Corinne Foxx

Success-driven, intelligent, compassionate, forward-thinking—these are just a few of the terms I’d use to describe our latest cover story subject, Corinne Foxx. From starring in the new action-packed thriller 47 Meters Down: Uncaged, to becoming one of Hollywood’s youngest trailblazers in fashion, philanthropy, and mental health awareness, this 25-year-old has paved a way for herself in the entertainment and business worlds that is likely to make her a household name for years to come.

orinne Foxx is no stranger to the limelight, as anyone who is familiar with her father, Jamie, knows. But she has her own unique way of taking on the world that really sets her apart from the crowd—and she’s here to make a tangible difference in people’s lives for good. Her early career has been a whirlwind of education and entertainment, in which she’s developed a mind for business and female empowerment, as well as an eagerness to help others. An amazing example is Corinne’s online platform, Foxxtales, which strives to lift fellow female business owners up and to shed light on what it is to be a woman in such a demanding industry. Corinne’s mission in starting the platform? Simple—to find a way to support her peers in business. When asked to elaborate on why she founded the platform in the first place, she speaks candidly about her friends’ growing businesses:

Indeed, Corinne wanted to take her naturally large online audience and redirect it to her peers, using her voice and societal presence to empower fellow women. Her generous entrepreneurial spirit moves in so many ways that few dare to, existing to inspire those around her to greatness. When asked about the specific business owners featured on her site, she says that she, “loves telling the story of the female business owner.” This love bleeds through the lines of text on her site, seeping into the reader’s mind and giving hope to many young women dreaming of making it as their own bosses. She relays to me stories of the first initial businesses on the platform— those of her close friends:

“My best friend, Natalie McMillan has her own jewelry line that she designs from home. She really inspired me to create the website. I saw all the work that she was putting into her line and how beautiful her pieces were, I wanted to find a way to direct my followers to her company.”

And when talking about the mission of Foxxtales, Corinne sums it up eloquently:

“On Foxxtales, we are dedicated to transparency. We want to encourage other young women to start their own businesses, but also want to be upfront about how difficult it can be.”

This sort of dedication to truth, empowerment, and education has been a theme that Corinne has carried throughout her young life and early career. Her strength and determination shine through in her fashion and film career as well, and she constantly finds herself traveling and working demanding jobs—sometimes even hopping on planes to the Dominican Republic the night before a shoot. When asked to describe the most difficult aspects of her role in the upcoming film, 47 Meters Down: Uncaged, she says:

“The most demanding part of this role was the physicality of it. We spent five hours a day under the surface of the water. The swimming, scuba, breathing, and stunts were incredibly difficult and hard on our bodies. We’d be completely exhausted after a day of shooting.”

Corinne adds that she was “so lucky” to work with such a cast. “We all became incredibly close during the filming.”

The drama/thriller, which is a sequel to the original feature, stars Sophie Nelisse, Corinne Foxx, and Brianne Tju. The film released on Friday, August 16 th , so you can catch it in theaters around the world today.

In addition to acting, Corinne has also set herself apart as a model and influencer within the fashion world. I ask her to touch a bit on what fashion and style means to her, and she tells me:

“Through modeling, I’ve really gained an appreciation for fashion as an art form. I’ve seen some of the most beautiful pieces of art walking down the runway. That was something I couldn’t really understand before I started modeling. I think that fashion is a very expressive art form and style is a way to choose which art speaks to you.”

Corinne also admits that one of her favorite parts about the job is the incredible travel that she gets to do on a regular basis.

“One of the best parts about modeling is getting to travel all over the world,”she says. “Probably one of my favorite experiences was flying to Italy to walk in my first Milan Fashion Week. It was so glamorous; I was in awe.”

When asked to describe her own personal style in three words, Corinne keeps it simple and sweet: “California. Easy. Classic.”

Our conversation flows effortlessly from business, to entertainment, to fashion, and now to philanthropy. Corinne has a passion for helping others less fortunate than herself and uses her voice and reach to give back to society. Her latest effort includes partnering with the United Nations foundation, Girl Up! to help improve the lives of girls around the world.

