Sunrise Life - beyond skin deep conversations with freelance nude models

Katie Marie - Modeling since 12! Agencies, Influencing, Abusive Exes + more

In this episode of Sunrise Life, I interviewed freelance model Katie Marie for a deeply honest, powerful conversation about resilience, boundaries, and building a creative career on your own terms. Katie shares her journey from agency modeling to freelancing, learning how to set her rates, curate her brand, and stop working for free. We also dive into the realities of travel modeling, including one of the most shocking and cautionary “crash photoshoot” stories we’ve ever shared on the podcast. Beyond the industry talk, Katie opens up about healing from trauma, breaking cycles, and transforming pain into purpose. This episode is raw, grounding, and ultimately filled with hope — a reminder that you can rise, rebuild, and still choose joy. Check her out on IG! https://www.instagram.com/katie.marie.gaudin/ [https://www.instagram.com/katie.marie.gaudin/] And check out her website (her self published book is in here too!) https://www.katiemariegaudin.com/ [https://www.katiemariegaudin.com/]

Side Hustles for Freelance Models! With Astrid Kallsen, Whitney Masters & Kristy Jessica

Kristy, Whitney, and Astrid discuss practical strategies for freelance models to diversify income, reduce burnout, and build more stable careers. We share personal stories and actionable ideas including virtual figure modeling, subscription platforms, virtual assistant work, agencies, acting, makeup, photography, remote shoots, event hosting, selling art references, teaching, and mentorship. Listeners get simple tips on audience transformation, pricing, boundaries, and weighing the risks and rewards of each side hustle. If you're interested in making income via Whitney's Online Figure Drawing Platform, here is the link! silhouetteandshadow.org/

Meghan Claire: Integrity in her Nude Modeling Career, from Craigslist to the Cenotes!

In this episode, I interviewed fine art model Meghan Claire to trace how a $40 Craigslist gig back in 2008 blossomed into a 15+ year career in nude art and nature-based modeling. Meghan shares how her background in anthropology and archaeology, a nude-friendly upbringing, and early positive experiences with student photographers and Model Mayhem shaped her values of integrity, body autonomy, and only saying yes to work that truly aligns with who she is. We talk about stigma around the word “model,” navigating partners’ reactions to nude work, and the importance of clear boundaries—especially when a multi-day booking in Canada turned into a surreal experience involving broken glass, being treated like a mannequin, and even a helicopter chasing off a bear. Meghan also opens up about stepping away from modeling to have her daughter, the insecurities she faced returning years later, and the surprisingly warm, supportive “homecoming” she found in the community. Toward the end, she shares her love of underwater and coastal shooting, why today’s Instagram rules have reshaped how we create, and her current life on the Oaxacan coast of Mexico, where she’s available for one-on-one shoots and future collaborative tours. Check out Meghan here: https://linktr.ee/meghanclaireart and on her instagram! https://www.instagram.com/meghanclaireart/?hl=en [https://www.instagram.com/meghanclaireart/?hl=en]

Kitty Dawson - Started modeling at 14: UK model now travels internationally!

This week I’m joined by the wildly well-traveled UK based model, Jade Kitty Dawson: a full-time touring art nude / fashion / alt model who has shot over countless photo sessions across Europe. She and I finally found a moment to connect despite the 7-hour time zone difference between the US and the UK. We talk about the realities of modeling in the UK vs mainland Europe (and why the rates are often lower in the UK), how she strategically chooses where she tours so she can still walk away with profit, and her upcoming major leap: planning her very first tour to Australia, where she’ll be flying 22+ hours for a 2–3 week run. What I love about Jade is her willingness to take those big, scary leaps purely in the name of growth - even when she’s nervous - because, as she says, “you always regret the chances you didn’t take.”   We also dive deep into the beginning of her career — she started doing “site modeling” at just 14, styling, shooting, and editing her own photos as a one-woman creative outlet, which genuinely helped her come out of a dark period of bullying, depression, and anxiety. From there we follow her path into professional modeling, the encouragement she received to try art nude, navigating family reactions, and the harsh lessons she learned about safety while traveling internationally as a freelance model. (She’s had to deal with both genuinely kind photographers who lay out a full spread of snacks… AND the rare creeps who prove that even a photographer you’ve known for years can cross a line.) All in all, this is such a raw, honest, truly global conversation about independence, self-trust, taking risks, and staying safe in a wildly unconventional career. Check her out!  Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jadekittydawson/ [https://www.instagram.com/jadekittydawson/] and on her website https://www.kittydawson.com/ [https://www.kittydawson.com/]

Minh-Ly: Pro Creative Who Rebelled Against Strict Upbringing

In this episode, freelance model Minh-Ly shares her journey from a shy first film shoot in Montreal to a decades-long international career, detailing memorable shoots, overcoming family expectations and mental-health challenges, and embracing creative roles beyond modeling. She talks about balancing nomadic travel with the desire for stability, expanding into makeup, styling and photography, and a unique creative project called "Revenge of the Model,". She also offering practical insights for creatives to curate their presence and build sustainable, fulfilling careers. You can check out Minh-Ly's portfolio and her other creative endeavors at her website: https://minh-ly.com/ [https://minh-ly.com/]   and on her IG at https://www.instagram.com/minhly.model [https://www.instagram.com/minhly.model]