Hi there! Give us a lil background on who you are & what your passion is.

Hello!! I grew up in a really small town in South Georgia and basically lived the life of a typical country song. I always wanted to escape the South and go to a big city so after graduating from high school I went to Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY to study painting. I just recently transferred to the University of Texas in Austin where I am majoring in textiles and apparel. I love anything creative but mostly focus on art, fashion design, and have recently started modeling. I am passionate about anything that makes the world a more beautiful place.

How do you remain so confident in front of the camera?! Secrets?

When I am modeling, I like to think of myself as a piece of art. The most breathtaking pieces of art always have small flaws that make them so unique. I like to think of myself in the same way by embracing the things that make me stand out. Seeing yourself as beautiful is also a key part of being confident in front of a camera. It also helps to highlight the aspects that you do like the most about yourself so make sure your photographer knows what you like in order for the best work to be created.

Do you ever feel as if life has been a juggling act with school AND work AND side hustles?

YES!!! I am the queen of procrastination. Writing everything down and seeing what I need to get accomplished and helps me tremendously so I keep a very detailed calendar. I also try to focus on school doing the week then use my weekends to do modeling, art, or just take time to relax.

We've peeped your art on the 'gram... How did this incredible passion start for you?

When I was a little girl, my dad would take me and my sisters out to do “art lessons” around our town. He would teach us how to draw trees, flowers, buildings, or basically anything we could find that sparked some creativity. Through him showing me his love for art, I began to love art too. I didn’t play sports in high school so painting was my “thing”. My high school art teacher, Maureen Harrer, invested so much time and energy into me and my talent. Pursuing art wasn’t really considered acceptable in my hometown, but she always made me feel like it was a beautiful thing to invest myself into. Without her influence and my family’s support I would have never thought about pursuing a creative based career path. I give my dad credit for being the first person to spark my passion, but Maureen Harrer is the one who made me believe in myself and my abilities as an artist.

Life is full of the unknown. What do you tell yourself when things don't go as planned?

I try to take a deep breath and assure myself that no matter what, everything will be okay. Life is about using what you have and creating something beautiful that you are proud of. I also just try to never give up no matter what happens or how big and overwhelming it may seem. Take a step back, focus on the big picture of what you are trying to accomplish and figure out a way to make that happen.

As a concert lover, we have to ask...the best concert you've ever been to?

I feel like I am disrespecting so many concerts by choosing a favorite but seeing LANY has definitely been my favorite. It was such a beautiful, intimate experience. Paul Klein creates a show with so much passion and emotion, it feels as if he is pouring a part of his soul into each song. I am a little obsessed with the band so it’s kind of a biased choice but the show was amazing nonetheless.

Describe your unique style in three words.

Free-Spirited, Minimal, Delicate

We all need time to ourselves to sort of adjust and regain our energy. How do you shift the focus on these days to you, in order to put your best self forward?

By doing things that I enjoy I am able to focus on myself. Life is filled with being required to do things that we don’t necessarily like to do. It is key for me to do things that I willingly want to do in order to regain my energy. I love to read a book, watch a movie, write in my journal, or one of my favorites is go to the gym. After I leave the gym I feel so much better about myself and working out gives me a sense of control over my life.

What does not losing yourself in a world of competition & comparison mean to you?

To me not losing yourself is about making the most of what you do have. It is a good thing to be inspired by others but putting yourself in competition with them does nothing positive. Instead of comparing myself I try to understand that everyone is unique and everyone has different stories that make them who they are. I try to see myself as being more than just what others think of me and focus on bettering who I am in order to make myself proud.

Looking back on the highs & lows of this past year (2018), what are you most grateful for?

The past year has actually been a crazy experience for me. I moved out to Texas and started school at the University of Texas so it has definitely been a huge adjustment. I am most grateful for all the new people I have met during my time in Texas. I have made so many friends that enjoy the same things as me and encourage me to pursue things that I never thought I was capable of doing. It is so refreshing and inspiring to spend time with people who are so creative and unique. I am not super outgoing so I’m very grateful that people have reached out to me and allowed me to invest into their lives and in exchange have taken the time to invest into mine too.