“I’ve learned so much about the difficulties facing young girls around the world,” Corinne says. “Girls around the world face so many hardships to prosperity. From access to education, to clean water, to sanitation, to food, to vaccinations, and to many other things that we take for granted in the United States.”

According to Corinne, the most rewarding part of her work with the group is, “getting to meet the girls that are leading this campaign. It’s so wonderful to see girls taking care of other girls, caring for them and advocating for their rights. It’s inspiring to see.”

For an influential young woman making such an impact on those around her, naturally, I was curious to know which successful female leader she looks up to. Her response is insightful:

“I’m a huge fan of AOC (Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez) right now. I watched her documentary on Netflix and left saying, ‘I want to be AOC.’ I think a small part of me has always wanted to be politician, so I see myself in her. I love an underdog story and she has a great one. I love her passion and her grit.”

Of course, if Corinne were to take to office it’s safe to say we’d all be in good hands. Inspiring others is important to her, and one of the major topics we touch on next is how she inspires others with mental illness like herself.

Corinne has struggled with an anxiety disorder since the age of 14, and the experience has led her to lead a life filled with compassion and empathy for others fighting similar battles.

“When I found out that I had an anxiety disorder, I was determined to not let it define me. I really became a champion for my own mental health and finding ways to cope with my anxiety. There was no one more determined to figure out my anxiety than I was. Now, almost 11 years later, I’m so proud of where I’m at and how far I’ve come.”

Indeed, Corinne has channeled her inner strength and success against her own anxiety into a will to help others better manage theirs. She advocates for coping skills that have helped her, like meditation and therapy, and works hard to destigmatize mental illness in the eyes of the public. she calls herself “a big advocate for therapy,” and believes that “so many people can benefit from it, with or without a mental health issue.”

When discussing the stigmatization of mental illness, Corinne says, “I can’t speak for everyone. But, for me, lack of belief is one of the biggest stigmas. When you invalidate or disregard someone’s feelings, that can be very detrimental to their mental health journey. I think we need to start believing and prioritizing how people feel. We could save a lot of lives.”

I ask Corinne to sum up this powerful section of the interview by sharing what words of advice she would give to other young people suffering from a mental illness. Her words are profound and encouraging—and as someone who has also struggled with mental illness throughout my life, they speak to me on a deeply personal level:

“First, you are not alone. Second, there are so many options for treatment. Don’t ever give up or believe that you have to suffer through life. There is light at the end of every tunnel and there is hope.”

And it would seem that Corinne has found that same hope and light through her education and travels. These two elements seem to permeate every aspect of her life, pushing her forward and driving her to achieve her goals, while helping others achieve theirs. I asked her about her education, what it meant to her to earn a college degree and how attending college changed her world views, as a whole. The 25-year-old actress tells me:

“Education is your key to the world. The more that we educate people, the more understanding and peace we’ll have in our country and on our planet. Right now, access to education is a privilege, but I believe that it is a basic human right.”

This sort of compassion and wisdom seeps into every action Corinne takes. She speaks of education as a global human right, not a privilege, and believes that every person should have access to higher education and learning. She admits that “going to college was the best decision [she] ever made,” and she wants every person to be able to have the freedom to make that decision for themselves, regardless of their situation in life.

I wrap up my time getting to know Corinne Foxx by asking her what moment in her college career really changed her and helped shape the way she viewed the world. To this she says:

“I got the opportunity to study abroad in London. It was the happiest time in my life. I was born and raised in Los Angeles, then I went to school in L.A. I feel like, even though I’ve traveled all over, I still had a limited view on how others lived. When I lived in London, I was bombarded by new cultures, new languages, new everything. It was also a time where no-one knew who I was. I could really blend into the culture and be consumed by it. I got to travel all around Europe during that time and it really broadened my view on humanity. I realized that, despite cultural differences, we were really all the same.”

And this, this last line, seems to me the most impactful thing I can take away from my time learning about Corinne’s life. Through her travels, education, and passionate work to improve the lives of women and girls across the globe, Corinne Foxx continues to help tell the story of the young girl turned passionate business woman, whose dreams, ideas, and inventions add value to the world. Because, at the end of the day, no matter where we live or what challenges we face in life, we really are all the same.

Written by Ashley Dawson

Photographed by Raul Romo