About Shawnna Ballog | Gypsy XOTIC
Born and Raised in Chicago, Illinois, USA

Welcome to the world of Shawnna Ballog, also known as Gypsy XOTIC—a passionate and dedicated fashion runway model, marine biology student, self-proclaimed herpetologist, and advocate for breaking barriers. At the remarkable height of 5’2”, Shawnna is on a mission to become the world’s first A-list supermodel, proving that no dream is too big and no boundary is too strong to overcome with dedication and hard work.

At the age of 15, Shawnna made the bold decision to drop out of high school to dedicate herself to a charity advocating for suicide prevention, anti-bullying, and character development. Through fashion shows and photo shoots, she spread awareness globally, winning her first international pageant in Jamaica and traveling across the U.S. and Puerto Rico to speak on the importance of suicide prevention and stopping bullying. Having represented over 7 different pageant titles as a Teen & Miss, she aspires to get into pageantry again! Over the years, she saved countless lives through becoming certified by the Jason Foundation, the QPR Institute, and other suicide prevention organizations.

Shawnna’s passion for helping others extended into the modeling world, where she founded Blossom Mentorship at the age of 17, mentoring over 35 young girls to become models with purpose. She hosted photoshoots, gave crowns, and even produced award ceremonies, fostering a healthy environment for young girls to learn about themselves and their confidence, TOGETHER.

After taking a break for two years, she came back to life in Detroit, Michigan where she started creating content that highlighted her love for exotic animals, stepping into the reptile community almost immediately as a prominent figure. During a national expo show named, NARBC, Gypsy, donated something that fundraised $1,000 for USARK, a non-profit organization that fights for the rights of reptile keepers! During her time in Michigan, Shawnna not only became a content creator but also creatively directed photo shoots for her in-print publication, X-O-T-I-C Magazine, showcasing reptiles at Michigan Fashion Week. In the course of three years, she helped over 15,000 individuals—ranging from young children to fashion models—overcome their fear of reptiles and other exotic creatures. She did not just cater to her people, but also to animals! At one point, she was responsible for over 75 reptiles, including taking over 55 crested geckos after the sudden passing of a friend. Within four months, she rehomed them successfully.

In addition to her work with reptiles, Shawnna has also had experience with various exotic animals, including kangaroos and venomous snakes. She currently owns a black water dragon named Zaza, a spiny-tailed iguana named Knox, a blue-tongued skink named Gaia, a leopard gecko named Alien, a quaker parrot named Dobby, Zephyr the dog, and a Honduran milk snake named Hawk.

Shawnna is a scuba diver, with four dives on record, who lived in Key West, Florida and now resides in Virgina Beach, VA. With aspirations to go on expeditions to the Great Barrier Reef and the jungle of the Amazon, documenting her adventures for her vlog series, Gypsy plans to lay out the foundation for others to join along, too!

Now, Shawnna is pursuing her dream of becoming a marine biologist and is continuing her passion for the environment through sustainable fashion. She creates high-fashion editorial photo shoots that blend fashion with environmental advocacy. Through her podcast with famous boxer, Vito Monte, named The Crazy Ones (available on Apple Podcast and Spotify), and her Gypsy XOTIC vlog series (on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok), she inspires others to pursue their dreams and break through any barriers they may face.