Written by Owner and Founder Skip Pas
Contact 415-362-8300 or westcoastleathersf@gmail.com
We recently had the pleasure of interviewing model Jamie Lee Kendall who has been our Social Media Director and Publicist for the past four years. Interview is below the photo gallery.
Instagram: Jamie Lee Kendall (@jamieleekendall) • Instagram photos and videos
Facebook: Jamie Lee Kendall | Facebook
IMDb link: Jamie Lee Kendall - IMDb
Playboy France Playmate of the Day Photo - by Philipe Hernandez
Playboy France Playmate of the Day Photo - by Philipe Hernandez
Skip: We're here at West Coast Leather and West Coast Leather TV with Skip Pas, brand founder and American fashion designer and here with Joe Crane, the legend of leather. We're also here with Jamie Lee Kendall. We're so happy that she's been here working with us for four years. And we wanted to do a Q&A because she’s the one that's always doing all the Q&A with our models and celebrities and makeup artists--every single person. We try to interview and get their side of the story, but we wanted to really find out a little bit more about Jamie Lee Kendall and what you can share with your fan club out here and how it transpired from West Coast Leather and how your career launched. And say hi, Joe.
Joe: Hi!
Skip: So, tell us a little bit about yourself, Jamie.
Jamie: My background was in commercial real estate. I worked in commercial real estate for 13 years, starting in Manhattan and then coming back to San Francisco, but I fell into modeling four years ago. I was discovered by somebody who was a casting director and then primarily by you, Skip, and you really launched my modeling career and helped me blossom and you offered me a job here working for you not just as a model but as a social media manager and then director. I was able to really explore my passion for fashion and my passion for writing and modeling.
Skip: We never got to delve into your art, but we want to have you tell us a little bit about your art later. But, what was important to me was that we found we found you in modeling and then we saw that you were just so underutilized and had so much potential and then you came on board with West Coast Leather part-time, but then we got you into different photoshoots and videos and then all of a sudden you're published in three, four, five, six, seven magazines.
People are having you come to Lake Tahoe for photoshoots. You were at an airplane hangar with one of our friends who's a designer, Miae Nelson. So, how was it that you got involved with West Coast Leather? You were saying that I found you with the modeling thing, how did it all transpire when you started? How fast did that all go? And did you realize how talented you were as a model and an actress?
Also, now you do interviews for other social media companies, but when you started were you shy? You just seem like you just like took off fast.
Jamie: Yeah, it was pretty immediate. I used the mini modeling portfolio that I had created from this one photo shoot in Lake Tahoe. I posted it on a website called Model Mayhem and you saw it and that's what you used to interview me with. From there, everything just kind of grew and snowballed. I couldn't believe when you had messaged me and told me that there could be an opportunity to be in a magazine. I thought that was a dream come true. Now looking back a few years later, realizing that I've been in dozens of magazines, including some of the best magazines in the world, the top magazines, it's pretty unbelievable how quickly it all happened. It was something that happened really fast just from posting on the website like that. And I'm glad that I did.
Skip: I'm glad that it was just sort of like I found you and I realized that you're underutilized. But then all of a sudden, you're going to post this interview that we are doing today on our website. So, our viewers will be able to see all the editorials you're in for West Coast Leather--magazine covers included. But then, you took it a step further and were invited by Maxim and traveled to Thailand by yourself.
You had a major story about you and your modeling, and you did that on your own and to me that shows how much confidence and how strong you are as a person to go and travel. Luckily everything was legit but you have to be so careful with the preparation in all of this.
How much time does it take like to get organized to go on a trip to Thailand to shoot for Maxim Magazine? That just seems so exciting.
Jamie: Thank you. I had eight weeks to prepare for that first Thailand trip and it took an incredible amount of organization and preparation, but I pulled it off and I'm really glad I did because it was one of the biggest things that I did for my career.
Skip: The pictures are just telling a story and so are the videos. And then did you go back six months later and shoot again or what happened?
Jamie: I went back -- the first one was in June 2023 and then I went back in October 2023 - 4 months later.
