Driving down a neighborhood, at the end of a cul-de-sac, your eyes immediately get drawn toward a gorgeous French chateau, the only remarkable house in a neighborhood of dull. It is a sight to see with a periwinkle gray and blue color scheme, steep roofs, and grand windows. Pulling into the driveway, one must stop for a moment to take in this house’s architectural beauty. The front door to this gorgeous château opens, and with her luscious black hair, coffin-styled nails, and an intoxicating smell of jasmine, Keiko invites me inside. My eyes are quickly drawn to a nook by the entrance: there sits an incense burner, a multitude of colorful crystals, and a pair of tarot decks. As we make our way past her “Zen corner,” Keiko comments “Every morning, I exhale and express my gratitude to the universe for what I have. It helps keep me grounded, especially during these wild times.” With a graceful stride, she turns a corner, and as if she was floating on air, with an undeniable sense of elegance, she makes her way to the patio.
Jasmine “Keiko” Payne, a Texas native and now a Los Angeles local is taking the model community by storm. She is a content creator with accounts across all social media sites. She aspires to become a top content creator, hoping to collaborate with other models in the industry and help them build their brands.
Former stripper turned socialite; Keiko is building up a loyal following with the high-quality content that she delivers. Constantly booked for photo shoots, attending lavish dinner parties, or taking some necessary “Me Time,” her schedule has no room for “wasted” time. She spends her days zooming from meeting to meeting, all the while trying to make time to stay connected to her fans. While her busy schedule keeps her tied up most of the day, she always finds comfort in engaging with her fans when she can carve out the time. When asked about her favorite part of the job, Keiko stated, “My fans are why I do what I do. I love interacting and connecting with them via social media. I love hearing about what they like to see and talking to them about their day. There is so much diversity when it comes to my followers; people from all walks of life subscribe to my accounts, and sometimes, I learn more through my conversations with them than in some of these meetings. (Laughs) I know that may sound cheesy, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Whenever she’s brainstorming ideas for new content, she enjoys connecting with Nature and lets whatever her current surroundings are, be her muse. Keiko believes, “There’s beauty in everything. When you look at a cloud in the sky, the mountains on the horizon, or when you stare at the stars, you can feel their beauty in the depths of your soul. And that’s the energy that I hope I exude. I want to share my love for the universe with everyone.” Her biggest hope is that through her social media, her fans can understand and appreciate the beauty this world has to offer the way she does.
As her brand grows, so do the responsibilities. I asked her how she’s able to balance such a hectic schedule, stay engaged with her community, and still find time for herself. She had this to say: “The hardest part of being an influencer in the age of media is that I am always reachable. Business doesn’t take a sick day or a break. When I first started this journey, I promised myself that I would put in the work no matter the cost. Now that I have reached a certain level of success, I have realized I was mistaken. To provide my fans with the best content, I need to remember that I am still human and being the hard worker I am, I forget to check in with myself. I love my fans and their support, and I know they would encourage me to find time throughout the day to recharge. They want me at my best, I want me at my best, and to deliver my best: I need to take care of myself.”
I wanted to dive deeper into that topic; what does it mean to “deliver my best”? Keiko claims that “the best” includes posting consistent content on her accounts. But not just any content; she considers herself a perfectionist. This means that unless her pictures and videos meet her high standards, she will refuse to post them. “My fans love my work not only because of what I show but because of the quality of my content. They pay a pretty penny and expect work that is deserving of that amount. I give it my all in every one of my videos, and my fans can see that. They keep subscribing for a reason, and as much as I’d like to credit my friendly personality, the reality is the content brings them back month after month.” Her fans have good reasons to renew their monthly subscriptions. Keiko spends more than thirty hours a week creating new content for her accounts. And that doesn’t include the time spent coming up with new ideas, editing her material, or even the time spent responding to all her messages. It is serious work that would burn out just about anyone, not Keiko.
She started a new life in California and, through her hard work, has found success. With a taste for luxury and a never-ending drive, Keiko is quickly becoming “the gem of California.”
LA’s premier model has found her seat at the table. There is little standing in the way of her social domination. As her meteoric rise to stardom continues to climb, the modeling industry better be prepared because the Age of Keiko is here.
Follow Kieko on Instagram and Twitter:
IG – @Fuxkkeiko
Twitter – @JazJizzes
