About Jennifer Strickland

Although women come to hear Jen Strickland speak because of her breadth of experience in the modeling industry, she is more than a former international model. Jen is a grateful wife, blessed mom, inspired speaker, gifted teacher and natural writer, sent into the world with a message of God’s love.

Today, Jen uses her gifts to share her story with women of all ages, inspiring them to know the love of God that transformed her life from the inside out.  Her bibilical teaching and passionate storytelling are making waves in the hearts of women and girls worldwide, as she devotes herself to "making the teaching about God our Savior attractive" in every way (Titus 2:10). 

Modeling

Fifteen years in the modeling industry provided Jen with an up-close look at the inner workings of one the most glamorized industries in the world. Represented by world-renowned modeling agencies FORD NYC, FORD L.A., FASHION Milan, Model Team Hamburg, NOVA Models of Munich, and Vivian's of Sydney, Australia, Jen knows all too well what the modeling business is really like behind the scenes.

At eight years old, she began doing fashion shows, photo shoots, and mannequin modeling; at fifteen, she did her first television commercial; and at seventeen, she signed with the legendary Nina Blanchard Agency (now FORD L.A.).  Nina Blanchard names Jen "the face of the 90's" and as soon as Jen graduated high school, she moved to Europe to work professionally. In the coming years, she lived and/or worked in Italy, France, Germany, Sweden, Greece, Australia, and New Zealand, not to mention Los Angeles, New York, Miami, Seattle and several other American cities.

Jen did television commercials for Oil of O’lay, Mercedes Benz, Converse Tennis Shoes, Cherry Coke, Fanta Orange, Taco Bell and Vibrance shampoo; starred in a music video for Styx; appeared in Vogue, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, ‘Teen and more; did a high-profile fashion campaign for Jordache, regularly appeared in the Eddie Bauer catalogue, represented Elizabeth Arden and modeled the Crown Jewels in Australia.

At the height of her career, she worked regularly for Giorgio Armani in Milan, appeared as “Barbie” for the doll’s 35th anniversary in Italy, and was seen on the covers and pages of fashion magazines across Europe.

At 23, Jen discovered the surpassing love of Christ, and left the modeling industry in search of a more authentic life. 

To read more of Jen's testimony, click here.

Education

While working in Los Angeles and abroad, Jen maintained an academic scholarship at the University of Southern California.  There, she she worked for USC's Impact broadcasting team, earned a Bachelor’s degree in Broadcast Journalism, and a minor in International Relations.

After leaving the modeling industry, she earned a Master’s degree in Writing and Literature with an emphasis in Biblical Literature from California State University San Marcos. She has taught college-level composition; served as a writing teacher on the Cal State campus; and (her favorite) taught junior high and high school English.

Family

Today, Jen has found her best life as a wife to her wonderful husband, Shane, and stay-at-home Mom to her two children, Olivia, 8, and Zach, 7. In all her years of modeling, traveling and studying, Jen would have never guessed that the most fulfilling roles in her life would become that of being – first, a Daughter of God – and second, a wife and mother. Loving her dear family fulfills her in a way that nothing else could.