In this special episode, Valeria revisits some of her most powerful and revealing conversations with iconic women in modeling - going beyond the runway & behind the camera to explore identity, resilience, motherhood, and the experiences that shaped who they are today.

Kelsey Merritt opens up about growing up in the Philippines with a strict mother, navigating the modeling industry as a biracial woman, and how her immigrant family values gave her thick skin. Next, Jasmine Tookes reflects on being raised by a young single mother, always knowing she wanted to be a model, and building confidence in an industry where she was often the only Black woman in the room. Finally, Miranda Kerr joins Valeria for a deeply honest conversation about life after Victoria’s Secret. Her motherhood journey - as a mom of four boys, miscarriage, breastfeeding, aging, and more. Miranda shares how her priorities have shifted and tells us more about her brand, KORA Organics. 

Together, these conversations peel back the layers behind globally recognized faces to reveal the real women underneath - their values, doubts, lessons, and quiet strength.

Follow The Women -

Kelsey Merritt
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kelseymerritt/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kelseymerritt

Jasmine Tookes

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jtookes/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jastookes

Miranda Kerr
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mirandakerr/
KORA Organics: https://koraorganics.com

Valeria’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/valerialipovetsky/
Valeria’s TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@valeria.lipovetsky

Not Alone’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notalonepod/
Not Alone’s TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@notalone.pod

Shop My Looks: https://shopmy.us/collections/3871837?tab=collections

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What we talked about:

0:00 – Introduction1:57 – Kelsey Merritt: growing up Filipina & being scouted online4:05 – Kelsey Merritt: Strict immigrant parents & modeling feedback6:03 – Kelsey Merritt: Identity, representation & being “the first”11:16 – Kelsey Merritt: Commercial vs high fashion modeling realities14:49 – Kelsey Merritt: Discovering independence in New York18:04 – Kelsey Merritt: Beauty standards in the Philippines24:25 – Introducing Jasmine Tookes26:13 – Jasmine Tookes: Dreaming of Victoria’s Secret from childhood28:03 –Jasmine Tookes: Modeling young & having a protective mom33:18 – Jasmine Tookes: Being the only Black model in the room35:21 –Jasmine Tookes: Motherhood & identity shifts39:23 – Jasmine Tookes: Daddy issues & family boundaries42:52 – Introducing Miranda Kerr45:34 – Miranda Kerr: Choosing not to return to Victoria’s Secret47:06 – Miranda Kerr: Motherhood & breastfeeding 49:02 – Miranda Kerr: Miscarriage52:17 – Miranda Kerr: Raising boys & navigating teen years56:06 – Miranda Kerr: Wellness, skincare & aging with gratitude1:00:49 – Final reflections