Q: How long have you lived/worked in Lexington?

I’ve worked in Lexington for 5 years!

Q: What led you to your current career and why do you love it?

After placing in the Top 5 of Miss USA as Miss Kentucky USA 2009, I knew it was time to really give modeling a shot. It was a lifelong goal, and I never wanted to wonder “what if” so I gave it a shot. I had done some local work, but as a Junior, in college, I signed with FORD Models and my dream officially became a career. I lived back and forth between Chicago and Miami for years, then decided to come home and just travel for shoots weekly from here. For TV hosting- I had worked several video shoots through my agencies for products and national commercials. Then, Bob Allen Motormall asked me to do their monthly commercials where I gained experience on camera. And eventually, Larry Vaught brought me to UK Media days to do fun interviews with the players for his website. A few years later, Dewayne Peevy and Nathan Schwake created the position of on-court host for UK Men’s basketball and called me to try it out! And here we are years later! Thanks to them, I was able to start working in KY more after years of only out-of-state jobs. Now my income is 1/2 hosting for local and national jobs, and 1/2 modeling through my 7 agencies across the country.

Q: What would you like for people to know about your job/business?

I’d like people to know that my job may look glamorous, and there are a lot of times it is… but it’s also a WHOLE lot of work. I am my own business literally. So that means accounting, self-employed taxes, etc. A lot of modeling requires castings and auditions you’re not paid to do, in hopes to book the job. When I first started I drove to and from Chicago before I could afford flights for a 10 min casting – thankfully spending that unpaid time paid off when I booked that job:)

Q: What or who has been your biggest inspiration?

My biggest inspiration is simply doing what I love, having flexibility, and inspiring others. I realize I’m very blessed to get to do this as an actual career, especially with living in a state where there isn’t much modeling. Even though I have days like anyone does where I don’t want to work, I want to always want to have a grateful heart and remember how much I wanted this job!

Q: What is your favorite restaurant in Lexington and what is your go-to item on the menu?

Jeff Ruby’s! Their oysters are to die for!

Q: If you could travel to anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?

One of my favorite job I’ve booked was in Hawaii – I’d love to go back and spend more time hopping the islands more! But that would be a toss-up between going back to Italy and trying to pretend I’m a local there:)

Q: What is your favorite thing about Lexington?

Hands down the people. Between all the cities I’ve lived in, I love the Southern hospitality mixed with big-enough-city vibes. Lexington has everything I’d want in a city! I feel so supported here. I’ll never get tired of strangers coming up to chat about something I’m working on and being comfortable to share a little bit about their lives with me.

Q: Where do you take friends and family from out of town when they visit?

To Keeneland or a UK Basektball or UK Football game of course!

Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years?

Whew! I’m doing well to live day by day haha. I don’t even get my work schedule from my agents until a week in advance! But overall I want to have a home here in Lexington and be traveling the world!

Q: Where can we find you on your day off?

I’m such a busy body, I always find things I need to do for my business even on days off! Even if it’s just taking photos for my social media. But an ideal day off is a day at the pool or lake with family or friends.

Q: What is something on your bucket list?

Skydiving!

Q: What is something that most people don’t know about you?

At the end of the day, I’m still just a small-town girl from Boyle County. I really try to stay grounded in the way I was raised and how to treat people.

Q: What is a topic you wish you knew more about?

Politics! I’m not good at keeping up with them because they stress me out!

Q: What is your favorite movie or TV show & what are you currently binge-watching?

I have to be honest – I barely watch TV at all! I hate it when all my friends talk about a show and I don’t know anything about it! I want to be the person who checks out of the day by binge-watching. But right now if I’m sitting still, I know I can be working on SOMETHING for my business.

Q: What do you feel is an essential part of your daily or weekly routine that contributes to your overall well-being?

I need to start focusing on getting more sleep, but working out and eating clean helps me de-stress and feel my best!

Q: If you were cast in a movie, who would your co-star be?

Ryan Reynolds… whew! Funny, cute, sweet….need I say more? Or a wonder women movie like Gal Gadot’s double because everyone tells me we look alike ALL the time!

Q: Who is your go-to band or artist when you can’t decide on something to listen to?

Jason Derulo or any new country!

Q: If you could give advice to any group of people, what would it be?

Young girls who are aspiring models! I want to set a positive example to them to know they don’t have to settle, don’t have to take inappropriate photos.