Clarkson Confident: Confidence Crusader Influences Inclusivity

By Katie Berry ’23

To innovate is to defy convention — and CARALYN MIRAND KOCH ’14 is no stranger to the concept. As a model, content creator, fashion designer and website/blog owner, she is challenging the status quo in pursuit of her passion: “to help women from all walks of life feel good in the skin they’re in.”

Mirand Koch, who graduated with bachelor’s degrees in Innovation & Entrepreneurship and Interdisciplinary Social Sciences with a minor in Psychology, has taken the world by storm. While she may be known as an influencer, Mirand Koch connects her Clarkson education and her passion in a more encompassing and preferred title: content creator.

Mirand Koch modeled throughout her years at Clarkson and, upon graduation, had already signed on with an agency to pursue modeling full-time. “As time went on, it was becoming more important for models to have an online social presence,” says Mirand Koch. “Brands favored models with larger platforms and following to reach wider audiences.”

Social media has been a growing phenomenon over the past decade, permeating most industries. Digital marketing via social platforms has become an integral part of doing business.

“I vividly remember in 2016 telling a casting director that I had 10,000 Instagram followers,” recalls Mirand Koch. “He looked me square in the eye and told me to, ‘Step it up, honey.’ This ignited a fire in me to do a deep dive and figure out why it was important to have an audience. And if I had to grow, who were the people I wanted to attract? What value could I add to the space? I knew I wanted to help people feel good about themselves and began sharing the tips and tricks that I was learning on set as a model.”

With that fire inside, Mirand Koch grew her following, and her career soared to new heights. She shifted her focus from modeling to creating content for her own digital platforms. “It was refreshing to be able to use my voice and share ideas from my perspective — a stark contrast to being hired as a model simply for my appearance,” says Mirand Koch.

As a content creator, Mirand Koch partners with brands to showcase her viewpoint, known as influencer marketing. She endorses and shares product placements of various brands she partners with on her social media platforms and website.

“As time went on, I quickly realized that we do not own our social media, and it’s always been very important for me to diversify different aspects of my business,” explains Mirand Koch. “I view my blog and website as the ‘trunk’ of a tree, with social media platforms as the branches. It’s important that my audience connects with me across multiple mediums like my blog, newsletter and online social media platforms.” This innovative thinking allowed Mirand Koch to carve out her niche community online. Her genuine connection with her audience and her influencer marketing endeavors have allowed her to grow into fashion design.

Partnering with Amazon’s The Drop starting in 2019, Mirand Koch launched and designed the retailer’s first-ever size-inclusive collection available worldwide — the proudest moment in her career thus far.

“If you’re not familiar [with The Drop], they partner with creators from all around the world on limited-time collections that are only shoppable for 30 hours,” explains Mirand Koch. “Each piece is made on demand and shipped within two to three weeks. Amazon has taken this sustainable approach to reduce waste.”

An inclusivity advocate, Mirand Koch worked directly with the online retailer to extend sizing to more than just XS-XL. “I worked closely with [Amazon] to perfect the fit and sizing. In 2020, the first extended-sizing collection launched in sizes XXS-3X. Since then, all other collections have offered this sizing, and I’ve done three other collections. Sizes, as of July 2022, are available up to 5X.”

Mirand Koch has made a notable impact — not just on her career but on the lives of people of all shapes and sizes across the globe — by innovating, strategizing and championing various ideas.

“At Clarkson, I had a handful of influential female mentors and advisers that truly made my experience at school spectacular,” she notes. “They were my cheerleaders and support system, and many have become lifelong friends. This has shaped how I interact with other women, pay it forward in many ways and continue to share the knowledge.”

“My time at Clarkson allowed me to dream big and quite literally defy convention, even at Clarkson, by pursuing a career within the fashion industry — and the industry has completely embraced me,” says Mirand Koch. “I built my platform on supporting, encouraging, championing and learning alongside other women. I’ve learned a lot about myself, and I have so many women who’ve come before me to thank for paving the way and encouraging me to be my authentic self.”

Follow Mirand Koch’s work as a confidence crusader on her Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and Pinterest platforms @CaralynMirand and at CaralynMirand.com.

Photos by Ryan Kell