Today we’d like to introduce you to Nay Richards.
Hi Nay, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
A Journey in Grace: The Story of My Modeling Career
My journey in modeling began at just seventeen years old, at an age when dreams are often still taking shape and the future feels full of endless possibilities. I never imagined that a simple moment of being scouted would become the beginning of a lifelong relationship with fashion, beauty, creativity, and self-expression. Yet that opportunity opened a door for me—and once I stepped through it, I discovered a world that would become an important part of who I am.
At seventeen, I was scouted for modeling, and what began as an unexpected opportunity quickly became a passion. I learned early that modeling was about far more than photographs, beautiful clothing, or standing in front of a camera. It was about presence. It was about learning how to carry myself with confidence, how to communicate without words, and how to transform an idea, a garment, or a designer’s vision into something alive.
By the time I was eighteen, I had already reached one of the first milestones of my career: I was published in a Thai magazine. Seeing myself in a magazine for the first time was an unforgettable experience. It was a moment that made the dream feel real. I was no longer simply a young woman who had been discovered and given an opportunity. I was beginning to see myself as a model—and, more importantly, I was beginning to understand that this could become a true career.
For many years, Thailand was the place where I developed my foundation in the industry. I worked, learned, gained experience, and continued to grow. Every opportunity taught me something new. Every photographer, designer, stylist, casting, and production became part of my education. Modeling taught me discipline and patience, but it also taught me resilience. The industry can be beautiful and exciting, but it can also be demanding, unpredictable, and incredibly personal. I learned that success is not simply about being seen; it is about continuing to show up, continuing to evolve, and believing in yourself even when the path is not always clear.
Like many journeys in life, mine was not without its challenges.
There was a period when I struggled with my weight, and that struggle affected the way I saw myself and my dreams. I made the difficult decision to step away from modeling for a long time. For a while, I stopped pursuing the career I had once dreamed about so passionately. It was a pause in my journey—a chapter when I needed to step back, find myself again, and navigate a personal challenge that had deeply affected my confidence.
Looking back, I understand that the pause was not the end of my story. It was simply part of it.
Sometimes life asks us to step away from the things we love before we are ready to return to them with a deeper understanding of ourselves. My time away from modeling gave me perspective. It taught me that our dreams can wait for us. They may become quiet for a while, but they do not necessarily disappear.
When I eventually moved to the United States, something inside me began to awaken again. I found myself drawn back to the world that had always held such meaning for me. I realized that the passion I had for modeling had never truly left. It had simply been waiting for me.
In 2013, I made the decision to pursue my modeling career again in the United States.
This time, I returned to the industry with a different mindset. I was older, more experienced, and more certain of who I was. I understood that my value as a model could not be defined by one measurement, one photograph, one casting, or one person’s opinion. I had already lived through moments of uncertainty and had found my way back. That gave me a confidence that could not be taught in a modeling class.
From that point forward, I never stopped.
Returning to modeling in the United States opened an entirely new chapter of my career. I began taking opportunities wherever they led me and continued building my experience within the fashion industry. Los Angeles became an important part of my journey, and I was fortunate to have opportunities to walk in LA Fashion Week and participate in numerous fashion events and productions.
Every runway brought its own energy. There is something uniquely powerful about stepping onto a runway—the lights, the music, the audience, the designer’s vision, and that brief moment when everything comes together. For me, walking a runway has never been simply about wearing clothes. It is about embodying an attitude and telling a story through movement and presence.
Throughout my career in the United States, I have also had the opportunity to work with recognizable and popular brands, including Von Dutch, along with many other brands, designers, photographers, and creative teams. Each collaboration has added another chapter to my story and allowed me to experience different sides of the industry.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
My journey in modeling has definitely not been a smooth road. One of the biggest challenges I faced was struggling with my weight at a young age. I entered the modeling industry very young, at a time when I was still discovering myself and developing my confidence. The modeling world can be very focused on appearance and specific beauty standards, and at times, I felt that I did not fit the traditional image of what a model was expected to look like.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My work as a model has allowed me to build a career centered around fashion, creativity, confidence, and self-expression. I have experience in runway, fashion shows, editorial work, print, and working with brands and creative teams. Throughout my career, I have had the opportunity to walk in LA Fashion Week and work with well-known brands such as Von Dutch, along with many other designers, photographers, and fashion professionals.
What I specialize in most is bringing confidence, elegance, and personality to every project I am part of. I believe a successful model is not simply someone who wears beautiful clothes—it is someone who can bring a designer’s or photographer’s vision to life. I enjoy becoming part of that creative process and using my presence, expression, and experience to tell a story.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
What makes me happiest is being able to do what I love, especially modeling, fashion, and being part of a creative environment. There is something very fulfilling about being on a runway, in front of the camera, or working with a talented team to bring a creative vision to life. It allows me to express myself, feel confident, and connect with people through art and fashion.
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