The Digest | New Jersey Magazine
Issue link: https://magazines.vuenj.com/i/1326760
W hile she is proving herself as a designer and an entrepreneur, Nicole has spent the majority of her career as a model—a career she aspired to from her early teen days. "My mom was a seamstress and made everything for us, from clothes and Halloween costumes, to curtains and bedcovers," Nicole remembers. Learning to create clothes at her mother's side and relishing in the wonder of seeing herself draped in something she made, that fit perfectly, sparked an early interest in fashion. at spark was further ignited as she obsessed over fashion magazines. Entranced by the glamorous clothes and exotic locales she saw on the pages, she decided at age 12 she wanted to be a model. Ever supportive, her mom enrolled her in modeling school—not an easy find in Newfoundland where the family lived. Realizing that a career probably couldn't be launched easily where they were, the family picked up and moved to Toronto. To say her career took off may be an understatement. At age 16, Nicole had a signed contract and moved to Taipei for two months. With two small boys at home, her mother could not go with her as most parents of younger models do, so Nicole was le in the care of the modeling agency. Her first campaign was for a blow-up inflatable chair that was sold in Wal-Mart. Seeing her on the boxes in their local store thrilled her family. at first taste of international modeling was all it took for a love to grow. She soon le for two months in Spain and from there began seeing the world. "I didn't leave my mom for more than two months at a time. I missed her so much. But I saw so much growing up and experienced so much that has become part of who I am today," Nicole said, adding that she encourages everyone to experience other cultures and learn the history of other countries. When Nicole was old enough to have her own home- base she looked towards New York City as the obvious choice to keep growing her modeling career. Aer a start living in Brooklyn, she eventually found her home in an apartment by Liberty State Park in Jersey City. "I wanted to be close to Toronto and stay east. I thought I'd never leave that apartment." But in her travels to the west coast for work, she met the man who would become her husband, former NFL player Larry English, and, maybe a bit reluctantly, became a west coast girl. Her relationship with Larry launched a new side career for Nicole as she was approached to star in the E! series WAGS (an acronym for wives and girlfriends of high-profile sportspersons). Nicole said the modeling world was a bit leery at the time of reality television, but aer three seasons she admits the show was responsible for skyrocketing her career both directly through the show and also by building her online followers who now number 2 million on Instagram. "I loved filming with my husband and close friends and think now maybe I should do my own show about juggling my career, my business, and my family. And also do something on traveling since travel makes me so happy," she said. Pursuing things that make her happy is all part of Nicole's plan for better living. She is perhaps happiest when she's connecting with her followers. As an influencer she is on Instagram daily posting tips she finds like using Tiger Balm to combat migraines, to sharing her endless supply of beautiful travel photos. "I like to make my followers feel they are coming somewhere with me. I am so humbled and grateful for my life and what I'm able to do and I want to share that. I respond to my DM's. I love to because the reactions I get just melt my heart. ey've made me what I am, and I just have to speak to them and make them feel good." V U E N J . C O M 100