Brianna Barnes: A Journey from the Catwalk to the Silver Screen

Brianna Barnes, the charismatic Canadian and TV host of the renowned travel show GlobeTrekker (formerly known as Lonely Planet), reflects on her exhilarating career from being an international model to a Hollywood actress.

Immersed in recollections of her globe-trotting adventures, Brianna Barnes reminisced, “Filming schedules were so intense and I had many firsts with GlobeTrekker.”

Brianna Barnes – passionate host of GlobeTrekker

Brianna embraced the intensity and cherished the access she had to viewers’ lives. “In Honduras, I learnt how to scuba dive in 45 minutes and then immediately shot an underwater segment with approximately 10 dolphins. In the Cayman Trench, I went on another dive but this time in a homemade submarine. The captain told us a “funny” story when we had reached the “never exceed depth”. It was about how the large bubble window in front of us had got a crack in it recently… But not to worry, it had been repaired… Hilarious! Regardless of sometimes grueling conditions, I loved every second of it.”

The show allowed her to connect with the audience on a deeper level, sharing the joy of learning and exploring the world together. “GlobeTrekker really let the host learn alongside the people watching at home. There was this feeling of connection between the presenter and the fans of the show,” Brianna Barnes explained.

Top hat, earrings, black onyx beaded necklace, vintage. Black bow kitten heeled boots, Zara. Collared jacket, Tahari. Pants, Sisley.

Co-hosting GlobalChild

In addition to her hosting role on GlobeTrekker, Barnes ventured into producing and co-hosting Global Child, a travel show with a purpose. The show features local charities across the globe as well as having influencer co-hosts.

This new role allowed her to contribute more actively to content decisions and opened doors for pitching her own show ideas to networks and streamers. Serving as a producer became a stepping stone towards realizing her creative vision and presenting her own projects.

Sash, Louis Vuitton. Blue leather jacket, Cynthia Steffe.  Gold buckle belt, Ann Taylor.  Earrings & boots, vintage.

A successful modeling career

Modeling took Brianna Barnes across the globe, providing her with numerous memorable moments and achievements. From gracing the pages of Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar to walking the runway at New York Fashion Week, she experienced the sublime feeling of being recognized and validated in the fashion industry.

Modeling honed her ability to convey stories through imagery, teaching her to communicate with her eyes. This skill seamlessly transitioned into her acting career, where she excels in conveying emotions without words, proving that models are, in essence, speechless actors.

Sash, Louis Vuitton. Blue leather jacket, Cynthia Steffe.  Gold buckle belt, Ann Taylor.  Earrings & boots, vintage.

Transitioning from modeling to the silver screen

“I think this transition has been a challenge in the past,” Brianna Barnes recalled. “At the start, I kept it a little ‘hush-hush’ that I was a model because in some casting offices I wasn’t taken seriously or I would be pigeon-holed.”

However, her passion for storytelling and her knack for engaging conversations propelled her forward. Working on the hit show Shameless at the Warner Brother’s lot was a particularly fulfilling experience, as she enjoyed the camaraderie on set and the validation of making someone like William H. Macy laugh.

Total look, vintage.

Barnes received a nomination for Best Actress at the International Filmmaker Festival of World Cinema (Berlin) for her remarkable performance in Bernie and Rebecca.

Working on this project was a transformative journey for her, as she fully immersed herself in the character of Rebecca and delivered a captivating portrayal. Witnessing herself disappear into the role was a testament to her dedication and talent. “When the news of my nomination came in, I was both flattered and humbled. I remember sitting at the L.A. premier of the film and not being able to recognize myself on the screen,” Brianna Barnes said.

Versatility defines Barnes’ acting career, with roles ranging from comedic to villainous. She approaches each character by adjusting her pace and timing, understanding the nuances of different tones. While she finds comedy more enjoyable, her ultimate desire is to work with exceptional scripts that challenge and engage her.

Aside from her accomplishments in the entertainment industry, Barnes recently completed her memoir Don’t Touch the Bunnies: Confessions from the Catwalk.

Motivated by the lack of guidance she experienced as a young model, she wanted to share her tremendous and relatable experiences in the fashion industry. “I started modelling at fourteen and, not that I want to date myself, it was well before social media existed. I had all these tremendous experiences and no one to share them with or get guidance from. There are so many salacious memoirs about supermodels, but with my memoir, readers can expect to connect with what the fashion industry looks like for the other 99.9% of models.”

Total look, vintage.

Her memoir offers a behind-the-scenes look into the world of fashion, tackling issues such as body shaming and sexual predation while providing insights, adventures, and lessons she learned along the way. It serves as a resource for aspiring models and their families, empowering them through Barnes’ unique perspective.

As Barnes continues to evolve in her career, she plans to launch an interactive online training program, helping others learn to be, stay, or move like a model in all aspects of life. Her desire to empower and guide others stems from her own experiences and the desire to be the fashion fairy godmother she never had.

Total look, vintage.

Brianna Barnes, with her passion for exploration, diverse talents, and genuine connection with audiences, will continue to make a remarkable impact in the world of entertainment and beyond. She commented about Don’t Touch the Bunnies: Confessions from the Catwalk, “If you’re more of a light reader don’t fret! A more interactive aspect to the book is in the works. A seriously fun online training on how to be, stay or move like a model through life.

For both my book and course follow me on my Instagram @thebriannabarnes for announcements and release dates. I’d love to be the fashion fairy godmother to you that I never had.”

Total look, vintage.

Credits:

Model/Actress: Brianna Barnes @thebriannabarneswww.briannabarnes.com
Photographer: Daniel Jonathan @djimagery – www.djimagery.com
Hair & Make-up/Styling done by: Brianna Barnes @thebriannabarnes
All clothes sourced vintage to support the sustainable fashion movement.

Representation:

AMTI @angiemodels.
Wilhelmina models @wilhelminalosangeles
Allegory Talent agency www.allegorytalent.com
Global Child – @globalchildtv
Globetrekker – @globetrekkertv

Harper’s Bazaar Vietnam