Fashion Model Spotlight AD Sarah DeAnna

Sarah DeAnna

By David Cohen

The world of fashion is one known for emphasizing extrinsic values and placing self-worth on physical aspects of one’s body and appearance. This is a world where dreams

are chased, and the lifestyle idolized. Much like moving to LA or NY with lofty aspirations and hopes of being discovered, entering the fashion industry provides its own harsh realities, navigational challenges and long odds to overcome. So, what does it take to carve your own path and create longevity in an industry known as much for its pitfalls and rejections as it is for its eccentric designers and outlandish couture fashion? To find out, we talked with high fashion model, published author and motivational speaker, Sarah DeAnna. She shared with us her story, the values that have propelled her, and insight on what it feels like to open a runway show in Paris, Milan and New York for the likes of Versace, Stella McCartney and more. Far from illuminating camera flashes and celebrity-lined runways, Sarah DeAnna’s life lessons began in a small rural town in Oregon. Raised by a single mother after her father was sent to prison, her exposure to poverty and the effects of drug abuse by family members at a very early age laid the foundation to become something completely opposite from that. Focusing on education as her way forward, she graduated from college early and with honors - receiving a degree in International Business from Oregon State University. Post-graduation brought her closer to family down in Los Angeles as she continue her education and path into the business world at UCLA.

Ultimately, modeling has been a vehicle for her rise from tough beginnings and has afforded her the ability to pursue her true passions. The universe had a different plan, however. Before school even started, a chance encounter with a photographer in Hollywood led to her first photo shoot. This first shoot subsequently landed Sarah DeAnna her very first feature magazine cover, quickly vaulting her onto the runways of New York and Milan Fashion Weeks. As a rising star of international fashion shows, Sarah DeAnna was dubbed Alexander Wang's “first muse” by Vogue Magazine after opening for his premier show and being one of his go-to models throughout the early stages of his career. Poise takes many forms. It can manifest itself by opening for Chanel and falling right as she turns to enter the runway, getting up, refocusing, and then falling again on a floor more suited for ice skating than the long, graceful strides of a supermodel. She’s always demonstrated the inner strength to rise with all eyes on her and move forward with grace and purpose. To conquer those runways, along with any doubts, Sarah DeAnna said she knew she needed to be “Strong, fierce and edgy.” Her fortitude has continued to help her prevail. Once told by Giorgio Armani early in her career that she had crazy eyes, he passed on her for a show only to come back and book her to open his runway the following year. Sharing with us the secrets that have led to her success and longevity within the fashion industry, Sarah explains that her strength and power come from speaking her truth, something that she emphasizes to others. “Speaking up when I was uncomfortable helped a lot,” she says. “Even though it was hard at the time, it kept me out of situations that led many in the industry down the wrong path.” Making the conscious decision to remove herself from parties and the "fashion lifestyle" enabled her to avoid situations where risky behavior was prevalent. "I did worry that I was missing out on career opportunities,” she shares. Ultimately though, the choice to stay true to her values only helped to strengthen her career and has served as a compass in her life.

Sarah DeAnna feels incredibly grateful for the enduring trajectory of her modeling career. She remarked how much it has enhanced her life. Coming from humble beginnings, it has taken her to places all over the world that she never thought she would go and put her in circles of people she never thought she would meet. Modeling has been a vehicle for her rise from tough beginnings, affording her the ability to pursue her true passions. Becoming one of the elite international runway models and appearing in renowned magazines worldwide like Vogue, Elle, Marie Claire, Amica, L’Official, and Riviera – Sarah DeAnna had the door open to become a household name. Nearing this pinnacle of the fashion industry, she made a conscious decision to step back from high-profile modeling and re-focus her life on health and fitness, both in her own journey and to educate others. Her passion has always revolved around being healthy and eating healthy. She authored her first book, titled Supermodel You, which was published by publishing giant Hay House in 2013. With the mindset of speaking to her younger self, Sarah DeAnna sought to inspire and guide young girls who looked up to supermodels on how to eat well and have confidence in themselves. With nutrition being so important to her, she also co-authored the newly released book Models do Eat. Long before professional photographers began focusing their lenses on her, Sarah DeAnna became aware of one of her core values. At the age of 12, sitting down for Thanksgiving dinner, she deeply connected for the first time that the turkey on the table was an animal that had been killed. This changed how she ate moving forward, becoming what we now refer to as Vegan before veganism was mainstream. She didn’t have a name for it at the time, she simply knew she didn’t want to have a part in harming animals. “It’s about being aware of where things come from,” she says. “If we really look at our choices like the things we’re eating and wearing, and become aware of what it actually is, where it came from and how the people, animals and nature were treated in the making of that product, people’s choices would often be quite different.”

This awareness is a key focus in her book. She shares her story and how she uses this core value to shape her health, her habits, and her life. She explains that being aware of where your food comes from, how much sleep you’re getting, what your stressors are and even things as small as your daily posture make a big difference. Having access to the finest fashion labels in the world, her favorite designers and brands are not solely about the designs or style. In step with a major global luxury trend, for Sarah DeAnna, it’s all about the brand’s values. Sustainability, philanthropic causes, and how a brand treats the people who make their product are huge factors in her tastes. “The world will gradually heal as we become more conscious of what we are doing to each other and our planet with our choices. We need depth to fix this world,” Sarah DeAnna says. Referring to her belief as the “conscious manufacturing of materials and people.”