Let me reintroduce myself… I started modeling again. Two years ago, I didn’t know where my health journey was going to take me. The lipedema made my weight uncontrollable. I kept advocating for myself until I found doctors who could actually help me. Even during the dark moments, I looked for the light. Some moments were easier than others, but through it all, I kept going.
At 40, I signed with @kingsleymodels
At 41, I had my first modeling job.
At 42, I took a step back to focus on my health.
At 43, I spent 5 weeks overseas receiving advanced medical treatment.
At 44, I’m starting again, stronger than I have ever been.
Let my story inspire you: You’re never too old to go after what you want. Let’s do this!
Thank you, @francesca_andre_ , for your support and talent behind the camera. And, to @camaraaunique , for making me glow - my eyes still tear when I look at the photos.
@modernpilatesstudio you are a huge part of this story in my life. Thank you!
#letsgo #model
While scrolling through MSN this weekend, I was pleasantly surprised to see my face on the homepage. The latest article in my medical journey went live on Woman’s World Magazine on Saturday. This time, it’s all about endometriosis. This January, I had surgery that got me one step closer to a medical solution.
*Please share this with any women in your life who say, “I don’t know what is going on with me; something isn’t right.”
For most of my life, I thought pain was normal.
Pain during my menstrual cycle.
Pain in my lower back.
Pain so intense I couldn’t sit straight.
A rectal surgeon scheduled me for an MRI. The report stated: “Most likely has deep pelvic endometriosis.”
That moment changed everything—but not in the way you’d think. It didn’t give me answers right away. It gave me another doctor. Another appointment. Another layer to what had already been a two-year medical rollercoaster: lipedema, May-Thurner Syndrome (which could have killed me), pelvic pain, tailbone pain… and still no clear explanation.
Even when the specialist told me she wasn’t sure they’d find anything, I trusted my gut. I scheduled the surgery anyway.
After a 2 1/2 hour surgery, they found it. Stage I endometriosis across seven areas of my pelvic floor.
Here’s what hit me hardest: I didn’t even present with the “typical” symptoms.
Which means this—how many women are walking around thinking their pain is normal when it’s not?
I was SOOOOOOO angry because it took decades to get there. I asked my female gynecologist about 10 years ago. She commented, “What are you a doctor? This is just part of being a woman. Try losing some weight.”
I was completely dismissed.
Advocating for yourself IS ABSOLUTELY necessary!
Doctors know medicine; you know your body. If something feels off, it probably is.
I spent 34 years accepting pain as part of life. NOT! ANYMORE!
And neither should you!!
Read the full article: link in bio
hashtag#mediacoverage hashtag#womenshealth hashtag#yourenotalone hashtag#womensupportingwomen
Maybe you can relate? As you become more successful in your career, you question whether people networking with you are genuinely interested in getting to know you or just want access to who you know and the opportunities you’re privy to.
I reached out to some of the amazing women I know who deal with this issue daily to see how they handle it.
Most people don’t talk about this part of networking: The moment you realize not every connection is actually a connection.
@sarahaines , @brandybschultz , @taylorlynnnn and @rapcoalition shared their insights, and one theme kept coming up:
👉 People can feel the difference between genuine interest and being used.
🌟 Sara said she can tell almost immediately, not by what people ask, but by what they don’t. When curiosity is missing, and the conversation jumps straight to “Can you help me get a job?”, it’s no longer a relationship; it’s a transaction.
🌟 Brandy described watching people do what she calls “social math” in real time, sizing someone up based on what they can get from them. And when the answer is “not much,” the energy shifts just as quickly.
🌟 Taylor sees it constantly in her inbox. Messages from people she hasn’t spoken to in years, all leading to an ask. No context, no connection, just a shortcut.
🌟 And Wendy, who’s spent decades protecting artists, put it bluntly: success attracts both real opportunities and people who move toward whatever benefits them most.
It made me think about how easy it is, especially early in your career, to confuse access with alignment. To think proximity equals relationship.
