When I was a model, I believed that being healthy meant eating salads all day. But in hindsight, I realize how misinformed I was about true health and wellness. During that time, I developed unhealthy eating habits and struggled with body dysmorphia. Eventually, I no longer wanted to live this version of life. I knew I needed to reclaim my life. I wanted to truly understand how to care for my body and mind, so I enrolled in the Institute for Integrative Nutrition—and for the first time in a long time, I felt genuinely excited about the future.
I was beyond fascinated by what I was learning about holistic health. Coming from a family that wasn’t educated about wellness, this was all completely new to me, and I couldn’t get enough of it. I became so captivated that I even considered pursuing a Naturopathic degree, but unfortunately, I didn’t have the financial means to make it happen. After earning my AADP Board Certified Holistic Health Coach certificate, I grew even more curious about the connection between food and medicine. I quickly realized that food isn’t just fuel—it plays a fundamental role in healing the body, supporting vitality, and enhancing overall well-being. That’s when I made the exciting decision to enroll at The Institute of Culinary Education. At the time, I was working full-time , so I could only take part-time classes to afford tuition.
Enrolling in culinary school was wild ride. I was surprised how much of a natural I was in the kitchen.
to be continued
Hi, I’m Victoria!
Welcome to my website, I'm so excited that you're here! In case this is our first time meeting, here's a little about me.
In my 20s, I was chasing my dream of making it as a model in New York City. Signed with Muse Models, I spent my days running to castings, doing test shoots, and commuting over an hour from New Jersey five days a week. I can still picture myself changing from flats to heels on the sidewalk before walking into castings, always doing my best to make the most of every opportunity.
As I entered my late 20s, I began to feel the pressure of being in an industry where youth is often seen as the only currency. My passion for a dream I had once been obsessed with started to fade, and at 27, I made the difficult decision to step away from modeling. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to pursue next and felt directionless. So, I began working in hospitality, hoping it would give me the space to reconnect with myself and figure out the next step in my life.
That same year, my love for animals sparked a major shift—I became vegetarian.That decision deeply shaped my life and career, leading me to where I am today: a vegetarian blogger and plant-forward chef, sharing my journey with you. Although I didn’t realize it at the time, that choice also unlocked a new path for me—I began to lead my life with spirit and trust my intuition.
