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

Kindness First: Lessons From Ellen DeGeneres

Published

5 hours ago

January 16, 2026

Michelle Langton

The Power of Kindness in a World Divided

Let’s accept that it’s easy to be kind when others share your views. It’s when someone has a very different opinion on a topic that you might explode with anger. In those times, being kind is most challenging and most important.

In today’s world, people are constantly judging one another, arguing with one another, and generally dismissing each other’s ideas without any second thoughts. Families are torn apart over politics. People become enraged over their differences in beliefs surrounding religion. Even small disagreements escalate into full-blown arguments on social media. However, all of that anger and hostility does not help anyone.

Ellen’s Enduring Message

This is why Ellen DeGeneres has maintained her message of kindness throughout her career. Every show ended with her saying “Be kind to one another” — a constant reminder to the world of the importance of being kind to one another every day as a choice.

Ellen has always used her experience to focus on what brings her audience joy and laughter, and helping them feel good about themselves. In helping people feel good about themselves, Ellen demonstrates through her comedy that one does not need to bring down another person to lift themselves up. One can also choose to treat, honour, and respect others, even those they may disagree with.

Why Kindness Matters When We Disagree

When’s the last time that someone has changed your mind by treating you badly? Probably never. Hostile behaviour just shuts people down, puts them on the defensive and builds a wall.

On the other hand, Ellen demonstrates that the opposite of kind behaviour is the opposite. Using contempt places a wall between people that does not exist with kind behaviour, and allows real dialogue to exist. When respect and disagreement co-exist, the other person is told, “I see that you are a human being just like me, and while I do not agree with you, I am open to your perspective and will take your position into consideration. Thanks for being you. Sometimes that is what is needed, and that is all it takes to find common ground.”

Learning and Growing Together

Ellen has been forgiven by much of her audience, with fans choosing to focus on the humor, kindness, and positivity she has brought into the world over decades. While past controversies once clouded her public image, her openness, self-reflection, and continued commitment to spreading joy have allowed many to move past old criticisms. Today, audiences celebrate Ellen not just for her career, but for the larger message she represents—that even public figures can grow, learn, and continue inspiring kindness.

As Ellen reminds us, “Everything bad that’s ever happened to me has taught me compassion.” And isn’t that what kindness is really about? Learning from our struggles and extending that understanding to others. She also said, “It always helps to think about other people instead of ourselves”—words that perfectly capture what it means to choose kindness even when disagreement makes us want to dig in our heels.

The truth is, every small act of kindness adds up. Every time you choose grace over anger, you’re making the world a little bit better.

Kindness Without Compromise

On the other hand, kindness does not mean that you have to defend an opinion, nor that you cannot defend that which you consider right. Furthermore, kindness doesn’t come from letting people walk all over you.

More to the point, kindness is about how we deal with people, not whether we agree with them or not. It is possible to have a strong opinion about something, and be respectful to all. We can advocate for what we think is right, and not be perceived as the bad person. Kindness makes the message we spread much more powerful and people listen to us more.

Putting Kindness Into Practice

What does this mean for you? What does this look like in real life?

Maybe it means having to listen to his probably not-so-valuable political opinions, helping out a neighbor, trying to stop your frustration by not going on a mean comment on someone’s Facebook post.

You might find these things meaningless and not valuable, however, the world needs these ‘small’ random acts of kindness, which, by the way, are contagious.

You are already setting the path for a better and kinder world by disagreeing with people in a polite way and, while to you, the act of kindness might not mean much, to the receiver of the kindness, it would mean to someone a lot.