But the people who stay grounded know:
➡️ Not every ask deserves a yes
➡️ Not every connection deserves access
➡️ And not every relationship is meant to be reciprocal
Networking is about becoming intentional because the strongest relationships are built slowly, with trust, curiosity and mutual investment.
Everything else eventually reveals itself.
Have you ever been in a one-sided situation that favored the other person? I’d love to hear below how you handled it.
📰 Read the full article: link in bio
#leadership @forbes
My favorite question to ask people: What was the moment you decided to go for it despite fear?
My latest @forbes article is especially meaningful to me. In it, I share the story of how I met Steven Spielberg —a moment that reshaped how I see risk and confidence—and I highlight two remarkable women I’ve had the privilege of meeting along my journey: @sarahaines (cohost of The View) & @getdianefarr (lead actress & director of Fire Country).
Both learned early in their careers that hesitation and self-doubt kill more opportunities than trying and “failing.”
Different industries. Different risks. Same pattern.
Confidence didn’t come first.
Action did.
Research shows 76% of people regret missed chances more than the risks they took. Psychologist Albert Bandura’s work on self-efficacy reinforces something many leaders learn the hard way: belief is built through experience.
The biggest risks are often the quietest decisions.
*The email you finally send.
*The conversation you stop postponing.
*The moment you decide to step forward.
Opportunities don’t create leaders. Decisions do.
If you’re waiting to feel completely ready, you may be waiting too long.
I’d love to hear from you. What was the moment you chose action over hesitation?
Read the article: #linkinbio
#mediacoverage #leadership #takearisk #letsdothis
About last night… sooo incredible watching director and writer @taylorlynnnn shine in the spotlight! Grateful I had the opportunity to attend the premiere of her debut feature film #lovers Female friendships are imperative to leveling up :) Bonus: performance by @nathanielrateliff
#movies #womensupportingwomen #letsdothis
Do you know what’s intimidating? Being in a Pilates room with mirrors lining the walls and 8 other women who are at least 60lbs lighter and have been doing Pilates for years. I’m still in my first year.
But, you know, I’m proud of myself. SOOO PROUD of myself. I stare at myself in the mirror before every class and congratulate myself for showing up. I show up when the weather is cold. I show up on New Year’s Day. I show up when I all I want to do is stay under the covers and watch Netflix.
Today, I worked out with a new instructor. There were people I’ve never seen before. My OG Pilates tribe was nowhere to be found; I had to forge forward, motivating myself through 50 minutes of extreme intensity.
Today, I sweated like never before.
One girl tapped me on the back as we were leaving and laughed, “It doesn’t get any better. You’ll still be sweating in your 50th class.” 🤣😭🙈 She thought it was my first class. Today was actually my 61st class.
I could understand why she thought that. As the other 8 woman do all of the moves on their hands and toes, I’m navigating most of the moves from my hands and knees.
Driving home, I was more proud of my progress than I have ever been on this Pilates journey. Yes, I still modify most of the moves, but 11 months ago, I started doing them on my feet from the floor; I’ve progressed tremendously. Today, I got up on my feet, on the carriage for two moves. For that, I’M SOOOO PROUD of myself.
There’s a huge leadership lesson in this: 1) Never assume. That lady was trying to be nice. I understand that. If I didn’t, I could be offended, and 2) No one knows your journey; they don’t know all you’ve been through to get to where you are today. Celebrate yourself! Don’t make yourself smaller because you feel inadequate or because you’re not where you want to be yet. Be so proud that your smile becomes contagious. And just keep going!!!
@modernpilatesstudio I’m so happy to be part of this community. My name will be up on that board soon :) 💪🏻
#letsdothis #pilates #proud #womenshealth
Exciting news: @womansworldmag shared part of my health story in its latest print edition.
People often ask me, “How are you so comfortable sharing something so personal?”
My answer is simple: How could I not?
When people share their stories—whether about challenges, missed diagnoses or rare health experiences—it gives others language for what they’re feeling and options they didn’t know existed. Stories don’t just connect us; they inform decisions, spark questions, and remind people they’re not imagining what their bodies are telling them.
