Salem Mitchell

Salem Mitchell
Mitchell in 2026
Born1998 (age 27–28)
San Diego, California, US
Modeling information
Height5 ft 6.5 in (169 cm)
Hair colorDark Brown
Eye colorBrown
AgencyFreedom Models (Los Angeles)

Salem Mitchell (born 1998) is an American model and entrepreneur. She is widely recognized for her distinctive facial freckles. Mitchell first gained prominence after being discovered on Instagram by photographer Mayan Toledano. She is currently signed to Freedom Models LA. In addition to her modeling career, she is an outspoken advocate for the representation of young woman of color within the fashion industry.

Early life and education

Mitchell was born and raised in San Diego, California and is of African American and Filipino descent. She studied dance at the San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts, graduating in 2016. Following high school, she enrolled at San Diego State University to study business and marketing.

Career

Modeling

Mitchell amassed a large following through Instagram. In 2016, she posted a selfie on Twitter juxtaposed with a bruised banana, responding to online trolls who has harassed her by comparing her freckles to the overripe fruit. After the photo went viral, photographer Mayan Toledano contacted Mitchell through Instagram and invited her to participate in a bedroom photo shoot in San Diego. The resulting pictures were published in Paper Magazine's Youth Issue in April 2018, which helped launch her career. Shortly after her digital discovery, Mitchell signed with Ford Models in February 2018.

Beyond her editorial work, Mitchell has fronted commercial campaigns for many prominent global retailers, including Abercrombie & Fitch, American Eagle, Converse, Forever 21, Gap, Gucci, H&M, Heaven by Marc Jacobs, Levi's, Madhappy, Nike, Maison Margiela, Savage X Fenty, Tommy Jeans, and Urban Outfitters. She was also personally requested by Beyoncé to model official merchandise for the album Lemonade Mitchell secured her first magazine cover feature for Numéro Berlin, and she has appeared in music videos for prominent musical artists such as SZA and Cardi B. Currently, her modeling career is represented by Freedom Models LA.

Activism

Throughout her career, Mitchell has frequently spoken out against cyberbullying and racism in the fashion industry. In 2018, internet commenters targeted her facial freckles and labeled her appearance as "ghetto". In response, she posted a public statement on her instagram story highlighting cultural appropriation and the systematic devaluation of African-American women; her commentary was subsequently covered by Teen Vogue

In 2019, Mitchell Transitioned into sustainable design by collaborating with ethical fashion brand Known Supply to launch a limited edition, eco-friendly apparel capsule titled "Only Human". She continues to advocate for environmental and ethical production practices within the garment industry

Accolades

Videography

Music videos

YearTitleArtist(s)Ref.
2017"Broken Clocks"SZA
2018"Bartier Cardi"Cardi B
2021"Brutal"Olivia Rodrigo
2022"Love Overgrown"Raveena
2024"360"Charli XCX

Other audio

Mitchell was featured as a background vocalist for Khalid's "Salem's Interlude" on his debut EP, Suncity.

References

  1. ↑ Robinson, Roxanne (March 3, 2022). "Stuart Vevers Talks '90s Nostalgia, 'Coach TV,' and 'RuPaul's Drag Race' With L'Officiel". L'Officiel. Retrieved December 12, 2025.
  2. ↑ Hazlehurst, Beatrice (December 14, 2020). "How Salem Mitchell became the model and mouthpiece Gen-Z deserves". I-D. Retrieved September 11, 2026.
  3. ↑ Bryant, Taylor (July 9, 2018). "Model Salem Mitchell Breaks Down The Importance Of Representation". Nylon. Retrieved September 10, 2026.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Weinstock, Tish (May 21, 2018). "This Model Hit Back at Trolls Who Compared Her Freckles to a Bruised Banana". I-D. Retrieved April 1, 2019.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 "Watch This Face: Salem Mitchell". Harper's Bazaar. August 17, 2017. Archived from the original on September 27, 2024.
  6. ↑ "Salem Mitchell Would Like To Recommend A Really Affordable Lip Balm". Into The Gloss. September 17, 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
  7. 1 2 Gore, Sydney (February 16, 2017). "Salem Mitchell Is The Next Model Everyone Will Be Talking About". Nylon. Retrieved April 1, 2019.
  8. ↑ Carlos, Marjon (January 24, 2017). "It-Model Salem Mitchell Reveals How SoCal Girls Do Winter Style". Vogue. Retrieved April 1, 2019.
  9. ↑ McKenzie, Joi-Marie (May 14, 2018). "Model Salem Mitchell takes us inside Rihanna's Savage X Fenty campaign shoot". Good Morning America. Retrieved April 1, 2019.
  10. 1 2 3 Bennett, Willa; Soloff, Jasper (July 2, 2019). "Salem Mitchell Is Making The Internet A Kinder Place". Nylon. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
  11. ↑ "Salem". Los Angeles: Freedom Models. Retrieved December 12, 2025.
  12. ↑ Rivas, Mekita (July 9, 2018). "Model Salem Mitchell Had the Best Response to a Person Calling Her 'Ghetto'". Teen Vogue. Retrieved April 1, 2019.
  13. ↑ "Salem Mitchell". The Shorty Awards. Retrieved April 1, 2019.
  14. ↑ Thompson, Desire (March 30, 2018). "10 Wonderful Easter Eggs In SZA's 'Broken Clocks' Video". Billboard. Retrieved September 11, 2026.
  15. ↑ Halabian, Layla (April 3, 2018). "6 luxe as hell style moments from the "Bartier Cardi" video". The FADER. Retrieved September 11, 2026.
  16. ↑ Meredith, Karenna (August 23, 2021). "Olivia Rodrigo's Famous Friends Are "Unrelentlessly Upset" in Her "Brutal" Video". Popsugar. Retrieved September 11, 2026.
  17. ↑ Grimes, Collette (April 22, 2022). "Salem Mitchell Stars in Raveena's "Love Overgrown" Music Video". Hypebae. Retrieved September 11, 2026.
  18. ↑ Velasco, Matthew (May 10, 2024). "A Guide To All The 'It' Girls in Charli XCX's '360' Video". W Magazine. Retrieved September 11, 2026.