Kimberly Perez is an artist at heart, drawn to portraiture, self-expression, and the many versions of ourselves we carry through life. In Tequila After Sunrise, photographed by The Perfect Liar and styled by Jazzie Bella, she reflects on modeling, resilience, creativity, and learning how to take up space.
For those meeting you for the first time—who is Kimberly beyond the photos?
I’m an artist at heart. Drawing has always been an escape for as long as I can remember. I love making portraits of people and trying to capture something beyond what they look like. A picture is never the full story of who someone is.
I feel like I’m constantly changing. I’ve been different versions of myself throughout my life. I used to be very religious until I realized that the higher calling in my life was art. I went to art school, and that’s where I discovered another way to express myself: through modeling.
But somehow, it always goes back to the beginning. I was an artist at five years old, sitting on the floor and drawing with crayons for hours, and I’m still an artist now, just navigating a different medium and a different industry.
What is one small moment in everyday life that never fails to make you happy?
Talking to my five-year-old niece on the phone. She’s the funniest little girl, and I love being silly with her. It means a lot that she looks up to me, but honestly, I think she influences me more than I influence her. She reminds me to stay curious and see the world with wonder. Every time we talk, she somehow makes my whole day better.
Has modeling changed the way you see yourself? If so, how?
Of course. I think that’s inevitable.
In this industry, you hear a lot of opinions about your appearance, both good and bad, and those comments stay with you. Sometimes they make you notice things about yourself that you never thought about before.
I’ve had to change the way I think about that. At the end of the day, I am who I am. There are things I can’t change, like my height or the color of my eyes.
At the same time, modeling has made me more resilient. It’s taught me that my essence stays the same even when I change my hair, makeup, clothes, or even the personality I’m portraying in front of the camera.
Every shoot is an opportunity to become someone else for a little while, and I think that’s one of the things I love most about it.
“I’ve never been very good at looking too far into the future. That doesn’t mean I don’t have dreams—it just means I like leaving room for life to surprise me.”
What’s something you’re still learning about yourself?
I’m still learning how to take up space.
I’m learning to say what I think, to advocate for myself, and not to let people walk over me or take advantage of me. Speaking up doesn’t come naturally to me, especially when I need it the most.
As I’ve been working on my self-esteem, I’ve realized that growth isn’t linear. It’s messy and uncomfortable, and sometimes you feel like you’re taking two steps backward before moving forward again. I’m trying to be patient with myself throughout that process.
What made this shoot with Jazzie special for you?
I think this shoot pushed me further than any shoot I’ve done before.
It challenged me physically and mentally. There were moments when I questioned my own limits, whether that meant wearing heels for hours or trying to keep giving everything I had after a really long day.
When I look back at it, what stays with me isn’t just the final images, but the realization that I’m capable of pushing through discomfort when I really believe in the work. That experience reminded me how much passion I have for the creative process, how much I want this career, and how willing I am to work for it.
I left the shoot feeling stronger, more confident, and even hungrier to keep growing.
Finally, where do you see yourself in around 10 years?
Honestly, I don’t know, and I think that’s okay.
I’ve never been very good at looking too far into the future. That doesn’t mean I don’t have dreams; it just means I like leaving room for life to surprise me.
I would like to still be modeling and working around the world with people whose work I admire today. I’d love to keep growing as an artist and reach a point where my work allows me to give back to my family and the people I love.
I’d also like to publish a book someday. Maybe a collection of journal entries, drawings, or memoirs. I don’t know exactly what it will look like yet, but I’ve always wanted to leave behind a physical piece of my life, something honest that could make someone feel a little less alone in their own experiences.