Skip: That's just amazing to me. But, then you later were invited to shoot with a top photographer Philippe in Paris. How did that all come together? And that’s as you know such an honor and it was done so artistically as well.
Jamie: Thank you. That was with a top photographer in Paris who works with the Moulin Rouge and a lot of top brands like Louis Vuitton and Jitrois. I was invited to go and shoot with him. Philippe Guedon.
Skip: That was amazing, too. So, did you actually go to Paris for that?
Jamie: I did.
Skip: Cool. So, I guess that's kind of some of your highlights. Were there any highlights in modeling besides taking over the feature film and then also being in the short film? Were there any more photoshoots for brands? I know you’ve worked with some really interesting brands. I saw some different lingerie and sportswear. What were the highlights of the ones outside of West Coast Leather?
Jamie: I did shoot and became Playmate of the Day for Playboy France with another photographer whose name is also Philipe. His full name is Philipe Hernandez. I also shot a commercial for Paypal.
Skip and Joe: Oh wow.
Jamie: It was exciting to get those. It was a big deal for me and I was published on the Playboy France website and Instagram.
Skip: Yeah, once you're like published like that and you have the Maxim it is a big deal. How did you take to being a model? I had encouraged you not just to be a model. I thought that you were the perfect size. I've worked with a lot of celebrities and a lot of actresses a size 2. To me you look like an actress and a model, but then you ended up getting into a feature film and then they made you the star of the film. Can you tell us the name of that, the director and how our viewers can see that?
Jamie: The film is on TUBI, Freevee, and on Amazon Prime Video and is called “Take Good Care.” The director is David Jet Tang. I started off as just a small role, meant to only shoot for one day. The director really liked my performance and made me one of the starring roles of the film.
Skip: That was amazing seeing you. And then you borrowed the yellow Asymmetric Motorcycle Jacket and got into the film and then you later purchased that, so you have to wear that all the time.
Jamie: I love it so much.
Skip: And what is it? A murder mystery?
Jamie: Yes and a neo-noir horror romance.
Skip: And you get killed and come back to life?
Jamie: I do, yes!
Skip: Oh gosh.
Jamie: And then I am kind of a bad person.
Skip: You also were nice enough to get one of our model friends into the film and you’ve also shot for other small features. So, is any of that still happening now?
Jamie: The same director is still working on a prequel to “Take Good Care” and I’ve already shot my scenes.
Skip: That's amazing. Well, I would say, you're moving to Santa Barbara, you know, that's very close to Hollywood. Make sure you keep your ear to the ground over there because there's a lot of great opportunities for you. Could you finish off by telling us about all these things that we see when you're working with all of these amazing charities?
The Babes in Toyland, the Maxim 100 parties, and all of these other things. They're raising a lot of money for really great causes. Can you tell us about the experiences for you and how you keep getting involved? They're getting interviews with you and you're on the headline for all the promotions. Doesn't that make you feel just so amazing?
Jamie: That's one of my favorite things to do. The parties are really fun. It's for a really great cause. I love getting dressed up. Going to the red carpet. I've made a lot of friends going to these events and it's just a great network of people. I absolutely love going and I can't say anything better about the people involved.
Skip: So, it's the Maxim Parties, then it's the different parties in LA and Las Vegas for the Babes in Toyland. Which charities have you done now?
Jamie: Babes in Toyland is the charity organization and then Maxim is not a charity, but they do lots of big parties. They are both in lots of cities including LA and Miami.
Skip: That's so exciting. Well, thank you so much.
Joe: There's one thing I want to say. Aside from all of this that you're doing, most people don't know, but I remember seeing some of your artwork at your parents’ house and I've seen some of the stuff. Are you still on the side pursuing any of that artwork that you do, just for your own benefit?
Jamie: I am.
Joe: Because you're really good at it.
Jamie: Thank you so much. I may be actually doing some more of that. Kind of integrating that into a little bit of my social media, making that a little part of not just my private world, but posting a little bit more of that.
Joe: Well, that's great. I'd love to see it. We're looking forward to that.
Skip and Joe: Thanks, Jamie.
Jamie: Thank you.
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