Thank you to @juliadennison for creating space for my voice. My goal has always been to inform, inspire, and help others feel less alone in this loud, messy, often absurd world we live in.
I’ve received messages from people around the globe who’ve read my story and are now exploring new ways to advocate for their own health. That never gets old.
That’s why I keep doing this.
Here’s to the people who share their voices—not for attention, but to make even one person’s path a little clearer.
You can pick up the issue in any major supermarket or book store :)
#womensupportingwomen #womenshealth #mediacoverage #letsdothis #lipedema
Started my birthday out with a Pilates session. @danadaynn made today extra special with a lot of poles, bands and weights.
This past year around the sun I grew personally and professionally. I learned I’m more resilient than I ever thought. It was a growth period of taking inventory of the relationships and projects in my life that no longer serve me, and letting them go with peace.
I’m stepping into more of who I want to be. I’m no longer afraid to take the big risks. It is now or never. I’ve stopped apologizing - you either love me or not.
There’s a light at the end of the tunnel to my health journey, even though last week I had a doctor tell me to smoke a joint for the pain lol.
I’m stepping back into modeling after a hiatus to take care of my body. I’m putting it out there: I want to model jewelry for Tiffany’s.
Above all, I’m grateful for the friends and family who consistently show up in my corner cheering for me.
Here’s to another year around the sun rocking, rolling and inspiring.
@modernpilatesstudio@kingsleymodels #happybirthday #levelup #letsdothis #grateful #model
Lipedema has nothing on me! It's been 14 months since the diagnosis, and I'm down 50lbs. It hasn't been easy but definitely a journey. I'm up to 3x a week at pilates (definitely addicted) and haven't had gluten in what seems like forever. Although there's no cure, it's all about managing and maintaining. #letsdothis
This pic is from tonight's class. Nothing prepares you for what the instructors bring BUT it's totally worth it. Thank you @modernpilatesstudio for creating a judgement free zone.
#lioedema #womenshealth #womensupportingwomen
Had dinner with one of my favorite people in the whole world! 18 years ago I flew back home from California to hold him in the hospital when he was born, and now we're having dinner at his college 😱 So proud of the person he is and the man he's becoming! @anthonyvala_ #family #memories
I’m honored to share my latest article in @womansworldmag
Writing this piece was harder than most pieces I publish. I share deeply personal medical stories not for sympathy, but because no one should feel crazy, shamed or alone when their body behaves in ways they can’t immediately explain. If my experience brings courage, or even just momentary relief, to one person, it’s worth it.
In the article, I:
* Reveal how my journey of misdiagnoses and pain taught me to trust my body and become my own advocate
* Outline the symptoms that confused me (and so many others) — symptoms that are often dismissed or minimized
* Emphasize strategies that helped me heal (both physically and mentally) — so others don’t have to navigate this path entirely in the dark
If you or someone you know has ever felt isolated by mysterious health issues, let this be a reminder: you’re not alone, and it’s valid to demand answers.
I hope my story sparks more openness, more research, more empathy.
If you read it and it resonates with you, please share; let’s help more women find themselves in these pages and realize we don’t have to suffer in silence.
Read the full article: #linkinbio
#womenshealth #medicalgaslighting #pelvicfloor #pelvicfloorhealth
On Friday, #thelongwalk came out in theaters. I had the chance to sit down with @francesca_laz (score producer) & @jeremiahfraites (composer) to chat about their roles in scoring the movie. The interview turned into more about how they work together as a husband-wife duo…
The husband-and-wife team has elevated their partnership by building on a foundation of a shared long-term vision. What began during the pandemic, as Fraites developed his instrumental solo album Piano Piano—while informally exchanging ideas with Lazzarin—evolved into a deliberate career strategy.
“The bond we created during the creative process was truly unique,” Lazzarin smiles during an interview. “We had already collaborated together before, but this was a new learning experience that required us to be completely unfiltered with each other and with our emotions.”
Read the full article: #linkinbio
@forbes@forbeswomen@thelumineers
