Yasmine Arrington

Yasmine Alexandra Arrington, born on February 17, 1993, is an American founder, executive director, plus-size model, and motivational speaker. She is best known for founding ScholarCHIPS, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting youth with incarcerated parents, and for her work in advocacy and modeling.

Arrington was born and raised in Washington, D.C. Throughout her childhood and teenage years, her father was frequently incarcerated, and her mother passed away during Arrington's freshman year of high school. She attended Benjamin Banneker Academic High School, where she participated in LearnServe International, a non-profit program equipping youth to become social changemakers. She later attended Elon University in North Carolina, earning a degree in Strategic Communications and History in 2015, before pursuing graduate studies at the Howard University School of Divinity.

In 2010, Arrington founded ScholarCHIPS to assist high school graduates who have incarcerated parents by providing mentoring, support, and financial aid for higher education. By July 2015, the organization had awarded over $180,000 in scholarships to 61 college students. ScholarCHIPS also hosts an annual College Life Skills Conference offering training in financial literacy, credit building, sexual health, healthy relationships, and professional development to help reduce the stigma surrounding parental incarceration.

Alongside her non-profit work, Arrington operates as a professional curvy fashion model. She was selected as the CurvySpokesmodel for Curves Rock Fashion Weekend in 2013 and was recognized as the October 2015 Curvy Girl of the Month by CurvyGirlChronicles.net. Her professional background also includes internships in public relations with PBS and account management at Ogilvy and Mather, as well as an Education Fellowship at Hager Sharp.

Her efforts have earned her widespread recognition and numerous accolades. She was featured on Black Entertainment Television's Black Girls Rock in 2012, receiving a Making A Difference award, and was named a CNN Hero in December 2023. Her other honors include the 2015 Peace First Prize, the JM Kaplan Innovation Prize, the DC Social Innovation Prize, the Iris Holt McEwen Community Service Award, and selection as a Jack Kent Cooke Foundation College Scholar.

Arrington's achievements and advocacy work have been highlighted across major media outlets, including The Washington Post, Forbes Magazine, Teen Vogue, Essence, The Huffington Post, and Black Enterprise, as well as on two major billboards in New York City.