Jessica Rich (designer)

Jessica Rich
Rich in 2018
Born (1992-03-13) March 13, 1992
Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States
OccupationsFashion designer, actress, reality television star
Years active2008-present
TelevisionReal Chance of Love season 1
RelativesPatti LaBelle (great-aunt)

Jessica Rich, is an American fashion designer, fashion expert, actress and reality television star. She is best known for her women's shoe line; Transparent by Jessica Rich, which incorporates PVC design elements as the brands signature style.[1] She was also a contestant on the hit VH1 celebreality series Real Chance of Love season 1 where she went by the nickname, Rabbit. Patti LaBelle is Rich's great-aunt.

Early life

Rich was born and raised in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She is the daughter of Eric Willis and Janice Denise, she has four siblings. Her father was the tour and road manager for American singer and actress; Patti LaBelle, who is Rich's great-aunt.

Television career

In 2008 Rich was a contestant on VH1's hit celebreality series Real Chance of Love season 1. Rich was a part of the "Chance girls", the contestants who were there to date Kamal "Chance" Givens. She was given the nickname Rabbit after Ahmad "Real" Givens likened her to an African American Jessica Rabbit.[2] Rich would make the top three "Chance Girls" and place fifth in the competition overall, featuring in twelve episodes. In 2009 Rich was an unused alternate for the unaired, controversial season of the hit VH1 celebreality spin-off, I Love Money season 3. In 2011 Rich hosted her own web series for VH1 titled; Style it Rich. The show featured Rich finding the most inexpensive ways to look rich, she specialized in fashion makeovers and interior decorating.

Rich was a contestant in the 2012 game show, Take Me Out and in 2013 she was a contestant on the reality show The Millionaire Matchmaker.

Rich has appeared as a fashion expert on multiple daytime talk shows including; Access Hollywood, GMA3: What You Need To Know, Hollyscoop and KTLA Morning News.[3][4][5]

Rich has also appeared in multiple films and television shows. In 2009 she made an uncredited appearance in the film Notorious. She also made an appearance in the 2010 film Salt and an appearance in the 2012 film A Beautiful Soul.

Fashion design

In 2015 Rich launched The Jessica Rich Collection, a clothing line which has been worn by celebrities, musicians and reality television stars.[6]

In late 2017 Rich debuted Transparent by Jessica Rich, her first line of women's footwear. Her signature aesthetic used in all of her collections, is the use of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) components. The material is appealing in its design versatility and ability to be worn with any color of clothing. Rich's designs most commonly styled a heel height of 120mm with a golden heel or sole. Her shoes are manufactured and purchased wholesale.[7][8][9][10] Some of the footwears most notable celebrity clientele include; the Kardashian sisters, Ally Brooke, Ashanti, Bella Thorne, Blac Chyna, Cardi B, Fantasia, Halle Berry, Heidi Klum, Jelena Karleuša, Jennifer Lopez, Kesha, La La, Sasha Banks, Tamar Braxton, Tami Roman and Vanessa Simmons.[8][9][11][12][13][14] Jennifer Lopez wore Rich's first shoe design, The Fancy Stiletto, to a 2018 VMA after party, paired with a skintight blouse and leggings from the Versace pre-fall 2018 collection.[15][16] Lopez also wore Rich's shoes to multiple events promoting 2019 film Hustlers.[17][18]

Rich's footwear collection has been featured in; E! News, Footwear News, InStyle, People, Us Weekly and Vogue.[13][15][19][20][21]

In 2019 Rich officially launched a collection of men's footwear, focusing on an androgynous aesthetic. The collection featured American singer, songwriter and music producer Jon B. as the collections brand ambassador.[10][22]

Rich's collection is sold exclusively through the company website and in select boutiques around the world. The first Jessica Rich Collection Brick-and-Mortar location opened in 2018, on Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles, California, located next to Fairfax High School.[7] In August 2019, Rich officially announced her collection is also available in selected Macy's department stores.[23]

