It sort of blows me away to think I’ve already spent more than half my life away from New Mexico—my first love. Without a clue, I moved to New York City at 16 to see if I could really make a go of modeling after winning the Hispanic Designers’ Model of the Year Contest. Two decades later, I’ve had a full career, doing everything from department store fashion shows to traipsing down the runway for Oscar de la Renta, Chanel, and Roberto Cavalli. I’ve graced the pages of Harper’s Bazaar, Elle, Marie Claire, and at the same time, posed in countless (um) less notable magazines. I appeared in advertisements for global brands like Suave, Levi’s, Nike, and Guess, and worked for other clients that disappeared the minute they were invoiced.
I dabbled with on-camera work on a couple of soap operas and as a sports reporter in New Zealand. All the while, managing to go to school. It only took eight years (unlike many of my peers) to earn my Journalism degree, but I’d like to think the years gave me some much-needed material for many of my short stories, some of which have been published in academic journals like Columbia University’s “Catch & Release,” “Concho River Review,” and “riverSedge.”
The years also cultivated a passion in me for the multidimensional, multitasking lives of women and the complexity behind those lives. After tragically losing my sister six years ago, I’ve dedicated my life to sharing women’s stories and supporting their dreams and goals. I believe in the power of writing and caring, and because I’ve been fortunate enough to have others love and support me and help me realize my own dreams, I wanted to create a space to provide this love for my fellow woman. Luckily for me, I met and married the most amazing man who also shares my vision for this growing community.
Recently, I went back to school to finish my master’s degree in Humanities with an emphasis in Creative Writing, and have since partnered with organizations like the Dallas Women’s Foundation, Women Called Moses, New Friends New Life, Chiefs Women’s Organization, and FC Dallas Women’s Connection to strengthen my vision for Model Behaviors. I’m in awe of how much our community has grown these past two years. And just when I thought that life couldn’t be any better, we welcomed our bouncing baby girl Darlington into this world. As a family of three, we’re constantly seeking balance while chasing our dreams full throttle.
Please feel free to email anytime at toni@modelbehaviors.com, or find me on Instagram and Twitter. Thank you for reading and being a part of our community!