Before I understood the power of a platform, I understood the power of being seen. I grew up as the eldest child and eldest daughter in my family, smiling for pictures with Easter baskets, posing at the zoo with my powerfully strong and brilliant father, and learning early what it meant to stand on the other side of the camera. My mother, a gregarious social worker who has known the stage since she was two years old at her local church, taught me that visibility carries responsibility. She used her voice and her community connections to help lead collaborations among groups and businesses serving unhoused neighbors with practical support, including toiletries and other essential items. Through her example, I learned that the stage is not only a place to entertain. It can also be a platform for change.
At a young age, I decided I wanted to be a model, actress, dancer, and singer. I did not yet know the phrase “quadruple threat,” but I wanted to become one—and that dream began to unfold. As a teenager, I walked my first runway for a department store in downtown Cincinnati. I later competed in the Miss Teen of Ohio and Miss Teen Midwest pageants, earning the title of Miss Congeniality, and won first place in acting in the state of Ohio for my role as Helen Keller in The Miracle Worker. I also received an excellence in theater award after four years of acting in class and on stage alongside my talented best friend, Kelley Cox. We were guided by the revered local drama teacher Mr. Joe Libis, whose legacy continues in the Cincinnati community.
After graduating from Glen Este High School, now West Clermont High School, I earned a Bachelor of Science from Ohio University’s Scripps School of Journalism. In college and early adulthood, I poured myself into humanitarian work, drawn especially to social reform and service to unhoused communities. One meaningful experience was volunteering with the UCLA chapter of Food Not Bombs, where we collaborated with Whole Foods to provide food to unhoused neighbors. Whole grain bread and organic vegetables became more than donations; they became reminders that dignity includes access to nourishing food. In a city built on dreams, Los Angeles also has the capacity to dream bigger for those too often pushed to the margins. Its commitment to equal rights is reflected in organizations and public efforts such as Equality California, the Los Angeles Civil + Human Rights and Equity Department, the Civil Rights Department, and The Civil Rights Project/Proyecto Derechos Civiles.
That desire to serve eventually led me to earn a master’s degree in mental health counseling from Cincinnati Christian University and to join the broader effort to respond to the mental health crisis. Becoming a therapist felt like watching the curtain of humanity rise. Sitting with clients, I encountered what people often hide in public: grief, fear, resilience, tenderness, joy, and pain. I laughed, I cried, and I witnessed the best and worst of what life can hold. Again and again, I saw that people across social classes share the same vulnerability and the same longing to be loved, understood, and safe. Behind worn clothes or Beverly Hills gardens, there is still a beating heart. We are all human beings on this earth at the same time, breathing the same air.
Seeing that shared humanity made me want to pour even more good into the world. So when Hollywood called with opportunities to return to the stage, I said yes. I have always been drawn to Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles, but LA offered something uniquely powerful: a place where art, visibility, and advocacy can meet. I knew the stage could entertain, but I also knew it could amplify causes that matter.
I began runway modeling for Brooke Forbes’ agency, Beverly Hills Finest, walking alongside high-caliber models including Natalia @natalia.la.model, Paris Volsch @parisvolsch, Brittany Taylor @iambrittanytaylor, and Brooke Forbes @bbforbes herself. I also worked with designers such as Diego @diego.fashions, Rozarr Designs @rozarrdesigns, EAIF (Excellence At Its Finest) @eaiftheoriginalbrand, and Louis Klein @louiskleinfashion, as well as photographers including Daniel Sinoca, Alexo Photography, Nelson Shen, Francois Palais, Miezeer Images and Deltron Baps. At events such as the Forbes Fashion Show at The Beverly Center, I entered a new world of modeling and watched RLC models such as Devon Hollirock and Azedah Talebi bring poise and finesse to the camera under the leadership of Peruvian model and television host Leila Ciancaglini.
Still, in my heart, the stage has always been connected to humanitarian work. As Angelina Jolie has shown, Hollywood can help make the voices of the voiceless heard. Those of us who, for reasons only God knows, are given a spotlight also inherit a responsibility: to speak about the issues closest to our hearts and to use visibility in service of healing. Travis Barker’s recent reflections on love, family, trauma, and hope are one example of how public stories can help open conversations that many people need but may be afraid to begin (Wayman & Rappaport, 2026).
That openness matters. More Hollywood stars are speaking honestly about mental health, helping reduce stigma for people far beyond the entertainment industry. Lady Gaga has spoken about PTSD and chronic pain. Billie Eilish has shared her experiences with depression, body image, and Tourette syndrome. Demi Lovato and Selena Gomez have been transparent about bipolar disorder, and Glenn Close has continued long-time advocacy through Bring Change to Mind, which she co-founded in response to her sister’s bipolar diagnosis (Novaris Behavioral Health, 2026). These stories remind us that fame does not erase suffering, and vulnerability can become a bridge to compassion.
The work begins close to home. As Jesus gently and wisely urged us, “Share your food with the hungry. Provide the poor wanderer with shelter. When you see the naked, clothe them.” Los Angeles has no shortage of stages, spotlights, or dreams. The question is what we will do with them. If you would like to collaborate to advance mental health and homelessness causes, reach out to @natalialovescalifornia. Together, we rise—not for ourselves alone, but for the good we can do right here.
References
Novaris Behavioral Health. (2026). Celebrities who’ve spoken out about mental health: Breaking the stigma in 2026. Novaris Behavioral Health.
Wayman, S., & Rappaport, C. (2026, June 15). Travis Barker details how falling in love with Kourtney Kardashian helped heal past trauma. E! News.