We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Natalie Sady. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Natalie below.
Alright, Natalie thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.
I began modelling when I was a small child. It was always something I had said i wanted to do full time ‘when I grew up’. I was fortunate that I was able to make that a reality in my life. There were small jobs when I was in my teens, but once I turned 21 it became a full time job. I was aware of how lucky I was being able to work in a different place and with a different team every day, and it wasn’t the 9-5 life. These people became my friends and while we worked hard, it didn’t feel like a grind, work was fun. I got to play dress ups every day, be with my friends and fellow creatives, I also met so many incredible people and experience things that not everyone does. While working, I always understood that a modelling career is usually fleeting, and if I wasn’t smart with the money I earned, at the end of it all I might have some great stories, but little else to show for it. So I made a point of setting myself up for the future. I was lucky and as I aged, my client base changed but the work kept coming in. Then an opportunity came up for me to move to Los Angeles.
Moving away from family and friends is always tough, those people are your support network. I had to decide if I was strong enough to make the move and take the chance. On top of that, I wan’t a 20 year old when this opportunity presented itself, I was a 36 year old woman who had an established career that was still thriving, I had a home, I had a whole life. Was I prepared to risk it all for what appeared to be a wonderful opportunity, or should I stay and keep walking the path I was on?
I chose to take the risk and see what this new opportunity held for me. I knew that the worst case scenario was that it didn’t turn out as I hoped, but I’d have a wonderful life experience and those who loved me would welcome me home with open arms. Alternatively, this opportunity could be then most amazing experience I’ve ever had.
There hasn’t been a single day that I have regretted my decision to take the leap. Not everything has turned out as I pictured in the beginning and settling in to a new life when I only knew a couple of people over here was a journey, but six years on I have an incredible network that support me and fill that void we have when we’re away from our families. The job opportunities have continued to present themselves to me and I have even been able to expand what I am doing and explore new facets of myself and discover talents I hadn’t previously been aware of.
Had I not taken the risk when the opportunity to move presented itself, I would have always been left with the question of ‘what if?’.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
My first job modelling was when I was about 5 years old. I’ll never forget, when it was time to walk out on that stage I was terrified and no amount of coaxing could get me on to that stage. The compromise was that one of the older girls would walk out there with me. Once out there though, I didn’t want to get off that stage. I loved the energy of a live audience. After sporadic jobs through my teen years, it was around the age of 21 that my career finally took off. I had always thought that if I didn’t have a successful career by the time I was 18, there was no chance for me in the industry. Little did I know that for me the work got better the older I got. I’m not sure if that was because of the clients wanting older models or if it was because the older I got the more confident I was in my own skin and in who I was as a person. I was working full time, filming commercials for Renault and Nestle Yoghurt. I did campaigns for Jason Grech, Windsor Smith, Target and Beauty Without Cruelty. There were regular appearances on The Price Is Right Australia and I was a regular at the Melbourne Spring Carnival dressed almost exclusively by Melbourne designer David Medwin. I walked countless time in Melbourne Fashion Week.
Finding myself single in 2013, they were casting for season one of The Bachelor Australia. It wasn’t a show I had any interest in being on, but the universe kept pushing me in that direction. I ultimately submitted an application 30 minutes before the deadline, and just a few short weeks later I was in Sydney and a part of the show. I didn’t find love on the show, but what an experience to have, and at the same time I was able to have a front row seat to a beautiful love story that still continues to this day. Anna and Tim are not only still married but are currently expecting their second child.
I now find myself in my 40’s and I am the face of the female apparel for High Vibe TV. Working with High Vibe has been an incredible blessing as I am not just the face on the website, I get to have a voice when I am on the show Full Disclosure each week with celebrity astrologer, David Palmer, The Leo King and The Golden Thread with Dr Anne Wohlcke and tamara Jean. I am working with the new Australian active wear brand Canary B Active, and Colosseum Active.
On top of all of this I have launched my own interview series, which is available on Youtube and Rumble where I am able to explore all of the topics and issues that I find interesting. I have interviewed Robert F Kennedy Jnr, Dr Pierre Kory, Actor Daniel Hall, Project Rescue Children’s CEO Adam Whittington, Dr Ed Group and so many more fascinating people. In a time where it’s sometimes frowned upon to ask questions about certain topics I want to have real and deep conversations and learn why people see things so differently.
As a model it’s easy to be perceived as being nothing more than how you look. I’m proud of the fact that I have created a life where I am able to build upon the career I carved out for myself and show people that I am multifaceted, that I have depth and I don’t have to fit in to a box that someone else has put me in to. I am also proud of the fact that I am in my 40’s and my career is still thriving, age is truly just a number.
Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?
I’m not sure this is so much about a resource I wish I knew about early in my career, but it’s something I wish someone had told me. I married my high school sweetheart when I was 22. We had a home and a dog and I’ve never been one to drink and party. When we would finish a fashion parade there was often an event or afterparty that would take place. I rarely went because I wanted to be home with my husband and my dog. Little did I know that while everyone else was out they were networking. They were networking with the designers, photographers, casting agents, the people that were working hard backstage getting us dressed and out on to that stage looking like we had it all together. As people careers progressed those people working back stage became the casting agents and designers in their own right and those connections forged at the after parties served those models who did go, very well.
It’s not that you need to party all night or even drink, but networking is everything!
When you are given the opportunity to be in a place to network, take it. It’s not about what opportunity will be presented to you immediately or even the next week. When you nurture relationships, you don’t need to seek out opportunities they will be presented to you.
Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?
Social media is a tricky one. I feel like everything is so over saturated right now and with the current algorithms we rarely see the posts of the people we follow and instead see whatever it is they want to recommend for us, which is beyond frustrating both as someone trying to catch up on the lives of those I do follow and as someone who posts to grow my following. I was told countless times that I needed to pick a topic and post about that to build a following and only once you have a large following can you show the other parts of your life or personality. I completely disagree. I have always believed authenticity trumps any theory on how to build a following. People want realness rather than an overly curated version of life.
I have always led an active lifestyle so that gets showcased on my page, I post about my interviews and whatever else is important to me and I find the engagement I get is consistent because I’m attracting the right followers. Someone can have a million followers, but if they’re not getting the engagement, you have to ask why.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.nataliesady.com
- Instagram: @missnataliesady https://www.instagram.com/missnataliesady/
- Facebook: Natalie Sady https://www.facebook.com/missnataliesady
- Linkedin: Natalie Sady https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-sady-60019799/
- Twitter: @missnataliesady https://twitter.com/MissNatalieSady
- Youtube: @MissNatalieSady https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuXm_ZITPZ5hK6hgldY3Kfg
- Other: TikTok: @missnataliesady https://www.tiktok.com/@missnataliesady
Image Credits
The two head shots were taken by Brian Parillo. The shot in the pink leggings and green top are from the brand Canary B Active The photo int he purple sweats is from brand Colosseum Active The remaining two photos in the High Vibe T shirt and the crop with the tower card on it are from the High Vibe TV merchandise