About Me
To introduce myself …
I’m a certified life coach whose experiences as a supermodel, actor, producer, author and stroke survivor/thriver! have helped me cultivate that strong inner life which provides one with the resilience that is critical to wellness and to success in life no matter who you are or what you do….
I was born and raised in Manhattan, New York City. Subsequently I was exposed to many different types of people from all over the world, which was such a wonderful way to learn that no matter who we are or where we hail from, people are so much more similar than different…
My upbringing was rooted in my mother’s spirituality which included Buddhism, Quantum Physics and the work of Joseph Campbell to name a few. I learned how to apply the principles of many of the world’s great consciousness practices, which I later found to be a fundamental way of dealing with any situation that might come along throughout life. I have found that the experiences that we have, particularly the difficult ones, provide us with the greatest opportunities to discover what we are made of…
The glamorous top model that I became was first an awkward kid wearing a body brace for scoliosis. At an early age, I had to learn to hold my head high despite often cruel remarks directed at me, and to value myself for what I liked about myself. I dreamed of being a ballet dancer from early childhood and was accepted at age 9 into the world-renowned School of American Ballet (SAB) where I was probably the hardest-working student in my class. Nevertheless, it became clear I just wasn’t built to be a ballerina. I coped with this disappointment by focusing on things that I could do…
When I was still at SAB, I was discovered for modeling and shot right to the top of the international fashion world. I had to juggle school and being a kid with having to perform like an adult in the business world, to say nothing of dealing with jealousy and bullying. Once again, I was forced to go within to find ways to cope. Toward the end of high school, I was accepted into three high-ranking colleges and had to decide whether or not to quit my flourishing career. The decision to shut the door on either option was difficult for me but, with the support of my parents, I found a way to totally accept whatever choice I made (modeling) and never, ever, look back. I’ve had a highly successful career in fashion, despite all its pitfalls, including how easy it is to lose one’s sense of self to depression, drugs and alcohol. I didn’t lose myself because I learned how to get grounded…
I was featured on the covers of all the leading fashion magazines including Vogue, W, Elle & Cosmopolitan; in prestigious fashion campaigns and shows including Versace, Fendi, Calvin Klein, Chanel, Club Monaco & Anne Klein; was a particular favorite of Karl Lagerfeld, Oscar de la Renta and Donna Karan among others and was named top model in France for two consecutive years. It was exhilarating and overwhelming. To withstand the enormous pressures, I learned to focus on being grateful for everything good in my life – and, as I matured, for all of it! – as well as to cultivate habits of patience, and to meditate to keep myself centered and calm. I refused all negative thoughts, and made a game of transforming them into positive thoughts. My experiences – among many others - with the legendary fashion designers and photographers, international travel, inappropriate advances from older, powerful men, and the sex drugs rock’n roll environments, while they were challenging, forced me to develop all sorts of wonderful inner-life coping mechanisms…
Eventually, I also pursued an acting and producing career in TV, film and theatre, receiving critical acclaim for my performance in and production of a Tennessee Williams play which was nominated for a prestigious McCulloch Award by the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle…
Several years, ago I suffered a stroke as the result of an accident. I’d gone from catwalk queen to CAT scan nightmare. A health crisis like a stroke deals a serious blow to one’s confidence and self-esteem and I had to dig deep into my kit of hard-won coping tools to address it. Mainly, I took an action – which instantly diminished my sense of helplessness. This shocking event also motivated me to re-purpose my life. Now, I wished to focus on helping others improve their lives by sharing my own amazing experiences. So I gladly accepted the role of spokesperson for The American Stroke Association (ASA). I enjoy any opportunity to speak to audiences about stroke prevention and treatment; I use this part of my life story as a marvelous lesson in resilience…
I also wrote a book, “Finding the Supermodel in You” (Skyhorse Publishing 2016) which guides the reader on how to build a strong inner life and is helpful for anyone regardless of age or career path. I very much enjoyed speaking to audiences on my book tour which was one more step in becoming who I am today…
I’ve been a natural coach my entire life and recently decided to get certified. One of the reasons I was inspired to do so is because of the pandemic which has taken its toll on all our lives in one way or another. As a certified life coach with an emphasis on the spiritual, I guide people from where they are to where they want to be by helping them connect to their intuitive nature. They can then more easily make the outer changes they so desire…
It is truly a new day. We are living through a magnificent time for transformation, ripe with opportunities for personal growth and change. We are being called to step up to the best of ourselves, to grow to our maximum potential as human beings as we simultaneously help others with our particular talents to rise along with us…
I feel so privileged to be in this profession. I am a certified life coach ACSTH, trained by The Life Purpose Institute, an International Coach Federation (ICF) affiliated school. My background also includes a RYT200 Yoga Alliance certification in Kundalini Yoga; Agape International Spiritual Center’s Foundations classes I & II; and a lifetime student of so many consciousness practices including Kabbalah, Jungian dream analysis for creatives, Buddhism and more…
