Superstar model, and actress Joy Corrigan distinguished herself in her chosen fields as a formidable force on screen and now as a budding fashion entrepreneur. Hailing from small beginnings, the model rose from small-town obscurity to starring in films with Arnold Schwarzenegger, most notably in the film AFTERMATH and Reprisal starring Frank Grillo and Bruce Willis.
From Miami and New York to Los Angeles, Joy Corrigan’s star is about to hit the global stage, and there is no time like the present. After a long stint on the East Coast, she signed with The Marilyn Agency. Later, Joy was drawn to the West and moved to Newport Beach, California. Her runway credits include designers like Roberto Cavalli and Vivienne Westwood. She is a known face on Guess campaigns, Frankie’s Bikinis, and Urban Decay.
Later, she collaborated with her sister, Gina Corrigan Smith, and they founded NAKED SPECIES. This clothing brand line offers everyday necessities with a modern street-style twist. Naked Species incorporates art and awareness into every garment, making “basics” stand out from being “just basic.” The two share a passion for art, fashion, and preserving the planet’s many animal species. Joy designed each piece with her style and skill so that everyone who wears them can proudly show their support for endangered animals.
To end the extinction of endangered species, 10% of the profits from sales will go to a non-profit organization called the Wild Tomorrow Fund.
What led you to start your line? Can you tell us about the new collection?
JC: I have wanted to start my clothing line since childhood. With years of experience in the fashion industry, I took that knowledge and my passion for creating Naked Species. I design every piece to stand out and bring awareness. With every purchase, we donate to Wild Tomorrow Fund, an incredible African charity making changes and helping save beautiful endangered species.
I’m very excited about the new collection. With a retro outer space theme, all the pieces are named after planets and are bringing the 90s back. The Neptune bikini and reversible bucket hat have a retro blue heart pattern that will take you back in time! For this collection, I wanted to focus on one particular endangered species, the sloth. One of our most popular designs in this collection is this Space Sloth Tee. This oversized unisex tee is 100% cotton in faded black. It has a cute space sloth design with text saying, “The Pygmy three-toed sloth is critically endangered, so we’ll be relocating to Mars.”
What was the inspiration behind “Naked Species”?
JC: I’ve always been an artist that loved design and style. When I was a child, I would sketch clothing designs, mark up and cut my clothing to make it my own. After years in the fashion industry as a model, I started to gain a following. It just felt right to make my mission to save beautiful endangered animals!
I wanted to use my voice to make a difference. I designed swimwear, streetwear, and unisex pieces that push the envelope in fashion that are edgy, bright, sexy, and most of all, pieces that bring awareness to global issues. Naked Species is a combination of my passion for protecting endangered species and my love for design.
