Jessy Harris Overcomes Guillain-Barre Syndrome to Thrive in Dirt Bike and Off-Road Events

17 Jul 2017

Model Jessy Harris with Roland Sands Designs Indian Motorcycle

Jessy Harris grew up as a tomboy in her youth so she fits in perfectly in the automotive industry

Lightning never strikes the same place twice, but Jessy Harris is electric enough to maintain two titles: model and mogul. This tech-savvy vixen has weathered enough storms in life to make success in the modeling industry look breezy. Jessy was born in San Francisco, California. She grew up in the Bay Area with three older brothers and to this day, she claims, “Family is one of the most important things to me. I always strive to make them my number one.”

Jessy’s family influenced her life tremendously. With three brothers, she became a bit of a tomboy. The siblings would go on adventures together “camping, boating and dirt biking.” These outings shaped Jessy’s personality, and she developed a distinct passion for dirt biking. Jessy says, “It was my way of releasing stress and escaping reality. With this being my favorite sport, it pushed me further in this industry. Modeling for K&N, Harley Davidson, Kawasaki and Mazda Raceway gave me VIP access to every event I would attend in my spare time.” She effectively combined passion with profession, landing coveted spots on some of the hottest raceways in sports.

Jessy began modeling when she was 21 years old. A friend referred her to an agency, and she landed her first job in San Diego. She worked a few more modeling gigs but eventually “took on a full time job traveling for a company coordinating events for the building of off-road events.” Jessy was excited for this new career opportunity. Little did she know, a storm was brewing on the horizon.

Model Jessy Harris at the Slide Bar in Fullerton with a Roland Sands Designs Indian Motorcycle

Jessy landed a last minute spot for the K&N calendar shoot with a pair of RSD Indian motorcycles

She remembers, “I fell ill with a virus called Guillain Barre Syndrome. Within 24 hours I was completely paralyzed with the doctors telling my family and me that it could last for 3 months to 2 years. After 3 months in ICU and another 5 at an acute rehab center, I was finally released to outpatient therapy.” After all her body had been through, Jessy was nervous about taking on a full time job. Because of this, modeling came back into her life. A flexible profession, it was perfect.

The traumatic event which paralyzed her body in fact catalyzed her career, and so goes the silver lining. Jessy recounts, “Things really took off for me after that. Harley Davidson took an interest in my work ethic and started flying me out to their shows.” This was the tip of the iceberg, and a whirlwind of modeling opportunities came pouring in.

Cue K&N. Jessy remembers, “I was connected to the Marketing Manager at K&N through one of the companies I worked for called R1Concepts. They needed a model last minute, and I was able to swing it with my schedule to do their calendar shoot.” This twist of fate became a gem of a memory for Jessy — “I absolutely love working with K&N. They’re always professional and take care of their models. My favorite memory with K&N was doing the calendar shoot on a one of a kind Indian motorcycle.”

K&N Calendar model Jessy Harris with custom Roland Sands Designs Indian Scout Motorcycle

Jessy was chosen as an official Mazda Raceway Girl for the 2016 Superbike World Championship

Jessy has conquered the modeling world, but now, she maintains a position as an event coordinator in Los Angeles. Both careers require poise; in each, the best possible outcome can only be achieved with positivity and commitment. Looking forward, Jessy is ecstatic about starting a family with her husband — “Modeling has taken a backseat, and we're expecting a little girl!” She isn’t sure if she’ll rejoin the industry, but the possibility is there. Jessy admits, “Modeling is work. These jobs don't come easy, and it's a constant competition between you and the girl next to you.”

It can be cutthroat, but it can also be spectacular. With clients like K&N and Harley Davidson, Jessy is able to make money and gain access to events like the “summer & winter X Games, even Daytona 500.” Last year, she was chosen as an official Mazda Raceway Girl for the Superbike World Championship—an event held at Laguna Seca Raceway. Here, she got up close and personal with premier access to the track. Right in the middle of the action, she “experienced riders fly by or stop at the pits.” Modeling is a job, sometimes a grueling one, but it can also be a vessel to endless opportunity in the world of sports and racing. Jessy finishes, “It's not all rainbows and sunshine like it seems, but looking back now, it was all worth it. I've made lifelong friends and irreplaceable memories.”

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