Meet Lily Grace Klinar | Model, fashion stylist & rising influencer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lily Grace Klinar and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lily Grace, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
All my life I’ve been a creative, and involved in the creative industry. I started singing and playing the guitar when I was 8, which led me down an acting path as a teenager. Where I went to high school the creative paths weren’t as encouraged and talked about. It was always my dream to be involved in fashion and modeling, but something I never thought would be my reality. I’ve loved fashion since I was a little girl, playing dress up at 5 and now getting to play dress up for a living is the most surreal feeling. I knew when I was 3 and styling myself, that this is what I was meant to do. I realized the creative industry was my true calling, when I attended college for a semester and I was seriously struggling. I found myself caring a lot more about the design, and the art of things. I started struggling in school and I felt so lost, struggling to know where I belonged. Ultimately I decided it wasn’t for me, and moved home. I knew I wanted to do fashion, and maybe go into fashion design and styling, but when I moved away I finally took it as my opportunity to start a new and chase my dreams.

I knew for a fact I wanted to go into social media influencing/marketing. I created it all based on the things I love the most, and what is apart of my everyday life. Fashion has always been what I love most, so I knew I wanted that to be the center of what I do. I didn’t want to be mainly known for fashion, so I started incorporating beauty, lifestyle, and even comedy. With social media, I wanted to keep it as real and authentic as possible, and I wanted to make sure the audience could truly see my personality. It was always important to me that my audience is able to relate to me. I always wanted it to come across like being on FaceTime with a friend. Once I started modeling, I started incorporating that as well. I started doing behind the scenes, and get ready with me’s for my shoots. That’s when I noticed people were actually loving that kind of content the most, and I had found my calling.

While modeling has become my main focus, I still want to incorporate all the content I was creating before. While being a model is my ultimate dream I still have the hopes of being a content creator, starting a podcast one day, acting, etc.. Fashion has taken over as my daily content. Ever since I started modeling, I have styled all of my own shoots. Everything you see me wearing on my social media, I have bought and own myself either for my daily wear or specifically for that shoot. I’ve started to become a lot more elaborate with my styling, buying everything down to the accessories for one specific shoot. As we speak I have 28 outfits styled down to the earrings, that all each match one specific concept that I have come up with. As I’ve gotten more into styling myself, I’ve had photographers start asking me to style their shoots. When I got that first question to style a shoot, that’s when I knew fashion was my true niche. The creative industry has always been my calling, and I truly couldn’t be more grateful for my experience so far.

What sets you apart from others? Was it easy getting to where you are?
I think what sets me apart from others in my art and creative path, is my determination and work ethic. I have only been modeling for 1 year, so with what I have been able to achieve in that 1 year I feel very proud of myself. I am also the most proud of my determination, and how hard I work. Right now I am feeling the most excited that my hard work and determination has gotten me booked to walk in 5 swim weeks this upcoming season, walking in Art Basel Miami swim week coming up this December, which will be my first swim week or show ever! I couldn’t feel more excited, blessed, grateful, and proud of myself! The second I had my first photoshoot and heard the camera shutter for the first time, I was absolutely determined and would stop at nothing to make my modeling dream my reality. Since the moment I made that decision, I haven’t quit. I am constantly working on my craft, every second of every day. If I’m not shooting I’m thinking about it, planning it, styling it, shopping for it, etc.. Modeling and fashion are truly my biggest passions, and I think having a love for it the way that I do is what has truly gotten me to this point. I truly love what I do, and since I started I have been nothing but determined to just get better and better as a model. Constantly working on my craft, and never once quitting is how I’ve gotten to where I am.

I would say it definitely wasn’t easy. I feel that I worked so extremely hard and put in so much work, time, and effort to get to where I am. I have worked so hard at what I do, and it truly can be hard work. It’s definitely not easy, but I think if you have the right mindset, and you’re determined, then there is nothing you can’t do. Modeling, like anything, is something I truly feel like you have to put in the hard work and effort to succeed. I overcame challenges I’ve faced by never giving up, and never listening to anyone else. I am doing what makes me happy, and I just try not to care about what anyone else thinks. Telling myself the only competition is myself is the mindset I try to have. No matter what, no matter what anyone said, I never quit and I just kept going even harder.

I really just learned in order to be truly happy with yourself, you can’t compare and you can’t think about what anyone else thinks or says. Comparison is the thief of joy. This is a tough industry, and not everyone is going to like you, and you’re not going to be like everyone else. If you’re doing what makes you happy, just keep going and keep doing you. I want the world to know that in this industry, and through fashion and modeling I want to inspire others! I want to inspire you to be yourself, to be confident in your own skin. Never compare yourself to others, and never let anyone steal your light. I let people steal my light all my life, and modeling and fashion is what finally allowed me to express myself, be myself, and not care what anyone else thinks. I also want people to never give up, and never give up on your dreams. If you told me two years ago, this is what I’d being doing and where I would be, I would genuinely not believe you. What I am doing has and was always my dream, but I never thought it was achievable. For years I struggled and let others beat my light and my confidence down, but chasing my dreams and just going for it is what completely changed my mindset. It took me a long time to get to where I am now, and to have the confidence and mindset I have now. I want to make a difference in this industry, and I want to make an impact. I just want the world to know I wasn’t always this way, and that anything is possible if you believe and never give up!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If my best friend was visiting the area the first place I would take them is The Breakfast Boys for the best mouthwatering waffles. I would also take them to some other to die for breakfast spots like Pancake Social, and Poach Social. I’m a huge coffee girl, and I love a local cafe, so I would definitely take them to Momo Cafe! Coffee spots are definitely my weakness, so they definitely aren’t leaving until we go to Bloom Coffee Co., and Ash Coffee. I’m a sweet treat girl, so my final cafe stop has to be The Salty for the best coffee and donuts!

I would have to take them to Ponce City Market for a fun afternoon of shopping, and a walk along the beltline. I absolutely love a cute boutique, so I’m definitely taking them into Virginia Highlands to stop by Virginia Highland Books, Dakota J’s, Tuscany at your table, and Paper source. While we’re over there we’d have no choice but to stop by Academy Coffee!

Can’t forget to get dinner at El Potro Mexican Restaurant, for the best chips and salsa I have ever had. Lastly we’ll pop over to Atlantic Station for some more shopping, and HOBNOB for dinner!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
If I were to list every single person who this is dedicated to, it would be a book long. First off I want to thank and dedicate this shoutout to my amazing mom and dad. They are truly the most supportive loving parents in this world. From my mom helping me with my hair, to my dad taking me to 3 shoots in one day. They both have dropped everything countless times to get my career to where it is now. Overall their love and support has just meant everything. To feel that love and support, and to just know it’s always there and it being from your parents is just truly the most amazing feeling.

I also want to thank all my friends, my boyfriend, the love and support they all have shown me throughout this whole process and journey, has meant more to me than any of them will ever know. I truly could not be where I am without them.

Lastly I would like to thank and dedicate this to all the amazing photographers, models, and other amazing creatives I have met that have supported me and inspired me every single day. I have a very special thank you specifically to all the photographers who I feel absolutely honored to have had my picture taken by, thank you!!! Your pictures and shoots are truly why I am where I am today. Just an enormous thank you to everyone in my life who has helped me get to this point, I truly couldn’t be more blessed to have such an amazing support system.

Instagram: @lilygraceklinar

Other: Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lilygraceklinar

Image Credits
@rylanwrightphotography
@ctabphotography
@willbelcher_
@robertrainboww
@leo_thevisualist
@s.a_visualz
@rylanwrightphotography
@tenorsphotography_
@rylanwrightphotography