Model, Occupational Therapy Student, Challenge Seeker, New York City, USA

A student becomes a model, gets a Vogue cover, becomes a student at the New York University, volunteers, gets accepted into a competitive Masters program at Columbia University, graduates, more Vogue covers in there somewhere, I’m sure; then goes on to a rotation at a hospital in Manhattan, runways in Milan follow, with the in-between nursing duties in the post-op recovery wing of a busy hospital in NYC, with lots of studying in between the photoshoots.

Connection between Ms. Alana Zimmer and WOW WOMAN came about after Alana’s passion for raising women up spilled into her social media account. She was posting a story a day for the Women’s History Month. That level of dedication was impressive. One of her posts was forwarded to WOW WOMAN, and I dug deeper to find out more on what compelled Alana to use her platform to highlight others. I discovered something really wonderful. Down to earth, inquisitive and erudite were not the only impressions that were immediately forthcoming about Ms. Zimmer. She is a generous listener with a piercing insight into human character and a keen ability to poke fun at herself. We finally got together over coffee and dessert when a chatty New Yorker near us volunteered a guess that Alana must be a ballerina (she later inquired if I play basketball). Some laughs later, the tone for a shoot was set. The images inside the fire house were a bit of a nudge on my part, quintessential NYC, but also were done as a nod to a special person in Ms. Zimmer’s life, her FDNY fiancé.

I picture Alana taking curiosity about people, compassion for their stories and playfulness about life’s moments into her next career; the role for which she studied at Columbia University and obtained a Masters degree.

It was 100% worth digging deeper through the veneer of assumptions many make about models to present you our next WOW Woman feature.

1. Name.

Alana Zimmer.

2. Where is your hometown?

Kitchener, Ontario, Canada.

3. What is your profession/career/title/self-label/designation? What does your average day look like?

I am a model and an occupational therapy student. I’ve been a model since 2006, but I have been completing my undergraduate and now a master’s degree for the past seven years. I recently finished my last clinical fieldwork placement (at Mount Sinai), so I am currently studying for the OT board exam! After that, I’ll be able to call myself an occupational therapist. 

4. What did you study in school?

Occupational therapy, and in undergrad, psychology

5. What was the journey like to get where you are (in life and career-wise)? Write about some of the achievements that you are most proud of. What was the moment for you that changed your life (in your personal life and/or career?) that set you on the current path in life?

When I was in high school, I was working as a hostess at a restaurant, and a woman who had a friend in the fashion industry came in for a meal with her family. She told me that I should become a model. I really thought nothing of it, but that was what opened the door for me. Her friend, Celia Sears, helped me sign with a modeling agency in Toronto, and the rest was history. I went from living a very simple suburban teenage life to traveling to London, Paris, New York, and Milan and walking shows like Prada, Chanel, and Marc Jacobs; it was wild. I modeled full-time for about eight years. Some weeks, I would work seven days a week and travel to five different countries; I was fortunate to visit six continents all through work trips. Meanwhile, before that, I had barely left my hometown.

After eight years, I felt that I had achieved everything I could in the job, I was craving a new opportunity, one that would allow me to learn and grow in new ways. I also began to really struggle with having no control over my own schedule. I had always dreamed of going to university, so I decided to apply to New York University’s returning student program to see if I’d get accepted. To my surprise, I did! I took evening classes and worked modeling jobs during the day. I completed my degree in psychology in 5 years and became a first-generation college graduate. My parents and my brother came from Kitchener to celebrate with me, and they were so proud. It was a beautiful moment and one I never thought I’d get to have. When my high school friends went to college, I was working, and I honestly didn’t know if I’d ever get to have that experience.

After my undergrad, I decided to apply to master’s programs in Occupational Therapy. I loved psychology, but also really love how OT combines both mental and physical health. I love that you can use someone’s everyday routines or interests as a tool to help them rehabilitate. To cut it “short,” I am honestly most proud that I was able to step away from modeling, to go in a completely different direction. To apply myself to school, tests, internships in my late 20’s and early 30’s.

