I grew up in a super small farm town called Colchester in southeastern Connecticut. I spent most of my childhood swimming in the lake a half mile from my house or taking my pitbull hiking in the state park near my house. I lived there my entire life before moving to NYC for school and to chase my dreams of becoming a model. I'm currently signed with Wilhelmina Curve in both NYC and LA and Okay Models in Hamburg, Germany. I'm a junior at Fordham University majoring in International Political Economy with a minor in Humanitarian Studies. I am also the co-founder and executive producer of a new online publication titled SOUL (setmysoulonline.com).
I got into modelling when I was 13 when I was scouted by my mother agent Tina Kiniry. I was super awkward at 5'11 and a size two and developed with her for 4 years in the Connecticut market before making the jump to New York City.
I think my goals change depending on the day and the subject being discussed. Ultimately, my goal in life is to be happy and surrounded with great friends. Career-wise; I have a lot of different interests. I want to one day do sustainable business in Latin America. I'm working proficient in Spanish and want to work in developing significant and self-sufficient economies in rural parts of the southern hemisphere; specifically with women in business. I'm a strong believer that if you educate a woman, you educate a village.
Modelling wise and through SOUL, I want to develop a platform that nurtures young creatives in the industry. This means ALL creatives; makeup artists, photographers, creative directors, producers, designers, models, actors, dancers-all of it. I'm working to develop a platform that is open to everyone -a piece of digital reality that is hard to come by with no editing, no filters, just raw talent and real people. My ultimate goal is for our readers to feel like they belong to something or feel connected to such an "exclusive" industry and help them accomplish their dreams of being a part of it regardless of "standards."
How has your relationship with your body evolved?
My relationship with my body was never an easy one. When I first started modelling I developed Bulimia. I wouldn't say, however, that modelling was the cause of it. I always thought I wasn't skinny enough-this was partly because I felt so big being so tall so young. I think modelling just brought it to the centre stage of my life because instead of myself saying I was too big, it was casting directors and agents telling me I needed to lose a few inches. Going through this during my teenage years when you already feel weiiiiirddd in general, was a lot to take on. To handle this disorder I took time off modelling and really focused on soccer. This was until I got injured that I got back into it. This time, however, I remember crying in my mother agent's office before going to a big model search to be scouted by larger agencies, and I told her that I didn't want to lose any more weight. She looked me dead in the eye and she said fine-we're trying something else. I never heard of curve modelling until then and it ultimately has changed my career, my own mental health, my happiness and my relationship with my body. I embrace every part of me. I don't try to throw up when I'm feeling bloated. I don't get upset when my jeans are a little too tight. I accept myself now and have realized that health comes before anything. That means treating food as fuel and my body as a temple. Taking care of yourself is the most important part of life and having confidence is the key to making it in this industry with a body that's not sample sized.
Strong women. My mother is the strongest person I have ever met. She motivates me every day to push myself and to push others to rise to their highest capabilities. There is nothing that is more empowering than having a strong group of girls surrounding you and making a change in the world with no filter or apologies.
Which Fall trend are you most excited to wear?
I love that power red is in this season. Red is my favorite color and I'm so excited to wear it all season. I'm really obsessed with the whole futuristic vibe going on too. Those sparkle boots in the Chanel show are to die for but then again anything Chanel is to die for.
What does your go-to denim outfit look like?
I'm super low key when it comes to my denim outfits. I live for boyfriend jeans. I think they're so casual and cool. Throw on those with a cool sneaker and a white tank and you can do no wrong.
Wow, that's a hard question!! I hope to have my BA and maybe going for my masters. I hope SOUL develops to being an impactful platform in the industry for the newbies. I hope to get out of my comfort shell and take some time to travel to parts of the world that go unnoticed. More than anything, I just hope that I'm happy and successful wherever I end up.
What did you like most about Coco Cooper jeans?
They are HANDS DOWN the most comfortable jeans I have ever worn. Literally, I feel like I could do gymnastics in them lol. They're also incredibly flattering and form-fitting. Jeans are always the toughest thing for me to buy but they fit me like a glove. Seriously - I want 10 pairs.