Check out our interview with Turkish Fashion Model Natalia LaLonde who loves to share on her popular IG account content about fitness, traveling and modeling.
Follow Natalia @natalialalonde
Please tell us a little about you?
A little about me – I was born in Turkey, to a Filipina mother and an American father. I grew up overseas as well as in a small town called Traverse City, Michigan. Travel, small towns and eating local cuisines is important to me.
Describe yourself in 3 words?
3 words to describe myself would be intuitive, nurturing, and positive.
Name one of your strengths?
One of my strengths is adaptability – I’m able to adapt and change and moving around easily. Jumping on a plane and going to a completely new environment is natural for me.
Who is your biggest supporter?
My biggest supporter would be myself and my close friends.
Best advice ever given?
The best advice I’ve ever been given was an article that I read from Warren Buffet – he addresses the importance of taking care of your mind and body – he states that if you were given a car, only one car for your entire life – you would take pristine care of it. Your body and mind is that one car – we only have one for this lifetime, so need to take care of it!
Who has made the biggest impact on your life so far, and why?
Several people have made big impacts in my life – and they are those who live fearlessly and take risks. Entrepreneurs who have the idea to start something and just do it. There is no one person who has impacted me, but several stories of individuals who had to hustle to survive, and had not fear in taking risks and trying new things.
When you were a kid what did you want to be when you grew up?
When I was a kid I wanted to be a scientist but still in the kitchen. I would freeze leaves, make ice cream, and consider them science projects.
What has been the greatest pinch-me moment in your career?
The greatest pinch me moment in my career was when I went to a casting and then worked for Victoria’s Secret. I had to go in regularly to their corporate offices to do design presentations, and walking through those doors for work felt surreal every time.
What did you learn from your biggest failure?
I learned from my biggest failure that we always come out of it. That the dark slump and blackhole of doubt that surrounds us can be stronger than the failure itself, but there is always motions out of it. I learned to not let the negativity control me, but to take the lesson and then move ahead in a different direction.
Now tell us about any current projects you are working on
Some current projects I’m working on are selling consumer masks in the United States that are produced in Vietnam. My dad connects foreign investors into Vietnam, a country I lived in as a kid, and feels like a piece of home for me. My dad found a company who used to product shirts, but now produces antibacterial cotton masks, and selling them in the states.
I’m also working on creating a coffee brand of organic coffee found in the highlands of Vietnam. Vietnam has amazing coffee, but its not really promoted internationally so I’m helping with that, and promoting my own coffee brand that will launch soon. While traveling I struggled to find a good, tasty cup of organic coffee, so I developed a way to create that!
What’s your favorite quote?
My favorite quote is “What you seek is seeking you” Rumi.
I love many quotes by Rumi, Ani Difranco, Haruki Murakami
To what do you attribute your current success?
I attribute my current success to poets and writers, to pieces of literature that helpmeet to let go of attachment and things that don’t serve me – to allowing myself to think and act freely into what fuels my own fire.
What is your favorite healthy food?
My favorite healthy food is a sweet potato – so easy, filling, great for your skin and loaded with nutrients!
And your favorite cheat food?
Favorite cheat food – wow I love starches – french fries. Nothing like a salty, crispy fry!
What do you think of Social Media?
I think social media has its positive side, but also its negative side. If i remind myself to stick to searching while I feel good and positive, it can create lots of inspirations. However, its dark underbelly can cause waves of insecurity in me. I have to remind myself to take breaks from it, because too much time on social media forces me to go down the negative path of comparison, which leads to unhappiness for me.
Where our readers can follow you?
Readers can follow me on IG @natalialalonde, I’m most active there! And I try to make sure all my content sparks some element of joy! My motto has been, only keep things in your life that spark joy..otherwise, get rid of it!