6. How is your life different from what you pictured at 20?

I honestly don’t think I had any ideas of what my life would be like when I was 20. At that point, I was living in New York City and took things day by day because I didn’t think I’d be able to continue my lifestyle. I was constantly traveling, walking runway shows, doing photoshoots, going to fun fashion events. It just seemed too good to be true and felt totally temporary.

I always thought I’d eventually move back to Canada because I’d run out of money or work. So if you’d told at 20 that I would be living in NYC 15 years later and with two university degrees, I wouldn’t have believed you! I didn’t think it was possible.

7. Was there a time when life knocked you down or out and how did you get back up on your feet?

Absolutely. The most recent time was during the pandemic. I felt incredibly isolated as I was on Zoom taking all my university classes from 8 AM to 4 PM each day, and then stayed up late into the night studying or writing papers. I spent most weekends doing work as well. My fiancé, Joey, who is a firefighter in New York, was still leaving the apartment for work each day, and I was on my own. I also don’t have any family in the city. Because of the severity of the virus, I hardly saw anyone from week to week, which I found extremely hard. I fell into a very depressed state and felt very lonely.

Because of what was going on politically and globally with the virus, I found it hard to find any source of happiness when everything felt so heavy, and I didn’t have time to do the usual things that I loved doing. What put me back on my feet was being able to go home to Canada for the holidays. The healing power of family is so real. Being around the people that have known you your whole life is just genuinely incomparable. No amount of facetime can ever equate to in-person quality time. That trip meant so much to me and made me value the people I love even more.  

8. Advice for other women?

Don’t let fear take over the ability to achieve your goals. Easier said than done, I know. But many often tell me they “wish they could go back to school” or “wish they could work towards their dream job,” when you can, but it is only our fear that stands in the way. 

9. Where in the world do you feel “tallest” (i.e. where is your happy place)?

When I’m helping other people achieve their goals.

10. What extracurricular activities/hobbies are you most proud of? Why?

I started a weekly model support group called “Bring Your Nude Thong” with my amazing model friend, Chantal Stafford-Abbott. It has allowed me to combine my two worlds and feel like I’m giving something back to the industry. We meet each week on the app, Clubhouse, to openly share on different topics like imposter syndrome, boundary setting, personal finances, or the pressures of perfectionism. We also have other models co-host with us in areas they’re passionate about. Our community members have told us how valuable and healing the group is, which I find meaningful. We work in an industry where women are placed in competition with each other, so it can be very isolating and difficult to make friends. I’ve found that developing and sharing my own experiences in “BYNT” has been super healing and cathartic. 

11. What do you want to be when you grow up? Future goals/challenges?

I want to be a helper who brings positivity into people’s lives. I’m not quite sure what that job entails quite yet, but I’ll get there.

12. Anything you'd do differently, if you had another go at life?

Nothing, I’m a firm believer of having no regrets and of everything happening for a reason. Even when I’ve gone through hard times in life or felt down about certain choices, I know that that’s happening to teach me a lesson about how to approach life in the future. 

13. What inspires you?

People making a difference in the world

14. What are you hopeful about?

The world post-Covid. I feel like we will all be a little kinder, and more appreciative of our connections with others.

15. What are some ingredients to a good life? Has the global pandemic changed your perspective about the world, about your life, your goals and dreams?

Family, friends, and travel. Creating memories together and seeing the world and its vastness. I think it's essential to learn and understand how enormous the world is and to see how other people on the planet have such different experiences to truly learn to respect others. I also think the pandemic made me value my family and the friends I consider family even more. I think it made us all appreciate the little things on a deeper level.

16. What are (at least) three qualities you most love about yourself and why? What are your superpowers?

- I’m reliable – If someone asks something of me, I will always show up and keep my word. I’m incapable of lying, and if I disappoint someone else, I am disappointed in myself. So that always holds me accountable!

