Exponent Super Human - Natalie Morris

Convictions from the Super Humans we admire the most.

 

After spending the majority of my working life as an international model, I’ve devoted the last 7 years to being a mother. I’m now emerging from my little cocoon of family life and returning to the industry I love!

We use the phrase "think outside of the jar" rather than "think outside the box."  What does this phrase mean to you?
My current theme for 2024 is “think big” and I find that in order to pursue this mindset, we have to push ourselves to look at things from a totally different angle than we normally do; this can oftentimes feel uncomfortable. I always know that if I’m feeling uncomfortable about something new I’m taking on, I’m growing. With that said, I think it’s important to acknowledge that there’s a distinct difference between ‘uncomfortable' and ‘uneasy;’ if a situation makes me feel uneasy, I know it’s wrong. There’s a fine line between pushing oneself in a positive way and forcing something that isn’t meant to be

What is your most marked characteristic?
My eyelashes! Whenever I come to set, 9 times out of 10 the makeup artist will remark on my lashes. I think literally only once someone didn’t say anything. I’m happy to report that my son got my lashes!

I’ve always wanted to
explore the Middle East.

What is your greatest extravagance?
My bedding! I will cut corners on a lot of things but when it comes to my sleep, I don’t sacrifice. I recently fell in love with an incredible local LA linen shop called Matteo LA and bought a whole bedding set from the sheets to the duvet cover. I’ve slept like a baby ever since!

What is it that you most dislike?
Gossip. It is such an ugly thing that perpetuates half-truths that then mutate into complete non-truths. It ultimately only hurts people while fostering shallow conversation and false camaraderie with others.

What song would you want played as you enter every room for the rest of your life?
“Sunday Best” by Surfaces. It’s a super happy, upbeat song, maybe even a little cheesy. But the lyrics are basically the instructions on how to live a content life!

Thriller or comedy?
Thriller for sure!

Describe your medicine cabinet (a verbal shelfie)
I’m big on vitamins! Every single day I take vitamin C, zinc, vitamin D, calcium, and then I alternate days between two different hair/skin/nail supplements. I also can’t live without my asthma medicine but that’s not as exciting to talk about!

I am FULL OF hope; I am FREE OF drama.

What inspired you to become a model? What’s been most surprising or challenging on your journey?

I always had a deep love for fashion. From middle school on, I spent hours studying Vogue and absorbing all of the trends, photography angles, model poses, and garment details so when I had the opportunity at 14 years old to model in Milan, I jumped at the chance to experience the fashion industry firsthand. I’m so blessed that I had parents who supported that dream! That said, the most surprising thing for me was experiencing the weight, no pun intended, of body image pressure. When I first entered the industry in the early 2000s at age 14, I was immediately slammed with the narrative that my hips were too big. The pressure to somehow make them smaller was immense. Thankfully I had a wonderful family that grounded me and kept me from falling into the pitfalls of eating disorders. I’m beyond thrilled now to see the world embracing women as they are.

 

What is your favorite part about your profession?

Without hesitation, it’s the people. I love the people. I have met people from all over the world and the unique journeys of every individual never cease to amaze me. When I’m in a makeup chair I need the person’s whole life story, I want all the details! With much thanks to social media, I’ve been able to maintain the most beautiful and wildly interesting friendships all over the globe. I count that as a huge blessing!

 

What inspires you most?

Nature. Nature has the power to make us feel the full gambit of human emotions but in the most positive way possible. Malibu in particular is my happy place. Sitting on the beach, watching the waves roll in and out with the roar of the ocean in my ears, I am reminded of how small I am in the grand scheme of things. I find this incredibly humbling and grounding. I always walk away from Malibu feeling inspired to be a better person, think more creatively, and to think more universally.

 

How do you find balance between work, life and motherhood?

Organization, planning ahead, multitasking, and having plans A, B, and C for childcare. Organization allows me to juggle all of my personal projects along with school obligations while planning ahead allows me to make sure everything is taken care of in a timely and efficient manner so that I’m able to utilize extra time for quality moments with my kids.

 

What do you love most about being a mom?

I love that motherhood has shaped me into a completely new version of myself, perhaps my best version yet. I love watching my kids experience new things for the first time and learning how to navigate the world. They’re so innocent and they always see the best in everything. It’s really beautiful. I love knowing what unconditional love feels like. I love that as much as my kids are growing and learning, I am also doing the same. It’s such a symbiotic experience. I also love having more empathy and understanding for my parents. I can now understand why they did what they did which has ultimately given me a whole new appreciation for them and their sacrifices.

 

What does your self-care routine look like?

As a mom of 3, self-care isn’t really a term that naturally exists in my life so I’ve had to adjust my vision of what that term is. To maintain sanity, self-care has become a way of living rather than a special day of pampering. For me, self-care is consuming healthy things: healthy food, healthy books, healthy friendships, healthy thoughts, healthy activities and experiences. Barring any illnesses or school days off, I exercise about 4 times a week and that is the number one thing that contributes to my overall well-being because it feeds me physically and mentally.

 

What advice would you give to someone who is interested in getting into the beauty/fashion industry?

Know who you are, what you stand for, and what your goals are. With these three things, you will always be the most authentic version of yourself and in a world where social media plays such an integral part of one’s journey into the fashion/beauty industry, you will naturally attract what is meant for you.

What is something surprising nobody knows about you?

I speak, read, and write Farsi!

 

What is an important practice in your daily life?

Gratitude. It sounds cliché but I always take time to allow myself to feel gratitude for everything, even the unpleasant things. While I may not be grateful for the bad things that inevitably pop up in life, I can find gratitude in the lessons learned from them. If we don’t experience challenges, we are unable to grow and growth is always something that I’m grateful for. Conscious and intentional gratitude for even the tiniest of things really establishes a positive mindset that I can take with me into the world and hopefully share with others who may be in need of a ray of light.

 

What are your goals for this year?

This year’s mantra is “think big.” I want to actively push beyond the boundaries of what my world currently is and think about what more I can be doing whether it’s spiritually, professionally, philanthropically, or personally. The possibilities of our world are endless and I am here with open arms ready to embrace all of them!

 

What is your dream project?

Launching my own cosmetic line has always been a secret dream of mine!

 

What is the one thing you can’t live without?

Jack Black lip balm! I have about 5 of them strategically placed around the house, in my bags, in my car, literally everywhere!

 

 

Learn more about Natalie Morris at @natalieinlove.