WHERE I WORK:
I am an artist and freelance photographer.

WHY I LOVE FASHION:
Vogue fashion contributor Amanda Brooks defined fashion better than I ever could have when she said, "It’s your life experiences expressed through your clothes," and I agree with her. To me, clothing is not only a means of avoiding your "birthday suit" but also the language of self-expression, one that doesn’t require loads of money, a metropolitan ZIP code, or a certain body type. I am a visual person, some say even an artist, and there is really no better way to display your knack for style, artistically speaking, than on your own body. I’d say fashion is an extension of your beliefs.

THE FASHION ICON I MOST IDENTIFY WITH IS:
Sophia Loren, because she is one saucy lady! Her ability to break the mold and perception of what a Hollywood starlet should be is beyond inspiring. She brought curves and attitude to all the right places and, in doing so, redefined what sexy was. I am also a sucker for Italian fashion, but that’s a whole other story.

IF I WERE AN ITEM OF CLOTHING OR ACCESSORY, WHAT WOULD I BE AND WHY?
I would be my Britten black leather double clutch. So useful and terribly cute! It is sleek, elegant, and the one thing I can’t live without, mostly because it is stuffed full of plenty of other things I can’t live without.

WHY I LOVE TORRID:
Torrid makes me a happy camper. You know how people use that phrase "like a kid in a candy store" when they are talking about someone who is so excited they can’t contain their happiness? That is what Torrid is to me. I revert to my wide-eyed, nine-year-old self, tugging on my dad’s sleeve while breathlessly panting, "I want that one and that one and that one!" But instead of drooling over gummy bears and jelly beans, I find my adult self gushing about the cobalt faux suede cross-ankle platform heel that I clearly can’t live without. Torrid literally satisfies every fashion craving I have, whether it’s the seasoned shopaholic in me searching for the latest trends, the divalicious statement-maker, or the down-to-earth curvaceous babe in search of that perfect little black dress. Talk about multitasking! It lacks all the pretension of other stores. It is down-to-earth and exceptionally skilled at promoting positive body image. What more could a girl ask for?

WHAT ELSE?
I spent five weeks last winter at an orphanage in Ghana, dividing my time between developing fund-raising materials, taking the children to the hospital for checkups, tutoring, and playing soccer. I have also volunteered at an organic farm in Ireland, a holistic hotel in Scotland, and spent countless hours teaching English to local refugees. More recently, however, I have been devoting my time to local theater, downtown improvement and arts development in my hometown.