Sarah Kim Gross: Redefining Success Through Fashion, Finance, and Fearless Reinvention
By Paris Runway Official Editorial Team
In today's fashion landscape, the most compelling stories often belong to women who refuse to be defined by a single title. Sarah Kim Gross is one of them.
An international print model, entrepreneur, mortgage professional, and accomplished pageant titleholder, Sarah has built a career that bridges industries rarely seen together. From finance and criminology to luxury fashion and entrepreneurship, her journey reflects a modern vision of success.... one where intelligence, creativity, ambition, and femininity coexist.
Born in Seoul, South Korea, and now based in Nashville, Tennessee, Sarah believes fashion has always represented far more than style.
"Fashion has always been a form of identity, confidence, and storytelling," she says. "It's about expressing who you are and becoming the person you aspire to be."
Growing up with four brothers and later establishing herself in predominantly male-dominated industries, fashion became a creative outlet where she could fully embrace her individuality. That passion eventually led her into pageantry, where she made history as the first woman of Asian descent to win both Miss Tennessee Teen and Miss Tennessee.
Her pageant career continued with titles including Miss USA National Miss, Miss Tennessee United States, Miss Cosmos 2018, Miss United States of America's 2023, and Miss Grand Hawaii 2025. Each experience strengthened her confidence while providing opportunities to advocate for causes close to her heart and inspire young women to pursue ambitious goals without compromising their authenticity.
Beyond the pageant stage, Sarah has expanded her presence into the fashion industry, walking at both New York Fashion Week and Miami Swim Week while setting her sights on the international runways of Paris, Milan, and London.
Her professional life is equally impressive.
Graduating summa cum laude, Sarah published criminology research in international academic journals before building a successful career in the mortgage and real estate finance industry, where she helps individuals and families achieve homeownership and long-term financial security.
She is also the Co-Founder of CODE, a lifestyle, health, and performance company that combines wellness, AI technology, fashion, and personal transformation to help people become the best versions of themselves.
While these worlds may appear unrelated, Sarah sees a common thread running through each of them.
"My purpose has always been helping people transform their lives," she explains. "Whether that's through finance, fashion, wellness, or entrepreneurship, it's about creating opportunities for others to grow."
That philosophy also defines her approach to modeling.
For Sarah, fashion offers a creative balance to the analytical world of finance. The runway allows her to step into an environment where artistry, storytelling, and self-expression replace spreadsheets and structure.
"Working in finance is analytical and structured," she says. "Fashion gives me the freedom to fully embrace creativity. It's where I feel most authentic."
With more than 15,000 followers across her platforms, Sarah continues to grow a community centered on confidence, luxury lifestyle, and personal development. Rather than encouraging people to chase perfection, she hopes to inspire them to invest in themselves and continuously evolve.
Her personal motto perfectly reflects that mindset:
"Become the person your dreams require."
It is advice she has lived every step of her own journey from academic research and entrepreneurship to fashion runways and international pageant stages.
Looking ahead, Sarah's ambitions extend well beyond modeling. She plans to continue expanding CODE into a globally recognized lifestyle brand while establishing herself as a respected voice in luxury fashion, wellness, personal branding, and entrepreneurship.
More than anything, she hopes her story reminds women they never have to choose between ambition and creativity.
"We don't have to fit into one category," she says. "We can be analytical and artistic, ambitious and feminine. Our greatest accomplishments come when we stop limiting ourselves to just one identity."
As Sarah Kim Gross continues building her international career, she represents a new generation of women redefining what modern success looks like one that is driven by purpose, elevated by style, and empowered by the courage to embrace every part of who they are.