Jenny Shimizu, Madonna’s former partner, revealed that she felt like a “high-class hooker” while they were relationship in the 1990s. The 57-year-old model, now married to Michelle Harper, reflected on her time with Madonna in Hulu’s new documentary series, In Vogue: The 90s.
In the documentary, she reflected on her groundbreaking achievements in the 1990s, including her appearances on billboards in Times Square. She said:
“I mean, you’re not gonna say no to Madonna in the ‘90s. Not only was it great feeling like a high class hooker, because really it was.”
Jenny Shimizu also added:
“You’d get a phone call like, ‘Hey can you meet me at my Paris show. You’re in Europe right?’ So I’d be like, ‘Yeah, I’m just finishing Prada. Right after Prada I’ll catch a plane over. And I would. I’d go over to her hotel, to the Ritz, at like four in the morning, have s*x, and then fly back to Milan.”
During that time, Shimizu had already publicly identified as gay and became an advocate for LGBT+ rights while participating in numerous demonstrations supporting marriage equality. Reportedly, Jenny Shimizu was originally discovered while working as an auto mechanic in Los Angeles.
Calvin Klein soon recruited her to lead their CK1 campaign, and she later made history as the first Asian model to open for Prada’s Fashion Week show in 1993. She also reflected on the significance of the campaign, noting that it was a big statement given her history.
Jenny Shimizu’s wife previously worked with Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia
Raised between Manhattan and Barranquilla, Colombia, where her grandfather was a prominent modernist architect, Michelle Harper emphasized that she did not have a privileged background.
In a New York Times interview from 2013, she clarified that her parents came from modest beginnings and worked their way up.
Her father, Henry Harper, and stepfather, Frederico Sève, were art dealers. Her mother, who advanced through the ranks at J.P. Morgan, went on to establish Violy & Company, an influential advisory firm that helped businesses with growth strategies.
Jenny Shimizu’s wife is a brand adviser bound by nondisclosure agreements, but does consult for Tata Harper, her sister-in-law's beauty line, and had previously worked at Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia. Her wardrobe primarily consists of vintage pieces.
Shimizu admitted she was initially skeptical until seeing it firsthand. She remarked that many perceptions and assumptions about her didn’t align with the spirited and down-to-earth person she was.
Before her relationship with Jenny Shimizu, Harper was previously linked to filmmaker Daniel Leeb, who was sometimes mistakenly reported as her husband. While speaking to Into The Gloss, Michelle Harper said:
“I’ve always looked a little crazy. I’ve never been conventional because I don’t think I look conventional...I think that in life, you just work with what you have. I don’t think people realize how much you can do that with your hair and with makeup, if you’re not born looking like Gisele or whatever, and you’re not happy with your appearance, or if you want to transform.”
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Jenny Shimizu was also romantically involved with Angelina Jolie, while reportedly seeing Madonna. At the time, Jolie was married to Johnny Lee Miller, but their marriage ended in 2000.
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