Chelsea Leyland is an English disc jockey, cannabis and epilepsy activist, and model.[1][2][3] She currently lives in Brooklyn, New York, United States.[1]
Early life
Leyland was born in London, England and attended Bedales Boarding School. She moved to New York City after graduating high school to pursue an acting career.[4][5] She studied method acting at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute prior to becoming a DJ and became interested in deejaying after recommending a DJ friend for various fashion events.[1][4][5]
Career
Deejaying
Leyland has earned the moniker “fashion’s DJ” from her work in the fashion industry.[6] She has been recognized for her eclectic DJ style, with her selections including hip-hop, rock, reggae, electro, house, metal and other genres including music from the 1950s and 60s. Leyland deejayed The 2018 DVF Awards.[7] celebrating Philanthropists and Style Powerhouses,[8] Pal Norte's 2018 Music Festival in Monterrey, Mexico,[9] Chelsea is also a Beats 1 host with Apple Radio,[10] and has spoken out about her activism in podcasts including Steve Hash and Ally Hilfiger's "Sit In" [11] and Ovid Therapeutics' BoldMedicine.[12]
Leyland deejayed for Ben Watt’s annual Shark Attack Sounds Fourth of July party in 2011 and 2013.[33][34] She also deejayed for the 2011 Brazil Foundation Gala at the New York Public Library[35] and for eBay and Jonathan Alder during the 2011 opening of The Inspiration Shop.[36]
Leyland has deejayed for artists including Damien Hirst’s gallery opening at the Soho House in Berlin, Germany and for Kehinde Wiley’s Art Basel show in Miami, Florida.[6][37] She has also deejayed at the Whitney and Guggenheim museums and for curator Vito Schnabel.[38][39]
Leyland suffers from a form of epilepsy called 'Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy' which she has been battling with since her early teens. Leyland's sister suffers from a more severe form of epilepsy and as a result lives in full-time care at The Epilepsy Society[43] in the UK. In 2016 Leyland came off of all pharmaceutical medicines and has been treating her epilepsy with Cannabidiol (CBD) ever since. It has had a dramatic impact on her health, and she has been seizure free ever since.[44] Leyland began co-producing "Separating the Strains" [45] in 2017, a documentary accompanying Leyland on her journey as she explores the medicinal cannabis climate in both the US and UK. The film aims to de-stigmatize both epilepsy and cannabis.
In 2017, Leyland was featured in Harpers Bazaar[46] sharing her personal story and discussing her work as an activist. Leyland has been featured for her work as an activist in numerous publications including Teen Vogue,[44] W Magazine [47] Gossamer,[48] MILK,[49] Stoned Fox,[50] and Miss Grass' video series.[51]
Modeling
Leyland has been showcased in MTV and Unilever’s Dove brand’s women DJ campaign.[52] Leyland was the face of Cole Haan’s 2012 fall promotional campaign.[3][16]
She is professionally represented in the United States by William Morris Endeavor (WME).[53][54]
Film
Leyland has also appeared in the independent films Charmed and The Best Man.[55] She starred in a fashion short film by StyleCaster entitled Snow Blind .[56]
Philanthropy
Leyland closely supports the Epilepsy Society, a UK based epilepsy and neurological organization [57] which provides full-time care for her sister, Tamsin. Chelsea collaborated with Mark Cross to design a handbag giving a percentage of sales to the Epilepsy Society.[58]
Leyland participated in the 2012 Charity Meets Fashion charity fashion show.[59] She was an honorary chair for the 2012 Charity Ball Benefiting Charity: Water and has worked with ACRIA, a HIV/AIDS charity.[60][61] Leyland deejayed for the Free Arts NYC charity art auction on multiple occasions.[62][63] She also deejayed for The Museum of Art and Design’s Young Patrons Gala.[64][65]
Personal life
Leyland’s father owned London-based restaurant Foxtrot Oscar prior to its sale to chef Gordon Ramsay[1][66] and managed the London Playboy Club during the 1970s.[66] Her sister is epileptic and autistic.[1]
^"Diane von Furstenberg and evian host intimate lunch at Art Basel". Examiner. December 6, 2012. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)