Project Runway, and featured in the 2023 music video for the song Spin Bout U by Drake and 21 Savage.

Throughout her career, Lee has earned significant industry nominations and honors. Models.com nominated her for Breakout Star in 2020 and Model of the Year in 2021. In 2022, she was named International Model of the Year by GQ Portugal.