Kimmarie Johnson

Kimmarie Johnson was born April 8, 1976, in Pittsburgh, the youngest child of Edward Frank Johnson and Caroline Ella Johnson.{{cite web|url=http://www.blackstarnews.com/?c=127&a=2480|title=Editor's Pick, Black Star News - October 6, 2006|publisher=Black Star News, Inc - blackstarnews.com|accessdate=February 19, 2013}} She was raised in Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania, where she attended Wilkinsburg High School.{{cite web|url=http://namesdatabase.com/schools/US/PA/Wilkinsburg/Wilkinsburg%20Sr%20High%20School |title=Class of 1985, Wilkinsburg High School, Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140319090940/http://namesdatabase.com/schools/US/PA/Wilkinsburg/Wilkinsburg%20Sr%20High%20School |archivedate=2014-03-19 }} In her senior year at Wilkinsburg High, she enrolled in and successfully completed the Youth Competencies Program,{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=P4RIAAAAIBAJ&sjid=mm4DAAAAIBAJ&pg=5463%2C2441525|title=Classes give youths boost in needed basic job skills|publisher=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|year=1984|author=Felicia L. Mason, November 8, 1984}}{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=RYRIAAAAIBAJ&sjid=mm4DAAAAIBAJ&pg=4857%2C4156186|title=Classes prepare students for jobs|publisher=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|author=Felicia L. Mason, November 15, 1984}} a program sponsored by the Allegheny County Department of Federal Programs. Johnson was named Homecoming Queen in high school and then, later, also in college.

Until age ten, Johnson lived with both of her parents; her parents separated when she was about ten years old after which she, her two brothers, and her mother lived with her grandmother, Eleanor Elizabeth Taliaferro West,{{cite web|url=http://www.uzuri.com/index.php/home/item/314-exclusive-interview-with-actress-kimmarie-johnson |title=Uzuri.com Exclusive Interview with Kimmarie |publisher=uzuri.com - Beauty, Fashion, Runway and Entertainment |author=Muldrow, Stefanie (January 20, 2012) |accessdate=February 17, 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130222013509/http://www.uzuri.com/index.php/home/item/314-exclusive-interview-with-actress-kimmarie-johnson |archivedate=February 22, 2013 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.inmag.com/actors/kimmarie-johnson.html|title=Kimmarie Johnson - Celebrity Profile (December 2010 Edition)|publisher=inmag.com(on line) and in Magazine(print) are published by in! communications, Inc. - Entertainment, Fashion, People, Lifestyle}} and then with various family members.

At age sixteen, she became a surrogate mother for her oldest brother's infant daughter, Rhonda Deneen Johnson.{{cite news|url=http://www.bakersfieldcalifornian.com/sports/college/x1075153974/Johnson-a-model-for-family-ties|title=Johnson - A model for family ties|publisher=The Bakersfield Californian|author=Mason Kelley, November 17, 2006|access-date=May 13, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140324014606/http://www.bakersfieldcalifornian.com/sports/college/x1075153974/Johnson-a-model-for-family-ties|archive-date=March 24, 2014|url-status=dead}}

Johnson went on to study elementary education and child psychology at California University of Pennsylvania after which she moved to New York City. Johnson's oldest brother died in 2003, seven days before the birth of her son, Cameron Nino.{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/CameronNino/info|title=Cameron Nino on Facebook, About|publisher=Facebook}} In 2004, four months after oldest brother's death, Johnson's mother died from cancer.{{cite web|url=http://classified.post-gazette.com/details_obits.asp?id=10650562|title=Caroline Ella Johnson obituary, March 23, 2004|publisher=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette}}

File:Kimmarie DickClark.JPG, 2011]]

After college, Johnson worked as a flight attendant on international routes. While working with the airline, she was signed by Docherty, a Pittsburgh-based modelling agency. She was offered roles as a model for Vidal Sassoon, Oscar de la Renta, and United Colors of Benetton. In 1992, without any prior pageantry training, background, or experience, Johnson competed in and won the Miss Pennsylvania USA beauty pageant. She went on to represent the state of Pennsylvania in the 1993 Miss USA beauty pageant. She finished in the top 5 with higher scores than the 1993 winner and was the judges’ favorite to win the pageant. Johnson did not answer the question in the finals.{{cite web|url=http://www.pageantlovers.com/Woulda_Coulda_Shoulda_December_2008.html |title=Woulda Coulda Shoulda |website=www.pageantlovers.com |author=Ben Kramer - Owner / Webmaster / Web Designer; Zarly Dy - Correspondent / Contributor and JB De Jesus - Correspondent / Articles / Photos |accessdate=February 26, 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130228192815/http://www.pageantlovers.com/Woulda_Coulda_Shoulda_December_2008.html |archivedate=February 28, 2013 }}

In 1996, Johnson moved to Los Angeles and continued modeling for the LA California Mart, and Lady Footlocker. While in Los Angeles, she began a career in acting. She booked her first acting role in the movie Dude, Where's My Car?. Johnson immediately started learning her craft as an actor, studying under Janet Alhanti in the studio of Margie Habor. She soon discovered that she also had a passion for dancing and enrolled in several dance studios to improve her skills. Johnson appeared in several episodes of the TV series Beverly Hills, 90210 and Wanda at Large. She also appeared in the film the Diary of a Tired Black Man.

