Why did you decide to pursue a career in the modeling industry?

Like most models, I decided to pursue this career for many reasons. For me, it was my love for the arts that made modeling—my work—fun! Not many people can say that about their job; it also makes it easy that I love to travel and meet new people.

I’ve learned quickly, that if you want to make a living in this industry, you have to be multi-talented. At my first few castings—ever—I was asked to tell a story, dance, walk, pose, show my best ugly face, and answer a Q & A on video camera; I was like oh my gosh, that was exhausting fun, but who knew I’d have to do more than just look good on camera! Needless to say, I left those castings and took a mental note: Find an acting instructor. And I did!

If you were not modeling what career path would you have taken and why?

I’d own my own company. Thanks to my Grandfather, I have inherited an entrepreneurial spirit. It helps that my undergraduate studies was in entrepreneurship and business development, paired with a minor in leadership studies. I was the student president of my business school, the entrepreneurship club, and the university’s leadership honors society; I know…I was the life of the party, right?

I am a vegan and I deeply believe in the humane treatment of animals, so, if I weren’t modeling, I most certainly would own my own eco-luxury lifestyle company. For now, I have a blog where I mostly post about living a healthy, eco-friendly, animal-loving lifestyle (www.MLEstyle.com).

What is your guilty pleasure?

Easy! Designer discount shopping! Nothing makes my heart beat faster—aside from Mario Lopez—than digging through the many racks for those one-of-a-kind finds. Splurging at Neiman Marcus is a close second!

What designers do you look to for inspiration?

I deeply admire designers like Stella McCartney, Elizabeth Olsen, and John Bartlett who have made a huge statement in the fashion industry by using vegan materials without lacking any style. Designers like Elena Miro, who create absolutely gorgeous ready-to-wear clothes for healthy women, also have a special place in my heart. Karl Lagerfeld, who has had unbelievable industry foresight and has made the decision to use models of all sizes on the runway and in ad campaigns, is also a huge inspiration.

I have to admit though, a lot of my inspiration comes from other models. If Emme could collect royalty fees from every ‘plus’ model earning a living these days, she’d be a rich woman! Well…that’s not to say she isn’t already. Seriously, Kate Dillon with her own spread in Vogue, Tara Lynn on the cover of French Elle, and Crystal Renn walking for Karl Lagerfeld…who would have thought! …Now there’s some inspiration!

What does Madison Plus mean to you?

Oh gosh, Madison Plus was the first ‘plus’ website that I began to follow. Now I find myself using MP almost like a Google homepage; it lists and offers links to practically every ‘plus’ resource I need. As a ‘fresh face’, I consider MP vital because I know I can always get the up-to-date information on the plus industry news, styling ideas, and of course, introductions to models—new and ‘old’. I will admit, I love reading MP’s Model Off Duty; it’s fun to see the models styles and infectious personalities.

Finish the sentence….

“Always…be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else.” – Judy Garland

Never…let the word “no” be your final judgment. Be resilient, work hard, and persist! You can create your own destiny.

You can contact Emily Nolan though her agency Click Model Management (NY) .

Do you want to be our next Fresh Face model? Send your professional photos to Brittny@madisonplus.com

Photography: Jose Amigo, Rick Day, Roberto Ligresti