In 2021, Rich expanded her footwear line into wholesale department store retail through partnerships with major U.S. retailers, including Nordstrom, DSW, and Bloomingdale’s. As part of these expansion efforts, Nordstrom scaled the brand's physical retail distribution from five to twenty store locations.[24][25] On November 15, 2021, the collection launched across Bloomingdale’s e-commerce platform and was introduced into five of its physical store locations, establishing Rich as one of the early Black footwear designers carried by the department store chain.[26]

In January 2021, Rich opened a brick-and-mortar retail store at the Beverly Center in Los Angeles. The location occupied a space formerly operated by footwear brand Giuseppe Zanotti.[27]

in 2021, Rich established the Black Designers Fund, a grant program that awarded a total of $50,000 to five Black designers. The program was created to provide financial support to designers and entrepreneurs.[28]

In 2022, Rich appeared on the cover of the digital edition of Harper’s Bazaar Vietnam.[29]

In November 2022, Rich received the Emerging Talent Award at the 36th annual Footwear News Achievement Awards (FNAA) in New York City, presented by model Lameka Fox. [30] Following this recognition, she participated as a featured speaker at the Footwear News CEO Summit in Miami in 2023, discussing industry strategy and brand development alongside executives in the global footwear sector. [31]

In March 2024, Rich partnered with footwear brand Steve Madden to release a joint capsule collection. The 15-style spring line combined Rich’s signature clear PVC aesthetic with Steve Madden's design elements. The collection expanded Rich's portfolio into new categories including platform heels, flats, sandals, and the Luna sneaker featuring a rhinestone-embellished tongue. The collection was distributed through major retailers including Macy’s, Dillard’s, Nordstrom, Zappos, Amazon, and Steve Madden’s retail channels.[31][32]

Filmography

Film and television

Year Title Role Notes
2008 Supermodel Showdown: Costa Rica Model Direct to video
One Word Pool hall girl Short film
Real Chance of Love season 1 Self, contestant 5th place, 12 episodes
2009 Notorious Party girl Uncredited
Still a Teen Movie Rabbit
2010 Salt Subway passenger Uncredited
The Road To Riches Self Short film
2011 Sex Love and Lies Kourtney Short film
Style it Rich Self, host Web series
LaLa Land Nichoelle Thomas 1 episode
Nerve Girl on toilet
After Hours: The Movie Allison
2012 Take Me Out Self, contestant 2 episodes
A Beautiful Soul Club patron
The Doomsloop Vanessa Milay
The Black Soap Jade Jackson
2013 The Millionaire Matchmaker Self, contestant 1 episode
2014 Reality Relapse Self, guest
Hollyscoop Self, fashion expert
An American in Hollywood Najah
2016 KTLA Morning News Self, guest 1 episode
Access Daily
2023 GMA3: What You Need To Know
2025 After Hours: The Movie II Allison

