An Inspired Chat with Marianne Ough

We recently had the chance to connect with Marianne Ough and have shared our conversation below.

Marianne, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What do you think is misunderstood about your business? 
After being in the modeling industry for 2+ years (now having voluntarily scaled back to select opportunities that meet my needs), I can say that being a model is highly glamorized which is a stark contrast to the reality of this career. There is a lot happening behind closed doors that most people don’t know. Many models like myself scraped by to make a living, accepted opportunities and situations we were not totally comfortable with to pursue our careers. It is a highly competitive industry, and what you are not willing to do, others will. There is a high rate of predatory behavior – which can include industry professionals such as directors, photographers, designers, etc. I myself have been in many situations where I have kept my mouth shut about inappropriate behavior, body-shaming, and bullying by others on set and behind-the-scenes. Modeling is not all beauty, fame, and glamour – there is unfortunately a lot of underlying ugliness and you have to have a very thick skin to succeed.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Marianne Ough, I have been in the modeling and acting industry for 2+ years. I have now drawn back and now offer my time to very select opportunities. I like to fill my time now with what I want to do, and have a low tolerance for things I don’t. I’m not looking for any destination, just enjoying the journey. I mainly practice many forms of art now, writing poetry, lyrics, painting, drawing, clay work, and graphic design. I have the belief the desire to create art is something found in all of us, that it is one of our most primitive desires. I also have an interest in philosophy and history, mostly to observe other perspectives than my own. I am a practicing Buddhist and actively live my life with the belief that there is no rights, wrongs, “bad or good”, the only thing that is true is our perception. I enjoy opening my mind to new perspectives and possibilities, this brings a lot of purpose to my life.

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
I don’t think this is a “moment”, but I’ve always experienced the feeling of being very different from others. It has showed up at some times more often than others, but always remains. I have traveled around the world and seen how many different people live, and living in America has shown me how much we live to work for others and gain little in the process. How much we as people go along with a system that is destroying our happiness and wellbeing. I have always pushed back against this, working under-the-table jobs, creating my own various businesses and means to live. I notice everyday that people here don’t feel they have the power to do what they want, as if they don’t have free will. There is a constancy fear of losing security such as jobs, housing, and fearing backlash from authority. I notice people struggling to find time for people they love, things they like to do, and just for fun things in general. It has been deeply saddening for me to witness and as someone who chooses not to be a part of that, it has also been isolating. I am hoping that with all of the craziness happening in politics and the rising frustration of people that there will be others that are risking to throw away everything they have learned to obey for the better of society.

When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
I was raised with the mindset that feelings such as pain, sadness or fear was a sign of weakness and should never be displayed. Not only by my parents but by our American society which expects us to stay in this little box of what is deemed presentable and perfect. Most people described me as being a pillar of strength, but had no idea how much I was crumbling on the inside. It took me 22 years of my life to really feel like I could show the world how I felt, and it came after everything around me came crashing down. It took an insane toll on me to always hold my feelings in, to play a part, to pretend I was something I wasn’t. It took a toll on my mental and physical health – including developing an autoimmune disorder due to chronic stress. It was incredibly hard at first to begin the process of being vulnerable, it was totally unfamiliar territory. But it was soon addicting. I didn’t care if I looked crazy anymore, if people saw me differently or if I wasn’t this strong persona for people to put on a pedestal anymore. I was doing things I had wanted to do for years, I was making art again and it was exploding out of me like a machine! I haven’t ever felt happier & more confident with my life than I am now. I’m happy to say that I’m in a much different place, surrounded by like minded people (shout out to my man norb and friend yety) and I embrace my pains rather than hide them away. It has brought a huge weight off of my shoulders.

Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What’s a belief you used to hold tightly but now think was naive or wrong?
I think I used to believe that I need a plan and goals to get anywhere. But I’ve realized now that things never happen the way you expect them to – it’s almost like an intrinsic destiny. I have worked hard towards something and found much better opportunities along the way. Life has a way of throwing you curveballs when you least expect it – and if you let it, it can take you in the right direction. I am a big believer now in trusting the process & trying not to control the outcome.

Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. Have you ever gotten what you wanted, and found it did not satisfy you?
Before I felt strong in my character, I relied a lot on externals/material things like titles, money, and exclusive opportunities to make me feel like I was worth something. It had a lot to do with my upbringing – I was never “good enough” to those closest to me. During my modeling career I about killed myself to make more money, have better opportunities and be a part of tighter circles in order to be respected. Once I had that – it was never enough and it never brought me what I thought it would. There was always some other material or external I was chasing after to fill the void, which never worked. It really messed me up mentally and broke me more and more the further it went on to the point I couldn’t recognize myself. I had never had much money or many nice things, I struggled a lot so it was a serious learning lesson that money and material things is really not the pinnacle of success, and that a simple life is much more fulfilling.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @maranneou