- I’m grateful – I feel appreciative of the opportunities I’ve been given in life and of the connections I’ve made, which I think keeps me grounded. Even if I am having a tough day, I wake up every morning and think of one thing I am grateful for. For being alive, having a healthy body, and having supportive friends and family, whatever it is. It keeps me going.

17. What advice would you give your 14-year-old self?

Love yourself and love your body, because if you won’t love and appreciate it, who will! I was super insecure as a teenager. I was six feet tall when I was 13 and very gangly. I never felt that I fit in and beat myself up about it constantly. I was always comparing myself to others and felt ashamed of any flaws I felt I had. Meanwhile, my appearance allowed me to come to New York, travel around the world, and experience life the way I have. Our differences are often our most remarkable superpowers.

18. What are you reading now? (what books do you gift most and what are your favourite reads?)

Right now, I’m reading “What Happened to You,” written by Oprah and Dr. Bruce Perry. It’s all about trauma, healing, and how our experiences shape us. It dives into the neuroscience and human developmental aspects of trauma. I always really enjoy learning what makes us who we are; it has allowed me to grow and develop further empathy. Funnily enough, I try to give books that can promote growth or deep thought as well. I have recently gifted “The Four Agreements” by Don Miguel Ruiz and “When Things Fall Apart” by Pema Chodron. I also really like gifting cookbooks that I think will inspire someone to try something new!

19. Who is a WOW WOMAN in your world who inspires you and why? Can you nominate three (or more) women you know who perfectly fit WOW WOMAN description? What would you tell them, if you had an opportunity, why you admire them?

• Chantal Stafford Abbott – Chantal is my incredible friend, and the other co-founder of the model support group, “BYNT.” Side note- she’s also another Canadian model! Chantal started an organization called “The Deep Space,” where she gets total strangers together once a month to have deep conversations (it sounds terrifying, but it is incredible!). She is also getting her degree in human relations, is a dog mama, teaches yoga, is a master group facilitator, ETC. She is an amazing woman and someone that inspires me on a day-to-day basis.

• Renee Palkovsky – Renee is a friend I met in my undergrad classes at NYU. After graduating, she started a community called “Home,” where individuals communicate and share insightful and healing content about how to approach life. Renee is a person who is very conscious about her choices and has done a lot of self-work, which I genuinely admire. Sometimes when I feel like I’m making an impulsive decision that I might later regret, I think, “hmm, how would Renee handle this.”

• Connie Viglietti – Connie is someone that I met while doing my yoga teacher training. She is a yoga instructor, reiki master, a birth doula, meditation teacher, a mom, and the co-founder of a women’s coaching and meditation community called “Emaya.” Connie is so warm to be around, and all of her pursuits inspire me. I’m always looking to see what she will do next!

20. Where can others find you/your work (links to websites, blogs, etc.)?

My agency link

Instagram: @zimzimzimmer

BONUS QUICK ROUND:

1. What and who is worth suffering for?

Family, happiness, and freedom

2. If you didn't have to work anymore what would you do with your days?

I would do yoga every day, and volunteer all over the world. I love connecting with others over a project that everyone is passionate about

3. If you could be anyone for a day who would you be?

Jane Goodall, I absolutely love her. She is so driven and compelling when speaking about protecting nature and animals, yet she somehow remains so serene. I aspire to have even an ounce of that energy while explaining something that I am so passionate about. I’d love to spend a day in her shoes to learn how she does it.

4. If you could relive one year in your life, which one would it be?

Probably when I was like six or seven. I just remember it being such a fun age. I’d started school but wasn’t in the awkward teenage phase yet. I just played games, had fun with friends, and ran around outside. I think it would be so fun to be that carefree again.

5. What bothers you most about other people? What do you love most about other people?

When people are selfish or intentionally rude to others, it drives me crazy. We all have to live on this planet together, so we’ve got to help each other out. And I love the opposite thing about people, when others are so kind and generous, those that go out of their way to make someone’s day. That gives me so much hope for society.