Who Is Crystal McKinney? More Details About The Former Model Accusing Diddy Of Drugging And Assaulting Her: Lawsuit
Crystal McKinney is one of the latest women to publicly come forward accusing rap mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs of sexual assault.
The Bad Boy Records' boss is currently swimming in abuse allegations, and McKinney is taking matters into her own hands, as she suspects the rapper "blackballed" her. She now demands a trial by jury.
A bright-eyed McKinney had enormous potential and a promising career ahead of her, however, the 54-year-old rapper allegedly would bring this to a screeching halt after causing her "lifelong harm," per her lawsuit filing.
At the age of 17, McKinney would manage to land a massive contract after winning MTV's inaugural 'Model Mission' in 1998, a competition show similar to 'Miss America.' She won a quarter million dollar contract with IMG Models.
She went on to model for modern Americana brand Tommy Hilfiger before being featured in Macy's catalogs. She also modeled for iconic glossy magazines including 'Elle,' 'Cosmopolitan,' and 'Mademoiselle.'
In addition to an enthralling start to her modeling career, she would also go on to make TV appearances such as MTV's 'Total Request Live' ('TRL'), 'Fashionably Loud,' 'True Life: I'm A Model,' and a movie alongside the late Joan Rivers.
The former model also had opportunities to stamp her passport, leaving her hometown in Georgia to pursue modeling opportunities abroad in Germany and Australia.
Now woven into the industry, McKinney was just 22 when she was — according to her — invited by an individual listed in the filing as "designer" to attend a Men's Fashion Week event held at Cipriani Downtown in the heart of New York City. It was at this time that the designer would introduce her to Combs.
The look for her meeting with the "Been Around the World" rapper was allegedly eerily handpicked, as she was instructed to touch up her roots to platinum blonde and add extensions at Elizabeth Arden. The designer also chose a leather coat with a fur trim, a chiffon skirt, and jewels to accentuate her look. When the two reunited at his studio, that's when she alleged the assault took place.
According to the 'New York Post,' McKinney attempted suicide in 2004 when her modeling career "began to dwindle and evaporated entirely." She suspects the "I'll Be Missing You" rapper "blackballed."
Sean Combs is innocent until proven guilty, and has denied claims against him.
