Nikki : Everyone is beautiful in their own unique way, scars and history included

You've been in front of the camera since your mother first placed you there in middle school. What did that early experience feel like, and how has your relationship with being photographed evolved since then?

During that very first experience, I was incredibly nervous! I had no idea how to stand or pose until my mother told me to just be myself. Since then, my relationship with the camera has evolved beautifully. I still get a little shy for the first few minutes of a shoot, but I warm up quickly and step confidently into my modeling space.

Twenty-six years as a cancer survivor is a profound chapter of your life. How has that experience reshaped the way you see yourself when you look at images of yourself?

Being a survivor has reshaped how I view myself my entire life. For a very long time, my medical history felt like something to hide or be embarrassed about. Now, I carry it with immense pride. Looking at my final images really puts things into perspective for me; it reinforces the belief that everyone is beautiful in their own unique way, scars and history included.

Modeling on your "good days" requires a particular kind of intentionality. How do you prepare — mentally and physically — to step in front of a camera when your health allows?

Preparation starts the day before. I make a conscious effort to relax as much as possible to conserve my physical and mental energy. This usually looks like a quiet day spent resting, listening to podcasts, or getting lost in a good book so I can show up to set feeling refreshed.

There's a version of beauty in fashion that is very narrow. Do you feel your presence in this industry challenges that, and is that something you carry consciously?

I absolutely feel that my presence challenges those narrow standards, and it is something I carry with intention. For years, the industry projected the idea that models had to fit a very specific, able-bodied mold. As someone living with disabilities, breaking into this space allows me to challenge that outdated narrative every time I step on set.

Living with multiple health conditions means your relationship with your body is complex. How does modeling serve as a space to reconnect with it — or does it?

Modeling forces me to take a step back and appreciate my body from a new perspective. When I look at the final images, I realize that despite my internal health struggles, my body is capable of creating art. It gives me a space to have fun, push my limits, and prove that I can channel energy into something creative and beautiful.

What does a shoot feel like on a good day, when everything aligns? Can you describe the experience of being in that moment?

A shoot on a good day is pure, vibrant energy and fun! Being in that moment is incredibly liberating—everything else fades away, and your entire focus narrows down to the camera and the rhythm of your poses. The pain, the stress, and the outside world suddenly feel so far away.

Your mother was your first collaborator, in a sense. What do you think she saw in you then that you've come to see in yourself now?

My mom has always told me I was beautiful, but because she's my mom, I didn't truly believe her for years. It wasn't until I formally got into modeling over a year ago and saw my very first professional set of pictures that it finally clicked. I was in complete awe of what we created, and that was the exact moment I realized she had been right all along.

Survivorship is often described as a second life. In what ways has it influenced the stories you want to tell through the images you create?

It drives me to use my platform as a living testament that you can pursue your passions no matter who you are or what challenges you face. Through my images, I want to tell a story of resilience and encourage others to always pursue what makes them truly happy, regardless of their circumstances.

Many people define strength through overcoming. But how would you define your strength — the kind that shows up quietly, on an ordinary Tuesday?

I would define my strength as quiet but deeply enduring. Overcoming major life obstacles is part of my history, but true strength is the steady, silent determination to keep moving forward on the days when the world isn't watching.

Fashion and modeling are industries built around energy and output. How do you navigate the pressure to perform when your reality is shaped by days you cannot always predict?

For me, it is entirely about collaborating with the right people. Finding photographers who are understanding, compassionate, and willing to work with my body makes all the difference. On some shoots, I may need to sit or lay down for the entire duration, but we adapt, communicate, and work through it together to still capture stunning images.

If someone living with a chronic illness or navigating recovery looked at one of your photographs, what would you want them to feel?

I want them to look at my photos and feel a sense of possibility. I want them to know that their diagnoses don't define their limits, that they are worthy of being seen, and that they can achieve anything they set their minds to.

What does the next chapter of your modeling journey look like — not as a plan, but as a feeling or an image you hold in your mind?

The next chapter feels incredibly fresh and imaginative. In my mind, I see myself stepping deep into nature for outdoor concepts and exploring ethereal, fantasy-themed shoots. I am so excited to bring those worlds to life!

Model: Nikki, Model @nikkijeanmodeling

Photographer: John F. Jones @johnjones6574