Calvin Klein Model Cracks Code & Stereotypes — turning heads with C++ & Python
Runway Model/Actress/iOS Developer/A.Teamer, Lyndsey Scott started coding by accident when she was 12, bored in math class —building games on her Ti 89 calculator. She didn’t realize she was coding until 6 yrs later when she picked up Computer Science as a second major.
Her modeling career took off after she became the first African American model to sign an exclusive with Calvin Klein, jet setting her all over the world to walk for Prada, Louis Vuitton and Gucci. Throughout her adventures living in Paris, Berlin, and London, Lyndsey had a secret pastime — making apps, for fun — writing code in C++, Python, and Swift.
That secret past time turned into her full-time career as she phased out of modeling designer clothing and into modeling schemas — working for herself, building products that matter to her. Check our top 4 insights from our Modern Independent interview with Lyndsey.
“Black runway model. Female programmer. I’ve seen my share of shameless bias…
One night, I was called into the offices of Calvin Klein — super late, maybe 10 or 11pm, and I walked for them. They decided to sign me, making me the first African American with an exclusive with Calvin Klein.
There was a point when I was the black girl they were hiring for all these jobs. I walked for Prada, Gucci, Louis Vuitton… I was shooting for W magazine and Vogue. But these designers would only have one black girl per show. As soon as they found a new black girl, I’d lose my spot.
I remember, I was supposed to be booked for one show and the casting director let me down softly, “We already have a black girl for the show.” I mean, she was very nice about it — trying to tell me the truth. And actually she was also a person of color too, so I think she got it.
When I started to get trolled for being a black female programmer ex-model, it was nothing I wasn’t used to already… Some people don’t believe I’m a “real” programmer.
So, when I started to get trolled for being a black female programmer who used to be a model, it was nothing I wasn’t used to already. Only 3% of software engineers are black female presenting. Actually, sometimes, people don’t believe that I’m a “real” programmer.
For one job I was working on, I went above and beyond on developing the design elements. And one of the other engineers told the client that I used a wrapper. But obviously, he’d seen the X code and that I had an interface — you could see I wrote the whole thing from scratch. But if I were more of a traditional programmer type, maybe they wouldn’t have these questions.”
“Tech alone is isn’t as impactful as tech combined with other interests & knowledge…
Sure, tech and fashion modeling don’t sound like an obvious combination. But I believe it’s always possible to take knowledge from other areas and combine them with technology in order to enhance what you’re making.
Right now, I’m working on an app that draws from a lot of the modeling world — actually, I’m doing that with an A.Team! It’s a luxury beauty service app that helps hair and makeup artists with their bookings. And it’s funny, the client has a connection with Michael Kors, where I actually did some modeling work. So in a way, it’s come full circle with this A.Team mission.
I’ve built my own apps (I have 3 in the Apple App store) that’ve helped my acting and modeling career. For example, I have an app called Scene Partner Pro — it helps with self-tape auditions, which has come in handy during the pandemic.”
“Independent work ≠ working alone — actually it’s quite the opposite…
Everyone always assumes that just because you work for yourself as an independent contractor, that, that’s it — you don’t have to work on a team. But I’ve found exactly the opposite. I’d say that when you work for yourself, you need teamwork even more.
Right now for example, because I do independent work, I can make my own schedule — I can be both an actress and an iOS Developer for this app I’m building with A.Team. So, independent really just means “autonomy.” Because in all of my careers (all independent), I had to be a team player, empathize, and work well with others.
And when it comes to modeling and acting, you have to communicate with people about timing, being in character, etc. It’s a very social thing when it comes to actually performing, engaging people, and auditioning. Learning how to be a good team player in modeling and acting has definitely brought a lot to the way I work as a developer. I’m an over-communicator.
That’s really what makes a high-end developer — in addition to be really good at their craft, they’re also excellent at at being a teammate.
Building this app remotely with A.Team, we have to check in several times a day through slack and Zoom calls— it takes constant communication. And my teammates have been excellent at that. Joel is very easy to talk to you, great communicator, very empathetic and nice and very smart and all that. And Martin’s really great at organizing and he thinks about things that I wouldn’t necessarily think about it.
That’s really what makes a high-end developer — in addition to be really good at their jobs, they’re also excellent at at being a teammate. That’s the difference between good and great — and probably why product builders and companies are drawn to platforms like A.Team. Just my theory!”
“Coding is for everyone. The answer to biases is exposure and representation…
We have a lot of work to do in terms on inclusion of women and minorities in Tech. Honestly, I think it’s a lot about representation and exposure. A lot of young girls just aren’t told about coding and tech. It’s a “boys thing.” Even in programming classes in college, you know, a lot of the guys can make the women feel like out of place. It’s also about exposure, because I didn’t know what programming was when I was young. I wasn’t afforded the same opportunity to learn at a younger age as other people were. But luckily, I caught onto my first computer science course very quickly.
I hope that tech can be a solution to its own problem in this regard and act like an equalizer. I’ve done some work with this — in education and empowering young people who are usually excluded from Tech opportunities. It’s also important for companies like A.Team to shape their networks and teams in a way that’s really safe and inclusive. That needs to be done super intentionally.”
About A.Team
We’re A.Team, a company founded to empower the most skilled, independent pros in tech — where product managers, designers, developers, data scientists, and marketers can team up to build tech that matters with on their own terms. Sound like it’s for you? Join us! Apply here.
