Tell us about yourself.

My name is Maggie L. my Chinese name is Lín Zhì Líng. I am 23 years old. I was born and raised in Manhattan NY. I currently reside in Jersey city, NJ. I just graduated in May with a Bachelors in Human Resource Management from Rutgers University. For a long time I was afraid to chase for my dreams in fashion and modeling. Until recently I learned that it was important that I put my happiness first and live a life that I dream. Instead of sitting at home and dream about it, I decided to make it happen and actually live it. 

What is your biggest dream?

My biggest dream is to make a comfortable living to give my parents the retirement that they deserve. And at the same time being a positive role model to the communities that I touch. I want to inspire individuals around me with my up-beat energy and create a legacy that will be remembered forever in my linage. 

What does it mean to be your own kind of beautiful?

To be my own kind of beautiful is to be able to love yourself despite the flaws and mistakes. Feeling beautiful is to be confident in yourself and know what you want. I think one of the most essential aspect to feeling beautiful is understanding yourself. With a better view and concise observation of who you are, your thoughts, ideas, and emotions one can gradually learn to accept all of it. I feel most beautiful when I’m in front of the camera.

Tell us about your modeling experience. 

I have been a freelance model since I was 20 years old. It began when I remodeled my Instagram and local photographers were intrigued by my fashion style. They reached out for collaborations and one project lead to another. Soon it became a hobby. I grew more confident each year and learned so much about myself. I was amazed at how confident I became. I thought these days would never come. After graduating college I decided to take a more professional route with my hobby and make it into a career. Modeling allowed me to feel beautiful and confident. I felt like I could be anything in front of the camera! 

What is your dream brand to model for?

My dream brand to model for would be Nike and Gucci. Nike’s team is so diverse and I want to be part of a creative team with such openness to different cultures. Gucci’s brand is elegant, chic, colorful and inspiring to me. It would be a dream come true if I get to work with brands like Nike and Gucci. 

How would you describe your fashion style?

My fashion style is unpredictable! My closet is full of various styles. Some days I’m into street wear, other days I’m feeling more flirty and girly. My wardrobe right now is complied with colorful themes, warm tones, neutrals, silks, pastels, ruffles, menswear and animal prints. After caring for and loving myself, I was able to be discover all parts of myself. I learned that I am very spontaneous and adventures. These characteristics allow me to venture out of my comfort zone and try different things. This is how my wardrobe became so unpredictable and playful. 

How important is self-awareness and confidence to you in your everyday life?

Confident and self awareness is extremely important to me. Without either one of these two, it is impossible to feel motivated. What I do to keep myself feeling confident is spend time alone and self reflect. I clean my room, put on a face mask, light a candle, play and nice playlist and I just relax for the day. I always treat at least one day to myself in the week. Just like any other relationship, you must make an effort to spend time with each other. I think it applies to yourself too. Making time for yourself allow you to enjoy your own company. When you feel confident with yourself, you can feel confident anywhere you go because you are sure of who you are and what you want in life. 

What makes you beautiful? 

I think what makes me most beautiful is how I carry myself. I’m always attentive, genuine, engaged, joyful and creative. These characteristics allow me to create authentic relationships with people.

What would you say to another girl your age who is struggling with their confidence?

 For those who are struggling with confidence, I would tell them this one piece of advice: never doubt your worth. No one gets to decide how much you are worth but you. You set that. Never settle.