“For me, the common thread between worlds are passion, creativity, consciousness, social impact, innovation and joy.” With these words, Australian scientist, advocate, artist and model Zinnia Kumar distills to me what so many spend a lifetime trying to articulate. She exists in the in-between: a model with the mind of a scientist, an artist with the heart of a philanthropist, a person whose life defies neat (or what she might consider, outdated) categorisation. It’s not paradoxical, she insists – it’s fluid. “When you shift your thinking outside the box, and focus on the similarities, most things in the world intersect."
Our January digital cover star’s journey from Sydney's South West to international recognition is a story of resilience. Kumar has spent a lifetime defying expectation – first in school, excelling academically to eventually graduate as DUX (valedictorian), and later earning First Class Honours in Ecology at university. She was the first in her family to attend. Though initially pursuing conservation biology, an allergy to eucalyptus forced her to shift focus to human evolutionary biology. And while scouted as a model in Sydney during this time, she faced racism from agencies, fuelling her activism against colourism and her push for representation in media.
Kumar moves through the conjunct worlds of fashion and science with a quiet confidence, weaving them together with an unrelenting curiosity and an eye for the unexpected. Her scientific background informs everything she touches, from her approach to fashion to her philosophy on beauty. Ecology, she says, is about understanding systems and their connections – an ethos she extends to how she lives. "I tend to think about beauty and fashion in a similar way. I appreciate holistic self care.”
Her fashion choices reflect this evolution. Gone are the days of restrictive minimalism, when her wardrobe was a parade of pieces designed to meet a more narrow definition of sustainable activism. Now, she finds joy in the vibrant and unconfined. "I do think earlier on I fell into a social stereotype of buying not only really expensive designer clothing, but completely sustainable black and beige minimalist shirts and pants," she tells me. "And for a couple of years, I had this super sustainable, practical wardrobe that was burning a hole in my wallet, that also made me miserable, as it felt like a prison uniform."
"So now I dress holistically, to feel good, not to solely please extreme ideology. I share a lot of clothes with friends and family. I like to buy weird, unique and colourful vintage things from auctions and good-quality, high street stores, or artisanal basics that I plan on wearing often."
Her beauty routine mirrors this simplicity: lanolin lip balm, sandalwood soap, almond oil for her skin. Kumar admits her routines are a mix of good and bad days. “Sometimes I drink my three litres of water, sometimes I don’t, but I don’t punish myself over it,” she says. One constant, however, is her commitment to SPF: “Sun care really needs to be taken seriously, as most of us are not adapted to this climate. Having lived in both Sydney and London, I've experienced the stark contrast in UV levels.”
But Kumar's true philosophy of beauty transcends products. It’s the glow of joy and health, the quiet confidence of contentment. “When I volunteer in care homes, I notice being genuinely content on the inside – laughter and looking after one's health – creates a glow on the outside at any age," she tells me. "I try to emulate that beauty philosophy." Her grounding comes from life’s simplest pleasures. Joy in the everyday. Wholesome connections. A deep understanding that she is not her job. “Life is to be lived,” she says, “and I live a richer life off social media than on it.”
Giving back is central to this philosophy. Kumar mentors young men, empowers girls in disadvantaged schools, and finds profound reward in helping others see their potential. “A little encouragement, goal setting and a good résumé can improve mental health and boost self-belief,” she says. "And it’s especially rewarding to be part of their journey, and to see them get jobs and opportunities they never thought they were capable of getting."
Donning Paspaley’s 'Anchored in Paspaley' collection for her RUSSH digital cover shoot feels emblematic of Kumar's ethos – grounded yet luminous, a celebration of natural beauty. Encountering Paspaley's signature South Sea pearls for the first time, Kumar was mesmerised.
“They have an ethereal presence reminiscent of a full moon,” she tells me. "I’ve mostly encountered freshwater pearls my whole life – which are small, cream-coloured and pinkish. But now I understand why the Aussie South Sea Pearls are some of the most expensive, responsibly-sourced and sought after in the world."
Kumar is someone who sees endless potential in humanity and in nature; both limitless sources of inspiration on both a personal and professional level. But don't be mistaken, she tells me she doesn't have any interest in putting people on pedestals.
“I don't believe in role models in terms of people we look up to and wish to emulate," she begins. "However, I do have people that I find inspiring in what they do and how they’ve overcome obstacles, and I like to think of these people as ‘fire starters’ who light fires within people to inspire them to do more with the life they have; the hand they’ve been dealt."
Her personal list? Kumar includes motivational speaker and New York Times bestselling author Lisa Nichols, British broadcaster, biologist, and natural historian Sir David Attenborough, and many of her own friends. "I like to surround myself with people I find interesting and inspiring, who make me want to challenge myself and be a better person."
It’s this same refusal to accept neat categories or rigid definitions that shapes her work. For Kumar, the threads of science, sustainability, and fashion don’t clash – they weave a richer, more nuanced tapestry. As she puts it, the real incongruity lies in our obsession with boxes.
"With a lot of different fields, on the surface they might appear contrasting and paradoxical, but it's because people are only focussing on creating boxes, maintaining dogma and upholding stereotypes," she says. "There is a beautiful interplay between practice, experience and creative compass."
"I think my superpower is not judging or categorising things as per societies boxes, and being able to link unrelated concepts and ideas together through my unique way of seeing the world."
And with this power, Kumar's intent is simple: "I'm forever trying to solve the question ‘How do we do things better?’"
You can now shop the Anchored in Paspaley collection on the Paspaley website.
PHOTOGRAPHY Mia Rankin
FASHION Hannah Cooper
MODEL Zinnia Kumar @ Priscillas
HAIR Madison Voloshin @ Assembly Agency using Davroe
MAKEUP Isabella Schimid @ Assembly Agency using Emma Lewisham
PHOTOGRAPHERS ASSISTANT Matt Sitas
STYLIST'S ASSISTANT Koby Dulac
