Lifestyle

From Small Town to Entertainment Capital of the World – Nara Ford

Published

5 years ago

February 16, 2021

How Nara Ford went from a tiny beach town to a widely renowned model and businesswoman living her dream life in Las Vegas

Everyone knows that the modeling industry is one of the toughest to break into. Social media is saturated with would-be models and influencers. So how did a small-town girl from Washington become a (practically) overnight success in such a dog-eat-dog business? Read on to get acquainted with Nara Ford, a tough ex-airman in the U.S. Airforce, who was discovered by being labeled a “Military Hottie” while on active duty in Mississippi.

Behind every beautiful aspiring model, there are hundreds in line hoping to be discovered. Nara Ford realized this truth early on when she began gaining traction in the world of modeling after being featured on several platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and The Chive, for her incredible figure. Nara got a taste of success after her first paid gig (to the tune of $5,000) and was bitten by the entrepreneurial bug. Rather than resting on her laurels, as they say, Nara developed a sharp business plan that has helped her become not only a successful model but a keen businesswoman who helps others, hoping to realize their dreams.

Nara was born and raised in the little beach town of Ocean Shores, Washington. After being led to serve her country, Nara enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. When she realized modeling was a real possibility for a future career, she got serious about learning all she could about the industry. When the Air Force moved her to Las Vegas, she looked at it as a golden opportunity to stretch her legs as a bonafide model, but that is not all. As the modeling took shape, not everyone was thrilled. There was controversy over racy photographs published while an active-duty airman, a blip that did not deter the ambitious Nara. She continued to build her modeling portfolio, being featured in domestic and international magazine publications. More than a pretty face, Nara began constructing a business plan not only to get ahead but bring others along with her.

Nara hosts networking events to brand herself but is also eager to share the knowledge she has amassed in the industry. She hosts engagement groups and has created a unique formula to help new influencers earn six figures annually, as she does. Nara is now within the top 1% of a pool of over 450,000 content creators and strives to help other women do the same. Nara is assembling a team of the hottest up-and-coming girls from small towns who also strive for unique branding and social media success. The idea was born when Nara recognized that many other women share the same ambition as her. As a result, she created ways to help women learn the art of embracing their bodies, not becoming fixated on what others think, and reaching their career goals, however big or small.

Nara is building an empire more than a career. Her brand encompasses not only modeling but running a lucrative website for four years before Only Fans. Nara participates in live streaming, PPV, and messaging, rarely turning down a fan’s request, not even the “off” ones she sometimes receives. She has grown her business while narrowing in on her clientele’s specific needs, perfecting her marketing skills, and monetizing her Instagram following, resulting in over $500,000 in her first year!

Setbacks are common, but thankfully, Nara says, she has not encountered many of them so far in her journey. “One of the keys is to not worry too much about things I cannot control. I focus on myself, try to be the best I can be, and remember that it’s all about the fans.” Nara says she makes it a point to measure herself by her past achievements. To stay focused, healthy, and ready for the demands of her schedule, Nara meditates, works out, and maintains a positive attitude. Self-love and respect are critical keys to her success.

Most entrepreneurs understand the importance of diversifying one’s income streams. Nara is no different. She has found ways to do this every chance she gets. After purchasing and renovating her Las Vegas dream home, Nara rents part of the space for other creators to shoot their content. It is not only a way to earn extra money but also add value to her clients. Fans can expect a lot more from Nara in the future. With tireless energy and willingness to learn and produce exciting content, this model-turned-mogul is quickly making a name for herself. “There is plenty more to come! I am always trying to figure out what my fans want and make that happen in new and entertaining ways.”

Learn more about Nara by following her on Instagram at @thenaraford, Twitter at nara_ford, and on her website at www.naraford.com.

Lifestyle

The Message Women Need Today: Cathi Carrier’s Mission to Bring Back Self-Worth

Published

16 hours ago

March 27, 2026

Michelle Langton

Many women spend years quietly stepping out of the frame, avoiding cameras, hiding behind filters, or brushing off compliments because they no longer recognize the person staring back at them. It is not vanity that drives those moments; it’s a deeper feeling of slipping away from yourself. That emotional weight is something Cathi Carrier has witnessed for more than three decades, and it’s what shaped the mission behind Purely Bella.

Cathi didn’t build her career in a boardroom. She built it in a treatment room, one client at a time, listening to stories that rarely make it into conversations about skincare. Women would sit down and immediately apologize for their appearance, convinced they were “too late” to take care of themselves. What she saw instead were women who had given so much to others that they had forgotten how to give to themselves.

Her understanding didn’t come from textbooks. It began when she was a teenager struggling with acne that felt bigger than a skin issue; it affected her confidence, her social life, and even the way she carried herself. That experience gave her empathy long before she had professional expertise. She knew what it meant to feel uncomfortable in your own skin, and she never forgot it.

In her treatment room, skincare became something deeper than cleansing and moisturizers. It became a place where women were welcomed without judgment, where they could talk openly, exhale, and feel seen. Over the years, she learned that skin reflects far more than age or stress. It reflects how much space a woman has allowed herself to take up in her own life.

Stories like Sara’s stayed with her. Sara, a retired schoolteacher, walked in with her shoulders rounded and her spirit dulled. She apologized repeatedly for her skin, barely making eye contact. Carrier designed a simple treatment plan, but the real change came from the conversations, the consistency, and the small moments where Sara started to reconnect with herself. Months later, Sara hugged her and said she finally felt like herself again. That transformation, skin healing paired with emotional renewal, is what convinced Carrier that skincare can be a form of healing when done with intention.

Still, she reached a limit. Her treatment room could only help one woman at a time. The desire to create a greater impact pushed her to start Purely Bella, a brand built to carry her philosophy beyond the walls of her spa. The transition wasn’t glamorous. She had to learn manufacturing, sourcing, regulations, and everything in between. But she stayed focused on real women and real results, clean formulations that worked, without the fear-based marketing the industry often leans on.

Purely Bella’s mission is rooted in a simple promise: you don’t need to turn back time to feel beautiful. You need to move forward with confidence and grace, knowing your best self is not behind you. Cathi believes this deeply. She speaks often about how a morning skincare routine is not just about products, it’s a daily choice to care for yourself, a reminder that you matter.

Her mission is also a response to the pressures women absorb from the world around them. Society is quick to tell women their value fades with every birthday. Cathi rejects that entirely. She wants daughters to grow up watching their mothers feel proud in photos, not hide from them. She wants women to recognize that aging is not the enemy; the real enemy is the culture that tells them to shrink as they grow older.

In a crowded beauty landscape, Cathi Carrier is not asking women to chase perfection. She is inviting them to remember who they are, and to step back into the frame with confidence.