Meet Sarah Gullixson of Los Angeles

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah Gullixson.

Hi Sarah, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I was scouted as a model when I was 14, during the summer between my freshman year of high school and my sophomore year. At the time, I was being heavily bullied for being a redhead. I attended a fashion show when I was 14, where I was scouted by an editor from Vogue. That moment marked the beginning of my modeling career.

At 16, my portrait went viral worldwide through the Atlas of Beauty project, garnering approximately 40 million views through international press. The story even became a segment on Oprah. Soon after, I began traveling to New York regularly for modeling.

At 17, my portrait was featured at the Met Gala because the designer, Noa Ravive, I had modeled for was showcased in Anna Wintour’s highly coveted fashion exhibition. This modeling feature was also featured in Vogue Brazil. After that, I traveled to Italy and Paris to pursue modeling internationally. I walked in fashion shows and became the face of a collaboration between Vogue Italia and Martini. That collaboration subsequently led to my image being featured on the walls along the red carpet at the Formula 1 event in Italy. In addition, during the time I dated the Porsche driver of F1. People in Italy started to heavily associate me with F1 since they saw me photographed both with one of the drivers and also modeling for Martini.

In addition, enormous photographs of me were featured at Vogue Italia’s Fashion Week closing party for two consecutive years. This opened the door for me to travel regularly to New York City, where I became a recurring cover model for magazines such as Elle and L’Officiel.

Designers in New York began taking notice, and my career expanded into beauty modeling as well. I became the face of campaigns for Maybelline, CoverGirl, Fenty, and many others.

When Michael Kors and I worked together, he told me that I had the most beautiful red hair he had ever seen in his life. Designers began inviting me to private events and parties. I attended Donna Karan’s birthday celebration and perfume launches for Jason Wu, who selected me as one of his muses.

I also modeled for Gucci for 10 years and became known as the “Gucci Girl.” Through my work with Vogue and Elle, I found myself being featured and reposted by major fashion houses such as Balenciaga and Fendi. I started modeling for Adam Lipps where Vanessa Getty personally told me I was her favorite Model.

As I began sharing these experiences online, my content accumulated more than one billion views on TikTok. I later expanded to Instagram, where one of my outfit videos garnered five million views and inspired an entire fashion week collection.

Oscar De La Renta’s team discovered me during this time. Creative director of Oscar De La Renta Fernando Garcia said I was one of their favorite models. I walked in 5 shows for Oscar De La Renta.

After that I got the attention of Victoria’s Secret. I am one of their official brand partners and influencers. I love Victoria’s Secret and have found working with them to be a dream. I love attending all of their parties in LA and getting to know the VS girls.

Next came Milan Fashion Week, where I went viral internationally and was featured in British Vogue. I walked for Lara Dizeyee, whose finale ended with a standing ovation. The entire room erupted as I and three other models closed out Milan Fashion Week, walking as if we were planets orbiting the sun.

After Milan, I headed to Paris Fashion Week, where I walked in 12 shows in a single week. It was the craziest week of my life. I garnered significant attention from the French press, but my schedule was so packed that I barely had enough time to move between shows, let alone sit down for an interview. Out of the 12 shows I walked in, I closed five.

And now, I’m back in Paris, shooting international fashion campaigns and walking in Fashion Week once again.

What began at 14 with a chance encounter at a fashion show has taken me around the world—from New York to Milan and Paris—and given me the opportunity to work with some of the biggest names in fashion and beauty. I never could have imagined where that first opportunity would lead me.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Growing up, I experienced some deeply traumatic things. My family was incredibly strong and united, and there was always an abundance of love in our home. Looking naturally like a model may seem like a dream, but sometimes, things are not what they appear to be.

One of the most traumatic aspects of being a young woman who stands out physically is the reality of facing safety and security threats. When I was alone I experienced some very traumatizing things. Growing up at 5’8” at 10 years old, a size 0, with red hair and blue eyes, I experienced multiple attempted kidnappings. I was able to escape because I could run extremely fast; my track coaches even considered me for the Olympics. My mother was also a Junior Olympian in track and field, so I suppose the apple didn’t fall far from the tree. It was a miracle of God that I was able to run faster than grown men as a 10 year old.

However, experiencing that level of trauma as a child profoundly affected me. I became afraid to leave the house and simply live my life. I never wanted to be alone. I found myself wearing oversized clothes, hoodies, and hats in an attempt to hide my body and my appearance. I wanted to disappear rather than attract attention.

Over time, though, I slowly learned to embrace the way I look. I learned to love standing out, to appreciate the features that once made me feel vulnerable, and to embrace my identity as a model with my red hair and blue eyes.

But there was a time in my childhood when I was genuinely afraid to be beautiful.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
What I am most proud of in my work is my ability to inspire people to pursue their dreams, regardless of where they come from. I truly believe that with hard work, determination, and perseverance, anyone can achieve their dreams.

I have grown up existing between two very different worlds, and I believe that experience has shaped who I am today. I attended public school in Concord before receiving two scholarships that allowed me to attend private middle school and, later, private high school. I am from Concord but I did spend half of my time in the city in Noey Valley with my god parents. Growing up, I experienced both struggle and extraordinary privilege. Some of the friends I grew up with in my neighborhood went on to become highly in the rap game in Los Angeles, while I was also exposed to immense wealth through relatives and changes in my family’s careers. One of my family members married into the Webb Chandler family that famously owned the Los Angeles Times and the Chandler Pavillion. The best way to describe the dichotomy of my personality is to listen to the song Big Film by Bobby Brackins, G-Eazy, and Jeremih, since it was written partially about me. It explains certain aspects of my personality fairly well. One day I’m at a movie premiere in Hollywood and the next I am just the girl next door from Concord.

Having experienced such different environments taught me not to view the world from a single perspective. I think that is part of why my followers gravitate toward me: I see the world through many different lenses, and I remain grounded in who I am and where I come from. I am both the girl next door and the girl on the cover of a magazine.

At the end of the day, I’m proud to be down-to-earth and deeply connected to my roots. I want people to see my story and believe that their circumstances do not have to define their future. No matter where you come from, I want to show people that it is possible to dream big, work hard, and create the life you want.

Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
My two greatest passions growing up were theater and singing. I loved expressing myself onstage and performing for an audience. I was fascinated by the costumes, and many of my closest friends were part of the cast. I was a theater girl through and through.

I learned complicated ballroom dance routines and performed “I Will Survive” onstage. The theater program I participated in was called Standing Ovations, founded by Barrett Lindsay Steiner. My dance coach for most of the productions was Ben Bogan, a Broadway star who played Olaf in Frozen the musical. At 14, I also starred as Peter Pan, singing in front of 600 people each night for six performances. At the time, I thought I might pursue theater professionally, especially because many of Barrett’s students went on to work on Broadway or in Hollywood.

As an adult, I understand why theater appealed to me so deeply. I loved being challenged to memorize hundreds of lines and five musical numbers in just three weeks. Through Barrett Lindsay Steiner’s program, I became comfortable performing onstage and learned how to work under pressure. I believe that experience has contributed significantly to my success in modeling because it taught me to remain confident, focused, and composed in the spotlight.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahgullixson?stkn=MXhmcGdxenE1ZGlqcA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61584129892819&mibextid=wwXIfr
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@sarahgullix?si=G3idnd8qqGBz4Jog
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@sarahgullix?_r=1&_t=ZT-9A07N8ySiDN