Cory Kennedy
Encyclopedia
Cory Kennedy-Levin is an American model
and Internet celebrity
.
in Los Angeles, California
in the summer of 2005. He took some photographs of her for his web site and they exchanged phone numbers. In January 2006 Kennedy began an internship at his office, to fulfill a requirement from her high school for graduation. Hunter's web site featured photos of celebrities at various parties and he began bringing Kennedy. Hunter and Kennedy also began dating with the approval of her parents.
In December 2005, Hunter had posted photos of Kennedy with the title "JFK CORY KENNEDY", which began speculation that she was somehow related to the Kennedy family
(she is not).
By April, Hunter claims that he had noticed that every time he posted photos of Kennedy on his site, the web traffic from fashion community sites would spike. Hunter quickly realized that Kennedy had the potential to be a star. That month, as the Kennedy-Levin family visited New York City
on vacation, Kennedy and Hunter visited the offices of Nylon
magazine, the editor-in-chief of which was a friend of Hunter's. The very next day she was in a photo shoot for an issue focused on music and MySpace, which hit news stands in June.
She was mentioned in a New York Times article about interns and LA Weekly did a short article about her. Then in October, she appeared in a mock music video
for Good Charlotte
's "Keep Your Hands Off My Girl", directed by Nylon
s editor-in-chief Marvin Scott Jarrett. The entire clip is shot from a single camera at a fixed angle, and consists of Kennedy shaking salt and pepper to the beat while eating Indian food
and listening to the song on a portable music player. The viral video
became one of the most popular videos on the Web. Later that year surprising publicity started coming out in new articles constantly about Cory. One of the most famous ones from Vincent Gallo
publicly stating that he was her father in Page Six.
Her parents had known about her exposure online but had not realized the extent to which it had grown until the June issue of Nylon appeared. Because Kennedy had been previously treated for clinical depression
, their primary concern had been her health and well-being. By September 2006, her celebrity life began to conflict with her home and school life. Worrying for her education, her parents had her placed in a boarding school
, a "nonpublic therapeutic placement" with limited phone and computer use, although she is free to leave on weekends. Despite this, she has been featured in numerous ad campaigns, magazine covers, and an editorial in Vogue
. .
Model (person)
A model , sometimes called a mannequin, is a person who is employed to display, advertise and promote commercial products or to serve as a subject of works of art....
and Internet celebrity
Internet celebrity
An Internet celebrity, cyberstar or online celebrity is someone who has become famous by means of the Internet. Such fame is based less upon raw numbers, as with traditional media...
.
Story
Kennedy met photographer Mark Hunter (who goes by the alias "The Cobrasnake") at a Blood Brothers concert at the El Rey TheatreEl Rey Theatre
El Rey Theatre is currently a live music venue in the Miracle Mile area of the Mid-Wilshire region in Los Angeles, California. "El Rey" means "The King" in Spanish....
in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
in the summer of 2005. He took some photographs of her for his web site and they exchanged phone numbers. In January 2006 Kennedy began an internship at his office, to fulfill a requirement from her high school for graduation. Hunter's web site featured photos of celebrities at various parties and he began bringing Kennedy. Hunter and Kennedy also began dating with the approval of her parents.
In December 2005, Hunter had posted photos of Kennedy with the title "JFK CORY KENNEDY", which began speculation that she was somehow related to the Kennedy family
Kennedy family
In the United States, the phrase Kennedy family commonly refers to the family descending from the marriage of the Irish-Americans Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr. and Rose Elizabeth Fitzgerald that was prominent in American politics and government. Their political involvement has revolved around the...
(she is not).
By April, Hunter claims that he had noticed that every time he posted photos of Kennedy on his site, the web traffic from fashion community sites would spike. Hunter quickly realized that Kennedy had the potential to be a star. That month, as the Kennedy-Levin family visited New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
on vacation, Kennedy and Hunter visited the offices of Nylon
Nylon (magazine)
Nylon is an American magazine that focuses on pop culture and fashion. Its coverage includes art, beauty, music, design, celebrities, technology and travel...
magazine, the editor-in-chief of which was a friend of Hunter's. The very next day she was in a photo shoot for an issue focused on music and MySpace, which hit news stands in June.