References

  1. ↑ "#StyleCrush: Jessica Rich Is The Sultry Shoe Designer All The Stars Are Checking For". GlobalGrind.com. March 12, 2019. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  2. ↑ "Let the Thirst Games Begin! Real Chance Of Love S01 E01 | OMG!RLY?!". VH1. June 24, 2017. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  3. ↑ "Get Cookie Lyon's Looks For Less". AccessOnline. March 16, 2015. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  4. ↑ "Get the Cookie Lyon look for less: Meet style expert Jessica Rich". RollingOut. March 18, 2015. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  5. ↑ "Guns N' Roses Pop Up Shop With Stylist Jessica Rich". KTLA. August 19, 2016. Archived from the original on November 6, 2019. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  6. ↑ Johns, Nikara (November 30, 2022). "How FNAA Emerging Talent Winner Jessica Rich Got Cardi B, Kylie Jenner & JLo Into Her Shoes". WWD. Retrieved August 25, 2026.
  7. 1 2 "Meet Jessica Rich". VoyageLA. January 29, 2019. Archived from the original on November 6, 2019. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  8. 1 2 "A Talk with Jessica Rich, Hollywood's Beloved Shoe Designer". AboutHer.com. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  9. 1 2 "Fashionable Pumps, Stilettos and Sandals With Jessica Rich Collection". KTLA. May 9, 2019. Archived from the original on November 6, 2019. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  10. 1 2 "I Am King: Jessica Rich X Jon B Talk Golden Souls". COFFEA Magazine. April 4, 2019. Archived from the original on November 6, 2019. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  11. ↑ "Black History Month Spotlight: Actress, Author Tami Roman Gets Candid on Breaking Down Barriers". FootwearNews. February 18, 2019. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  12. ↑ "Exclusive: Tami Roman Teams Up With Jessica Rich for a Shoe Line 'With Sex Appeal'". FootwearNews. January 24, 2019. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  13. 1 2 "Cardi B Wears an Ultra-Rare Vintage Dress to the Hustlers Premiere". Vogue. August 26, 2019. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  14. ↑ "J-Lo & Cardi B Coordinate Gold Heels for 'Hustlers' Photo Call". FootwearNews. August 26, 2019. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  15. 1 2 "Of Course Jennifer Lopez Went Head-to-Toe Versace Prints for the VMA After-Party". Vogue. August 21, 2018. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  16. ↑ "Jennifer Lopez Takes on the Full-Body Versace Suit With Clear Power Pumps at MTV VMAs After-Party". FootwearNews. August 21, 2018. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  17. ↑ "J-Lo Does 4 Outfit Changes in One Day — With New, Fierce Heels Each Time". FootwearNews. September 11, 2019. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  18. ↑ "Jennifer Lopez Pops in Tangerine Dress & $200 See-Through Pumps on 'The View'". FootwearNews. September 12, 2019. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  19. ↑ "A Jenner Birthday Celebration Isn't Complete Without Totally Sheer Tops". People. November 7, 2016. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  20. ↑ "Billie Eilish Decked Out in Louis Vuitton - What the Fashion (S2, Ep27)". E! Online. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  21. ↑ "Kim Kardashian's Glass Slippers and More Celeb-Loved Statement Shoe Brands". E! Online. April 11, 2018. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  22. ↑ "Exclusive: This Celebrity-Favorite Brand Is Launching Men's Shoes — And They're Affordable". FootwearNews. March 22, 2019. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  23. ↑ "Jessica Rich x Macy's Collab – 5 New Styles to be Launched". SheenMagazine. August 14, 2019. Archived from the original on November 6, 2019. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  24. ↑ Mau, Dhani. "Is Jessica Rich, Maker of J. Lo's Favorite PVC Stilettos, the Next Steve Madden?". Fashionista.
  25. ↑ Browley, Jasmine. "Walk A Mile In My Shoes: Jessica Rich Shares Her Journey To Becoming A Celebrity Shoe Designer". Essence. Retrieved August 25, 2026.
  26. ↑ Emmanuel, Greg. "How This Designer's Brand Became One Of The First Black Shoe Lines Sold In Bloomingdale's". Essence. Retrieved August 25, 2026.
  27. ↑ Johns, Nikara (November 30, 2022). "How FNAA Emerging Talent Winner Jessica Rich Got Cardi B, Kylie Jenner & JLo Into Her Shoes". WWD. Retrieved August 28, 2026.
  28. ↑ Blanco, Lydia T. "Self-Taught Shoe Designer Jessica Rich Is Helping Black Designers Fund Their Dreams". Forbes.
  29. ↑ Nguyen, Duyen. "Head up & heels high: Inside Jessica Rich's shoe empire". Harper's Bazaar Việt Nam (in Vietnamese). Retrieved August 28, 2026.
  30. ↑ Johns, Nikara (December 1, 2022). "Jessica Rich Says Being a Shoe Designer Is a 'Dream Come True' at FN Achievement Awards 2022". WWD. Retrieved August 25, 2026.
  31. 1 2 Thompson, Jaden (September 12, 2025). "Jessica Rich Returns for Fall 2025 With Her Anticipated 'Power Drop' Collection Embracing a Slow Release Strategy". WWD. Retrieved August 25, 2026.
  32. ↑ "Rising Shoe Designer Jessica Rich Unveils Collaboration With Steve Madden". Yahoo Life. March 15, 2024. Retrieved August 25, 2026.
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