ABOUT IYANNA
Iyanna James Stephenson moves through the world as a living canvas, a conduit for creative vision and artistic expression. As a model and multidisciplinary artist, she approaches her work with a philosophy of radical openness: becoming the blank slate upon which photographers, designers, and directors paint their stories.
This ability to channel creative energy isn't accidental. It's cultivated through dedicated movement practice. Iyanna's background spans Burlesque performance, West African dance, and embodied artistry, giving her an intuitive understanding of how the body communicates beyond words. Her movement work has taught her to listen deeply to direction, to inhabit different energies fluidly, and to surrender to the collaborative process while maintaining presence and intention.
A renaissance woman with roots in Miami, Philadelphia, and Jamaica, Iyanna identifies as a Queer, Caribbean, Black woman whose work explores themes of liberation, vulnerability, and authenticity. She holds a BA in Philosophy from Mount Holyoke College with a focus in Law, Public Policy, and Human Rights. These studies continue to inform how she approaches her image and creative practice. Philosophy taught her to question, to seek truth, and to understand the power of the body as a site of freedom and expression.
Her path to modeling was unconventional. After initially pursuing civil rights litigation, she pivoted during her final year of college, teaching English in South Korea before returning stateside to fully commit to her artistic career. Since then, she's expanded far beyond traditional modeling, performing as a movement artist, creating her signature AfroBurlesque™ fusion, DJing across New York City, and directing award winning films like Sacred Energy Exchange.
Iyanna is a world traveler (19 countries and counting), plant based eater, and completely sober from smoking, drugs, and alcohol. She brings high energy positivity and conscious intention to every collaboration, believing that the best art happens when ego dissolves and creation flows through us rather than from us.
Currently based in Brooklyn and represented by WeSpeak Models, Iyanna remains committed to being that open channel: the muse who meets creative vision with embodied intelligence, spiritual depth, and fearless presence.
For all other inquiries: iyannathemodel@gmail.com