She was mentioned in a New York Times article about interns and LA Weekly did a short article about her. Then in October, she appeared in a mock music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
for Good Charlotte
Good Charlotte
Good Charlotte is an American rock band from Waldorf, Maryland that formed in 1996. Since 1998, the band's constant members have been lead vocalist Joel Madden, lead guitarist and back-up vocalist Benji Madden, bass guitarist Paul Thomas and rhythm guitarist and keyboardist Billy Martin...
's "Keep Your Hands Off My Girl", directed by Nylon
Nylon (magazine)
Nylon is an American magazine that focuses on pop culture and fashion. Its coverage includes art, beauty, music, design, celebrities, technology and travel...
s editor-in-chief Marvin Scott Jarrett. The entire clip is shot from a single camera at a fixed angle, and consists of Kennedy shaking salt and pepper to the beat while eating Indian food
Indian cuisine
Indian cuisine consists of thousands of regional cuisines which date back thousands of years. The dishes of India are characterised by the extensive use of various Indian spices, herbs, vegetables and fruit. Indian cuisine is also known for the widespread practice of vegetarianism in Indian society...
and listening to the song on a portable music player. The viral video
Viral video
A viral video is one that becomes popular through the process of Internet sharing, typically through video sharing websites, social media and email...
became one of the most popular videos on the Web. Later that year surprising publicity started coming out in new articles constantly about Cory. One of the most famous ones from Vincent Gallo
Vincent Gallo
Vincent Gallo is an Italian-American film director and actor. Though he has had minor roles in mainstream films such as Goodfellas, he is most associated with independent movies, including Buffalo '66, which he wrote, directed, did the music for and starred in; The Brown Bunny, which he also...
publicly stating that he was her father in Page Six.
Her parents had known about her exposure online but had not realized the extent to which it had grown until the June issue of Nylon appeared. Because Kennedy had been previously treated for clinical depression
Clinical depression
Major depressive disorder is a mental disorder characterized by an all-encompassing low mood accompanied by low self-esteem, and by loss of interest or pleasure in normally enjoyable activities...
, their primary concern had been her health and well-being. By September 2006, her celebrity life began to conflict with her home and school life. Worrying for her education, her parents had her placed in a boarding school
Boarding school
A boarding school is a school where some or all pupils study and live during the school year with their fellow students and possibly teachers and/or administrators. The word 'boarding' is used in the sense of "bed and board," i.e., lodging and meals...
, a "nonpublic therapeutic placement" with limited phone and computer use, although she is free to leave on weekends. Despite this, she has been featured in numerous ad campaigns, magazine covers, and an editorial in Vogue
Vogue (magazine)
Vogue is a fashion and lifestyle magazine that is published monthly in 18 national and one regional edition by Condé Nast.-History:In 1892 Arthur Turnure founded Vogue as a weekly publication in the United States. When he died in 1909, Condé Montrose Nast picked up the magazine and slowly began...
. .
Career highlights
- February 25, 2007, Kennedy appeared on the cover of the Los Angeles TimesLos Angeles TimesThe Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
, with several page article titled "'It Girl' Interrupted". - In the fall of 2007, Kennedy was named the face of Urban DecayUrban Decay (cosmetics)Urban Decay is an American cosmetics company founded in 1996 by David Soward, Wende Zomnir, Patricia Holmes, and Sandy Lerner. There was a significant dispute as to whether Sandy Lerner wrongfully ousted her former friend and horse trainer, Patricia Holmes, from a "founders role" in the upstart brand...
. - September 2007, appeared on the cover of Jalouse Magazine, shot by French photographer, and video director Jean-Baptiste MondinoJean-Baptiste MondinoJean-Baptiste Mondino is a French fashion photographer and music video director. He has directed music videos for Madonna, David Bowie, Sting, Björk, Neneh Cherry and Les Rita Mitsouko...
. - September 8, 2007 Kennedy was on the cover of The New York Post.
