Former fashion model Lea, now 38 years old, was born and raised in the Northeastern United States. After working in the modeling industry for many years, she rediscovered her faith and embraced her feminine qualities.
In an interview with The Epoch Times, she shared her transformation story from walking the runways to rural living.
“I’m grateful to have moved past that stage in life where I had to compete with other women and cater to men’s desires. Now, the attention I receive is more respectful and gentle,” she said.
“I no longer have to showcase my body or conform to societal trends and standards to feel beautiful, feminine, and elegant. This sense of freedom is empowering.”
Reflecting on the clothes she used to wear while walking alone on the streets of New York at night, Lea can hardly believe she did that. Now, she is a homemaker living in the mountainous countryside, recalling how she used clothing to attract attention in the past.
“I was seeking my value in the wrong ways,” she said. “Entering the modeling industry made things worse. The humility I once had quickly disappeared, as humility is almost impossible to maintain in the modeling industry. There’s no room for elegance, and the pressure is immense.”
“I now feel more secure, thanks to the wisdom I’ve gained over the years.”
Lea started her professional career as a high-end fashion model in her teens. Her career began when a friend suggested she visit a modeling agency to try her luck.
She chose one of the top five modeling agencies in New York, walked in, signed a contract on the spot, and even met potential clients that same day.
“Everything happened very quickly after that,” Lea said.
She was immediately booked for 35 fashion shows during the fall fashion week. Later, she collaborated with “many top designers in the world” and traveled to various cities. She even appeared on the TV show “Project Runway.”
“That time was truly crazy,” she said. “I experienced things I had never come across before.”
For 12 years, this girl from the Northeast led a fast-paced life, dressing similarly to those around her. Looking back now, she sees it as a display of insecurity.
“As women, we often find ourselves silently competing with other women, using clothing to seek more attention,” Lea said.
After more than a decade immersing herself in that world, Lea underwent a personal awakening, turned to faith, and realized her past lifestyle was superficial and harmful.
“I went through a rebirth and finally understood who God is,” she said.
She began studying the Bible, attending church, and met her future husband. Her past profession, survival mode, and behaviors gradually faded away.
“That’s when I began to desire to fully embrace the feminine qualities God has given me,” she said. “I never realized how much of our genuine femininity modern society robs from us.
“It made me feel free. There’s not as much pressure to constantly strive for perfection. Femininity is not something to be overcome – we have nothing to prove to the world. Our value doesn’t come from the things of this world or its opinions.”
The couple eventually moved near the mountains in the West. They began searching for a self-sustaining farm, and due to budget constraints, settled for a small house.
Lea started a blog, “Light House on the Mountain,” detailing their slow living journey and her process of rediscovering her true feminine qualities. She said that people feel “anger and dissatisfaction” when living in the lies imposed on them by the world.
She said, “When someone spends their whole life grappling with their true self, they inevitably become unhappy, anxious, or insecure. Feminine qualities are imbued with a beautiful silent power. I believe that in this world that tells us to be loud and assertive, striving to be elegant and gentle to others is crucial.”
Lea no longer wears expensive designer clothes but dresses modestly and tastefully, gradually transitioning her wardrobe. She works to incorporate her past clothing into a new style, wearing form-fitting or more revealing clothes inside dresses or jumpsuits. She mentioned that the new dressing style is not about hiding but expressing dignity.
“Dignity is not about concealing your feminine qualities but showcasing them in their most beautiful form,” she said. “Misconceptions about dignity stem from rigid perceptions of what dignity should be like in our minds.”
“When we impose our understanding and standards of dignity on others as if we were the spokespersons for God, we fail to truly help people grasp the concept of dignity. Ignorance burdens the art of dignity, but in reality, dignity is about freedom. We are free to have our unique styles, enjoy colors, and happily live in our feminine qualities.”
A decade after leaving the modeling industry, Lea’s life underwent a complete transformation, with clothing being just a small part of it.
“I love living in the mountains, surrounded by nature,” she said, expressing gratitude for having moved past those years and finding a better sense of fulfillment and peaceful confidence in her identity.
Lea said, “Strength lies in gentle responses,” and the “feminine qualities bestowed by God” can bring comfort and life-changing solace to others.
While not against the fashion industry, Lea believes its unpredictable nature – with trends changing every season – traps consumers in a cycle of constant pursuit of the latest trend.
“This is why understanding your personal style, finding clothes that make you feel comfortable and beautiful, and mastering classic fashion are crucial,” she said. “Collecting timeless pieces is a very economically sound idea. They look equally charming and suitable today as they will in 50 years.”
The former model shared that she sees many individuals struggling with excessively revealing clothing:
“We tout (displaying the body) as empowering, yet complain about being objectified. We want to live in a non-existent reality. When we showcase our bodies, we believe we gain power – this lie is tremendously destructive to society and sows deep confusion in the hearts of women.”
Regarding the modeling industry, she doesn’t rule out the possibility of pursuing “mature” modeling work in the future, but she believes it’s not a good suggestion for those unprepared.
“I’m against children or young people entering the entertainment industry casually. You need to have the maturity and a strong baseline to enter this environment without being swayed by every breeze,” she said.
Lea stressed that while one’s clothing can undoubtedly influence how they interact with the world, the “most important” aspect will always be one’s character.