We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kristy. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kristy below.
Kristy, thank you so much for joining us today. Let’s jump right into something we’re really interested in hearing about from you – being the only one in the room. So many of us find ourselves as the only woman in the room, the only immigrant or the only artist in the room, etc. Can you talk to us about how you have learned to be effective and successful in situations where you are the only one in the room like you?
Wow, this is such a great question! I often find myself, in my second profession, being the only in the room that looks like me. Mostly because I am the oldest in the room as well as being the one with the shortest hair and often time the one with the most fair skin. I found hot to be effective/successful with these differences, by looking inward. We all have a soul that unites us. We all bleed the same color, feel the same joys and hurts at times in our lives. If we learn to see how we are similar, it is so much easier to be effective than to focus on how our differences separate us.
I also feel that our differences are what make us unique. Like pieces of a quilt or puzzle and the puzzle or quilt is more beautiful, when the pieces are more different than alike.
I feel that this perspective helps me to be effective and give me the confidence to be successful.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
In my “real life” I am an Occupational Therapist and I have been in practice for 32 years. I have focused my practice primarily on neuro rehab with an emphasis in Spinal Cord Injury. Most recently, I have started working in a rural town in New Mexico, trying to provide to under served clients. My focus has changed to ortho, , primarily basic hand injuries, treating arthritis, etc. It is a privilege to serve where I am needed.
In my second half of life, I have pursued Modeling. I got into it as I felt that people my age needed some representation. I don’t know that I am the perfect fit to represent, but I was willing to try. I have also gone into it, to mentor young people in the industry. I want them to know that they don’t have to compromise themselves to be successful. If this “mature lady” can do this and keep growing my following, increasing my jobs as well as pay, etc. without exposing every inch of my body and pose in positions that I am not comfortable in, then they can too!
I am so excited about the experiences, the people and the opportunities that I have been given to do this. This summer has been the most busy season since I started. The pinnacle of the season, was being able to model for the designer, Couture To The Max by Max Alexander. I met he and his amazing family 2 years ago at Denver Fashion Week when he was debuting his first line. I was so excited to see him as I had been following him for some time before that and had even purchased a t-shirt to support him in his design endeavors. When I was backstage, getting ready to walk for the designer I had been booked with, his dad recognized the t-shirt I was wearing and thanked me for supporting his son. Later his mom came by and introduced herself and said had she known I was a model she would have asked Max to see if he wanted me in his show. I was very touched. That started a sweet relationship on mutual support between Max, his mom, and I. For two years we have “liked” and “followed” each other’s journey’s. This Spring, he asked me to walk for him in his first sustainable show, in Aspen, Co. in August. It was EPIC! Aspen was beautiful, the whole week was perfect. Max and his team treated us like royalty. We received custom shirts to wear while getting ready, with the label, Mas’s Angel. We were gifted a beautiful necklace with his logo and trademark wings. We were clad with amazing designs and given explicit instruction on how to walk and twirl to show off the movement of his designs. Most importantly, I was able to observe a true genius, also be a 9 year old kid, who leads with joy and energy and does not try to be anything other than him. It was a true honor.
The other amazing experience of Aspen Fashion Week was being able to model for the amazingly gifted designer from Denver, SkyeAireOfficial. She had me and approximately 4 other very beautiful, very young ladies model for her. I was the “bonus mom” of the group as their amazing moms were along for the ride. We modeled stunning dresses, coats, and wraps in the majestic wilderness of Maroon Bells Colorado!!!!! I have wanted to go there my whole life and to get to do it while modeling, well HUGE bonus! We even had a wild moose, photo bomb our session. It was truly Heaven on Earth.
My careers, have truly been such a blessing. I have met the most resilient, talented, kind people, in both areas of my work.
I am most excited about the relationships that I bond in my areas of work. My job, no matter what I do, is to serve people in the best capacity that I am able to bring. When you make your job about service, you can never loose.
I am hoping to one day do a major beauty campaign. I would love to show the industry, that this generation is beautiful, and that age, whether young or old, should not be a player in what defines beauty.
I would love to walk for New York Fashion Week as well. My dream designers would be Couture To the Max in New York, Sebastian Grey and Christian Seriano. I love the diversity that all of these designers show on their runways and they inspire me.
If I were to define my brand, I would say that it exemplifies service, joire de vivre, class and always excited to continue growing.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
I feel that the joy in discovery is very integral in my journey. As I have aged, I have been less concerned about what people think about me and more excited about failing forward as I learn new skills, discover new people and experiences, etc. The fun is not taking yourself too seriously and discovering and learning the things that light up your soul.
You also need to be resilient. I have had many things in my life that I could have let set me back, break me spirit and just quit. I feel that if you can build and flex your resilience muscle, you get stronger for the storms and learn from them.
Most importantly, for me, is my faith. I found Jesus when I was 14 and have never left His side since. He is my rock. I am so grateful for the truths that he has taught me, the strength that he has given me and the relationships that he has brought me. I am so grateful that He commands us to Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, soul and mind, and love your neighbor as yourself. That pretty much sums it up. When I love God with everything I have and love my neighbor as myself, there is no room for selfishness, hate, bitterness. This has been my rock for all of the journeys that I have been on and continue to move toward.
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
I am looking for opportunities with like minded, hard working, loving, people of integrity who want to team up to make beautiful teams. I am looking to do more commercial and print work, editorial work, and runway. I love the fashion industry, the creatives that make it up, are incredible. They stretch me every time we work together. I love bringing hard work, but fun and levity to the project. I am there to serve so know that when we work together, know that I will put in the work!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristysilver70/
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/kristygronseth
- Other: [email protected]
Image Credits
Don Siegel, Shtook Atelier, Nicole Cudzillo, SQU Photography, Martidarlene Photography, Shishotme Photography.
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
