This is hard.

Modeling and acting seem glamorous and easy, but there are thousands of hours behind these images of hard work. The stories I can tell….all the different ways I’ve been rejected from shows or told no in castings. People who have laughed in my face when I mentioned modeling (alas the time it took to embrace this side of me). The amount of physical and mental strain to get within industry standards and constantly second guessing your worth when you’re in a room surrounded by the best models. The studying on the modeling industry and the classes I’ve taken to hone the acting craft.

But it has its good moments - when you get nonstop texts from VCs when they spot you in an HBO trailer (before the season finale of Silicon Valley), when you’re modeling in front of industry giants and celebrities during NYFW, and when you land clients like Tom Ford and Macy’s you wouldn’t have dreamed of even just a year before. Also, some of the stereotypes of models? Not true - we’re collaborative, supportive, and taking down the status quo.

You have to be your own CEO, CFO, CMO, similar to an entrepreneur, which is why I resonate with the journeys of founders I meet along my VC journey. But it’s also great to be the underdog, when people don’t expect you to get very far and you can prove your potential. It never ends and I enjoy being underestimated.

May the years to come be ours for the taking. You’ll be seeing more of me soon.