Millions have seen her but few know her name. This is the ironic reality of thegifted, young, fashion supermodel Ali Stephens, who uses the TranscendentalMeditation technique as a tool for success. In three short years, Stephens has gone from open call,beginner to exclusive Paris feature; from awkward high school teen to aclothing designers dream.
0 0 0Millions have seen her but few know her name. This is the ironic reality of thegifted, young, fashion supermodel Ali Stephens, who uses the TranscendentalMeditation technique as a tool for success. In three short years, Stephens has gone from open call,beginner to exclusive Paris feature; from awkward high school teen to aclothing designers dream.
Discovered by an Elite Model Management scout while shoppingwith her family, the Salt Lake City resident was initially hesitant about alife in the glamour biz of fashion.However, after careful thought and consultation with her family,Stephens has braved the catwalk and grabbed the fashion world by the tail.
In just a few years, her innocent beauty and natural actingskills have propelled her to the top of the cover girl scene. To date, Stephens has appeared on thefront page of ten of Vogues worldwide publications. In 2009 Stephens graced the runway as an exclusive for theCalvin Klein Spring show. She thenposed in CK Jeans for world-renowned, fashion photographer, Steven Meisel,which confirmed her place as one of the brightest stars in the fashionuniverse.
At the same time, Stephens meteoric rise has not createdthe comet-like burn out experienced by many other young talents in theentertainment and fashion industries. Instead Stephens has a rather simple andinnocent approach to her work. Hersheepish admission that the first time she bought a fashion magazine was whenher picture was on the cover is a prime example. Stephens also chooses her Mormon faith and the peace of theTranscendental Meditation technique over celebrity events and late nightparties.
In a recent interview with David Lynch Foundation Television(Above Video) Stephens explained that her 10-year practice of the TranscendentalMeditation technique is a big part of her life. Shes also a fan of awardwinning director, David Lynch and his initiative to bring the TranscendentalMeditation technique to at-risk youth who apply to learn the meditation afterobtaining their parents permission.According to Stephens, its incredible what he is doing and she feelsthe program could really benefit not only students but their parents as well.
In person, Stephens is unassuming, soft-spoken, happy andvery, very, relaxed. After a fewminutes of listening to her talk, its obvious that despite her new-found fame,she has retained her small town values and finds comfort in a self image thatis humble, healthy and balanced.Not quite what youd expect from an 18 year old whose face appears on aone hundred foot billboard. Itseems that her family values and practice of the Transcendental Meditationtechnique have helped her adjust to the recent and rapid changes in her life.
Stephens is also a strong supporter of environmental issuesand although she hails from the land locked, high desert of Salt Lake City, sheis passionate about ocean preservation. See a recent article where Ali hosts acelebration for ocean conservation. Stephens was a cross-country runner in HighSchool and her athletic legs that have carried her to excellence on the fashionrunway.
Its ironic that the same limbs that propel her career arealso found silent, in crossed-legged position, while sitting at home or on aParisian hotel bed, deep in meditation. So regardless of whether you seeStephens with her eyes open on the runway or closed in meditation, she isalways a memorable sight and the next time you find her on the cover of yourfavorite fashion magazine, youwill also remember her face and remember her name. Because its all about thegirl they call Ali.