- October 2007, appeared on the cover of NylonNylon (magazine)Nylon is an American magazine that focuses on pop culture and fashion. Its coverage includes art, beauty, music, design, celebrities, technology and travel...
. - January 2008, Kennedy starred in an ad campaign for Korean designer Banila B., shot by Terry RichardsonTerry RichardsonTerrence "Terry" Richardson is an American fashion photographer.-Early life:Richardson was born in New York City, the son of Bob Richardson, a fashion photographer who struggled with schizophrenia and drug abuse...
. - April 10, 2008 Kennedy graced the cover of Women's Wear DailyWomen's Wear DailyWomen's Wear Daily is a fashion-industry trade journal sometimes called "the bible of fashion." WWD delivers information and intelligence on changing trends and breaking news in the fashion, beauty and retail industries with a readership composed largely of retailers, designers, manufacturers,...
- In May 2008, she starred in an ad campaign for Procter & GambleProcter & GambleProcter & Gamble is a Fortune 500 American multinational corporation headquartered in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio and manufactures a wide range of consumer goods....
's "Sebastian" line of hair products. She was later replaced by Charlotte RonsonCharlotte RonsonCharlotte Julia Ronson is an English fashion designer who currently resides in New York, NY.-C. Ronson:Ronson always had an interest in fashion, however, she began designing after friends asked her to create pieces for them...
. - From May 3-August 31, 2008, photographs of Kennedy were on display in The Andy Warhol MuseumThe Andy Warhol MuseumThe Andy Warhol Museum, located on the North Shore of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is the largest museum in the United States dedicated to a single artist...
(Pittsburgh, PA). Deemed an 'Uberstar'--along with designer Rami Kashou, photographer Dirk MaiDirk MaiDirk Mai is an American photographer, currently working for Cliché Magazine.From May 3-August 31, 2008, photographs of Mai were on display in The Andy Warhol Museum...
, journalist Rose Apodaca and writer/actor Clint CatalystClint CatalystClint Catalyst is an American author, actor, spoken word performer, and stylist.Catalyst has covered music, fashion, LGBT issues, and popular culture for magazines including LA Weekly, Frontiers, Out, Surface and Swindle.-Early life:Born in Jonesboro, Arkansas, Catalyst was raised an only child...
--Mai was hand-picked by sculptor/visual artist Glenn Kaino to represent his 21st Century take on Andy WarholAndy WarholAndrew Warhola , known as Andy Warhol, was an American painter, printmaker, and filmmaker who was a leading figure in the visual art movement known as pop art...
's Superstars. For the exhibit, Kaino took portraits of his "Uberstars" using a PolaroidPolaroid CorporationPolaroid Corporation is an American-based international consumer electronics and eyewear company, originally founded in 1937 by Edwin H. Land. It is most famous for its instant film cameras, which reached the market in 1948, and continued to be the company's flagship product line until the February...
Big Shot camera, the type of instant cameraInstant cameraThe instant camera is a type of camera that generates a developed film image. The most popular types to use self-developing film were formerly made by Polaroid Corporation....
Warhol used for his infamous series. Kaino's Polaroids and Warhol's portraits were then juxtaposed, aligning each of Kaino's cyber-celebrities to their Warhol SuperstarWarhol superstarWarhol superstars were a clique of New York City personalities promoted by Andy Warhol during the 1960s and early 1970s. These personalities appeared in Warhol's artworks and accompanied him in his social life...
-era counterpart. Kennedy's picture was paired with socialite Brigid BerlinBrigid BerlinBrigid Berlin is an American artist and former Warhol superstar.-Early years:Berlin was the eldest of three daughters born to socialite parents, Muriel Johnson "Honey" Berlin and Richard E. Berlin, into a world of Manhattan privilege. Her father was chairman of the Hearst media empire for 32 years...
.
- Kennedy and Hunter both appeared in the first episode of 9021090210 (TV series)90210 is an American teen drama television series developed by Rob Thomas, Jeff Judah and Gabe Sachs, and the fourth series in the Beverly Hills, 90210 franchise created by Darren Star. 90210 is the first series produced by CBS Productions under the company's re-launch, but is now produced by CBS...
.