After the birth of her son in 2003, Johnson took a break from her career for a few years. While on hiatus, she studied at The Groundlings. In 2006, Johnson was voted Actress of the Month by the Independent Filmmakers Alliance{{cite web|url=http://www.ifilmalliance.com/newsevents/newsletter/newsletter18.php|title=Actress of the Month - August 2002|publisher=Independent Filmmakers Alliance|author=Karina Halle (August 2, 2006)|accessdate=February 7, 2013}} From 2007 to 2010, she played several lead roles at various theatres, including The Next Stage, The Dark Side of The Moon, and The Puppet Show, and appeared in an adaptation of A Christmas Carol.

Johnson was executive producer for The Last Eve{{cite web|url=http://www.youngmankang.com/thelasteve.htm |title=The Last Eve-2005, A Young Man Kang Drama |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130609115113/http://www.youngmankang.com/thelasteve.htm |archivedate=2013-06-09 }} directed by Korean American director Young Man Kang. This film won several awards in film festivals including Best Action Feature Film Award in the New York International Independent Film and Video Festival{{cite news|url=http://www.hancinema.net/the-last-eve-wins-award-at-new-york-independent-film-festival-4213.html|title=The Last Eve wins Award|publisher=hancinema.net|author=The Korean News Team}} and Best Cinematography in the New York B Movie Film Festival.

In 2011, Johnson teamed up with several skin care and beauty industry leaders and started SkinGlow by Kimmarie, a skin care and beauty line of products. In September 2012, she launched her first product, Ori Shea Butter,{{cite web |url=http://products.skinglowbykimmarie.com/ori_shea_butter.htm |title=SkinGlow Products | Ori Shea Butter |work=Products.skinglowbykimmarie.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130301160548/http://products.skinglowbykimmarie.com/ori_shea_butter.htm |archive-date=2013-03-01 |url-status=dead }} a 100% all natural extract from the Shea nut tree.

• 2005, The Last Eve,[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0391282/ The Last Eve (2005) - IMDb] executive producer
• 2010, Kimchi Warrior,[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1651897/ Kimchi Warrior (TV 2010) - IMDb] executive producer

• 2004, Korean Report: Young Man Kang Goes to Hollywood (TV documentary)[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0446570/ Korean Report: Young Man Kang Goes to Hollywood (TV 2004) - IMDb] (playing herself)

{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

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• [http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/ae/uncategorized/west-coast-showbiz-folk-fondly-recall-pittsburgh-roots-437889/ West Coast showbiz folk fondly recall Pittsburgh roots], By Christopher Rawson, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
• [http://givethemoneofyours.blogspot.com/2010/01/january-17-2010-dark-side-of-moon.html The Dark Side of The Moon Stage Play], January 17, 2010 Stage play at The Next Stage, Hollywood, CA.
• [http://www.nslists.com/misusa93.htm Jeff Allender's House of Checklists] List of Ms USA Finalists.
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zuNe-dWJt1Q KIMMARIE JOHNSON at Sue Wong "My Fair Lady"] 2011 Fashion Event Arrivals, Sue Wong Collection (Video).
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20160303233715/http://lunatopia.com/Lunatopia/LegacyCast.html Legacy Cast], Lunatopia Productions Cast of Legacy.
• [http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/KtoaOdhPnxl/13th+Annual+Women+Film+Malibu+Golf+Classic/F0EwNvxrFKq/Kim+Marie+Johnson 13th Annual Women In Film Malibu Golf Classic] - July 9, 2010 - Source: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images North America.
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YLyMBKQZy8 Miss USA 1993- Announcement of the Top 6] Miss USA Finals (Video).
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20130207103758/http://corp.skinglowbykimmarie.com/about.htm SkinGlow by Kimmarie Corporate Bio] SkinGlow by Kimmarie Executive Bio.
• {{IMDb name|0425565}}

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Category:African-American actresses

Category:Actresses from Pittsburgh

Category:African-American female models

Category:Female models from Pittsburgh

Category:American beauty pageant contestants

Category:California University of Pennsylvania alumni

Category:1967 births

Category:Living people

Category:People from Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania

Category:21st-century African-American people

Category:21st-century African-American women

Category:20th-century African-American people

Category:20th-century African-American women