Isis King is by no means a finished project. She's an evolving work of art.
Many expected the 25-year-old to be sashaying the catwalks for major fashion houses in Europe after her ground-breaking appearance on "America's Next Top Model." But she has essentially walked away from the industry because she thinks it limits her artistic talents.
King, a Prince George's County native now living in New York City, is pursuing a design career and testing the waters in acting. That doesn't mean that she has completely turned her back on the runway, though.
On Saturday, King will participate in Catwalk for a Cause, a series of fashion shows sponsored by KIS Agency, an Annapolis-based events management and promotions company. Each fashion show benefits a different cause. Proceeds from Saturday's event will help support Johns Hopkins Children's Center in Baltimore.
The cause is near to King's heart because of the death in 1992 of her 1-year-old baby sister, Channel, who was born with her organs on the outside of her body. She required a number of medical procedures during her short life. King talks about her experience on "America's Next Top Model," her future plans and her sense of personal style.
QUESTION: How has "America's Next Top Model" changed your life?
ANSWER: I can't really go anywhere without people asking me what Tyra Banks is like. It has changed my life to help me realize that I was able to follow my dream. I was already a designer. I was already modeling. I already had these talent. It did help me take it to the next level.
Q: What are your future plans?
A: I'm really pushing for acting. I did a script reading two weeks ago. I have a role in a short film, "Bella Maddo." I love to do makeup. I love to do hair. I'm very creative. I have a lot of personality. You didn't get a chance to see it on the show.
Q: You change your hairstyle a lot. What style are you rocking now?
A: It's fire red. I really like it. I think I found my signature color. I go back and forth. I think I've finally found my color. I think I'm going to stay red. But we'll see.
Q: What happened to your modeling aspirations?
A: Modeling is something that I did for fun. My aspiration is to be successful with art. Of course I will continue to freelance model, but my aspirations were never to be a supermodel. Being a model means that you are a blank canvas. I'm already an entity. I'm already my own person. I've transformed into this amazing person. I can never see myself as a blank canvas.
Isis King will appear at Catwalk for a Cause at 4 p.m. Sunday at the Tremont Hotel, 225 N. Charles St. Go to catwalkforacause.org.