She recently deleted all of her Instagram posts except for three: a photo of a CRT television showing static, a photo of a wilted rose on a concrete floor, and a selfie taken in a dirty mirror where her face is obscured by the flash.
Hailing originally from the sun-bleached sprawl of Southern California (though some corners of the internet swear she materialized out of a Tokyo subway ad), Kalena is often labeled simply as a "model." But to call her a model is like calling a supernova a "lamp." She is a performance artist, a DJ, a digital curator, and arguably the reigning queen of the —a look that blends Y2K fetish wear, cyberpunk dystopia, and Victorian mourning gowns, all filtered through a broken webcam lens. kalena rios
The only "scandal" that ever bubbled up was when a fast-fashion brand ripped off one of her custom looks. Her response? She posted a picture of herself burning a similar garment in a metal trash can. No caption. 4 million likes. We are living in an era of over-exposure. We know what every celebrity eats for breakfast. We know their dogs' names, their ex's middle names, and their net worth down to the dollar. She recently deleted all of her Instagram posts
Kalena is rarely seen without her signature synthetic locks. Whether it is electric blue, toxic waste green, or a fading lavender that looks like it was dipped in Kool-Aid, her hair acts as a beacon. It is the high-voltage sign above a dive bar. It says, "I am here, but I am not for everyone." Her response
What is your favorite Kalena Rios era? The Y2K raver, the Ethereal Victorian, or the Cyberpunk DJ? Let us know in the comments below. (Just don't expect her to read them.)