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Born and raised in North Carolina, Coco spent most of her childhood in foster homes, eventually moving to an orphanage with her two older brothers when she was age 12. An early graduate from high school, receiving her diploma at 17, Coco won a scholarship to study in Brazil as a foreign exchange student and returned speaking fluent Portuguese. Coco Johnsen also worked as a Delta Airlines flight Attendant while pursuing her career in the entertainment industry.
Upon arriving in the US, Johnsen moved to New York City and her life was quickly catapulted into the world of fashion and beauty. Discovered on a New York City subway, Coco was introduced to an agent, Johnsen was whisked to South Africa, Sweden, Germany, and Norway to be seasoned as a model. Enjoying success in front of the camera, Coco modeled for the like of Revlon, Diesel Jeans, Coors Light, and Miller Lite campaigns to name a few. She has appeared in magazine such as Glamour, Essence, Cafe, and Swedish Elle. Her modeling career led to parts in music videos for Naughty by Nature, De Angelo, Monica, and Melissa Etheridge. Celebrity photographer, David LaChapelle photographed her alongside rap superstar Jay-Z for the VH1 Awards advertisement. On set, one of the directors suggested that she pursue acting and Johnsen was accepted to the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute in New York City.
Moving to L.A. saw more allowed for more modeling jobs as she landed a Miller Genuine Draft campaign that aired nationally. In no time at all Johnsen obtained a manager, along with a supporting role in the feature film, Out for Blood with Kevin Dillon, and a guest spot on UPN's The Parkers.
Playboy Enterprises acknowledged her curvaceous figure and Coco added Playboy to her many achievements. Listed as Cyber Girl of the Week, there seemed to be no stopping the five foot seven muse. She co-hosted the Whole Nine Yards film premiere with Bruce Willis, Wild On Bikini Destinations Brazil, and had a recurring role on The Playboy Channel's 7 Lives Exposed. In addition, Coco appeared in Playboy's 50th Anniversary issue.
After several years of modeling, in 2006 Johnsen attended The Fashion Institute Of Design in Los Angeles and is currently a Los Angeles based fashion designer. Her designs have appeared in GQ, Vogue Uk, Clear Magazine, West East, Flaunt, Ocean Magazine, Traffic, Profiles, Apparel News & WWD. She has been worn by Megan Fox, Mischa Barton, Leelee Sobieski, Glee's Jesslyn Gelsig, the late Farah Fawcett, Vanessa Branch and Supermodel Sessilee Lopez.
Currently, Coco Johnsen will appear as a contestant on Lifetime Television's new reality series "24 Hour Catwalk" from the producers of Project Runway and will also represent the United States as a designer for Mali Fashion Week, the first fashion week in Mali Africa, which will be sponsored by The United Nations in 2012
The commitment of the Coco Johnsen brand is to consistently introduce luxurious and stylist collections of clothing and accessories to the market place.
Inspired by such designers as Oscar Del La Renta, Chanel by Karl Lagerfeld, Lavin, Alexander Mc Queen and Carolina Herra, Coco Johnsen has centered her designs around her personal ideology of inner strength and outward beauty, which never be considered mutually exclusive. Having traveled the world from Stockholm to Tokyo as a model, actress and now a fashion designer, Coco Johnsen has acquired a distinctive take on how the modern women dresses. Coco’s love of powerful feminity, with more than a generous nod to Romanticism. This is evident in the timelessly elegant gowns, cocktail dresses and suits that comprise her signature and ready to wear lines.
Coco Johnsen will release the first line of Handbags to the accessories market and a ready to wear line of t-shirts, swimwear and casual wear. Jewelry, makeup, shoes and perfume to soon follow with all products available at www.cocojohnsenboutique.com and at the finest boutiques world wide.
Coco Johnsen collections are manufactured in the U.S.A. at the Coco Johnsen Atelier in Downtown, Los Angeles, C.A. using only the finest fabrics, trims and materials.