Swept Away
Kenya Kinski-Jones shot by Kendall Conrad at Loon Point for Project Zero. Styled by Conrad. Makeup by Jo Strettell. Jewelry, worn throughout, by Kendall Conrad, kendallconrad.com.
Kenya Kinski-Jones shows the ocean some love as an ambassador for Project Zero’s climate mission
Interview and Photographs by Kendall Conrad
I first met Kenya Kinski-Jones at a dinner and was instantly wowed by her beauty and, shortly thereafter, by her spirit. She is the daughter of music mogul Quincy Jones and model/actress Nastassja Kinski, and I wanted to photograph and interview her for my AFICIONADA series (kendallconraddesign.com), which profiles incredible women who inspire me. Kenya, 28, always dreamed of riding a horse on the beach—she loves the ocean—and we had a wonderful day shooting at Loon Point. She has recently joined Georgia May Jagger and Alexandra Richards, among others, to become an ambassador for the environmental nonprofit Project Zero (weareprojectzero.org)—a global network of scientists, marine activists, and cultural movers and shakers who are working to protect and restore our oceans. She’s been a very proactive and dedicated spokesperson, initiating ideas to promote and support Project Zero.
Please tell us about Project Zero.
Project Zero is a global mission to awaken the fight to protect and restore our ocean. It aims to establish a worldwide network of ocean sanctuaries, with the goal of protecting 30 percent of the ocean, within which it is prohibited to drill, mine, fish, or pollute—like national parks in the ocean. Relieving the climate emergency that we now face relies significantly on our ability to protect and support a healthy ocean, making Project Zero’s mission synonymous with a future that we can be proud of, a future that we and our fellow creatures on earth can survive and thrive in. I cannot think of a pursuit that is more urgent and crucial than this.
“The ocean is so vast, it seems impossible that we could do anything to harm it. But today the ocean is in trouble. From overfishing to pollution to climate change—it’s as if we’ve declared war on the very ecosystem that keeps us alive. Our future and that of future generations depends on a healthy ocean. We can reverse the damage, but we must act now.” –Michele Clarke, CEO/Founder, Project Zero
“Project Zero’s mission is synonymous with a future that we can be proud of, a future that we and our fellow creatures on earth can survive and thrive in. I cannot think of a pursuit that is more urgent and crucial than this.”
Why does the health of the ocean matter to you? The ocean is the largest ecosystem on earth. It works as an oxygen-creating and carbon-dioxide–absorbing powerhouse. The ocean is our planet’s biggest carbon sink. It is estimated that 93 percent of the earth's CO2 is stored or cycled through the ocean, which holds about 97 percent of earth’s water and supports a great abundance of life on the planet. Doing better by our ocean is one and the same as doing better by each other and ourselves. As Project Zero says: ‘No ocean, no us.’
What are some of your early childhood memories of being by the sea?
Being by the water, covered in sand and saltwater, are some of my most vivid recollections as a child. Today, while I marvel at the ocean’s beauty, strength, and magnificence, it is also sobering and humbling to stand before it. The ocean is vast, but it is also incredibly vulnerable.
What are some of your other passions and pursuits right now?
I’m interested in meeting creative people and collaborating. I am always learning. I write. I started modeling at a young age and have learned so much about myself since then. I love photography, fashion, and images. I am fortunate enough to have worked with [photographer and film director] Peter Lindbergh. I am a huge lover of animals and nature. I am committed to our planet and to the protection of our seas, land, and wildlife. I am always evolving, studying, and curious.
What’s your goal in life?
What stands out is that I want to make people feel less alone—and make them feel seen, heard, and understood in whatever way that I can. I want to make a small contribution to a much larger community. This will always be my underlying mission in whatever that I do.
Who or what inspires you?
The underdog, the underestimated, the survivor. People who have risen from deep pain, challenges, and tribulations in their life inspire me. The perseverance and gentleness—despite their pain—that people muster up when all odds are against them…that inspires me most.
What are your rules to live by?
Be kind, whether you’re interacting with someone you’ve known for years or a complete stranger. We never really know what someone is going through, what they have to return home to at the end of the day or whether they are barely getting through the day even though they put on a smile. I think it is vital to ask ourselves: What could this person be surviving today? This does not mean that one must become a martyr or forget one’s own personal boundaries. I’m just talking about an awareness that, as Zadie Smith has said, “Other people are as real as you are.” So I believe that whenever you come to that choice, whether that be in a mundane or monumental moment, be a light for someone.
“The ocean is so vast, it seems impossible that we could do anything to harm it. But today the ocean is in trouble. From overfishing to pollution to climate change—it’s as if we’ve declared war on the very ecosystem that keeps us alive. Our future and that of future generations depends on a healthy ocean. We can reverse the damage, but we must act now.”
