Meet Kristy

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

Hi Kristy, do you have a favorite quote or affirmation?
My favorite quote is from the Bible. It is, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Phillipians 4:13. This verse has literally brought me through my young age to today. It is so significant to me that I have it tattooed across my right foot.
My mom and dad were divorced when I was a 6 year old. I did not know this verse at that time in my life, but it did bring me through the consequences of this divorce and the life of a kid living between two parents as I got older. This verse has strengthened me during my young years as an insecure junior high student, enabling me to move from my hometown to a small town where my mom grew up. I was trying to improve my surroundings and friends, but was scared to move as I had never lived anywhere but my home town. It strengthened me while I had to be my own advisor as no one in my state knew what my major was or how to advise me to work toward it. I also was the only person in my immediate family to have gone to college so this was also something that I needed strength to pursue. I had to work full time while going to school full time in a competitive program of Occupational Therapy. I leaned on this verse as I had to be strong for my three children while I divorced their dad secondary to abuse. I had to ensure that we were physically, emotionally, financially and spiritually safe. This verse also brought me strength during my move back home to New Mexico as I had been recruited back to start a Adaptive Driver’s Program in this state. I was really hesitant to move back as I had been at an amazing hospital in Tennessee for 13 years and had the best friends of my life that I was leaving. I then leaned on this verse as I had to navigate the judicial system as my kids had to be removed from their father for a short time. Then my middle son became very ill and had life threatening conditions twice within one year. One of the most crucial times that I leaned on this verse was while I and my current husband as well as our youngest son, took care of my mom, who had dementia, for the the last 8 years of her life.
Most recently, I have leaned on this verse to navigate getting into the field of modeling as a person in my age bracket. I felt it important to use this platform to help others realize that their circumstances don’t have to define them.
They can try new things, start new careers, begin new relationships, etc and reinvent themselves. It has taken a lot of work, risk taking and trust to get into this amazing field and it has been a blast. I am so thankful for this verse on the days that it is difficult.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am blessed to have two careers! I have been an Occupational Therapist for the past 31 years and have been honored to help hundreds of clients and families navigate through catastrophic injuries, illnesses as well as helping people with orthopedic and arthritic condition, increase their independence with less pain. This career, has also given me the opportunity to teach my peers through continuing education courses as well as teaching new Occupational Therapists at the University level. This career has really shaped me and helped me see my own potential as I have helped other’s see theirs. I could spend hours focusing on this career as I am so honored to be in the field of Occupational therapy.
However, today I would like to tell you about my relatively new career, Modeling.

Just prior to the pandemic, I started my modeling career. I started to model as a means to inspire other people to realize that they can reinvent themselves at any age and despite any past circumstances. I had emerged from an abusive 13 year marriage, had remarried, regained my health emotionally, physically and spiritually. Modeling also gave me a platform to be an example to young men and women. I want to show young people that they don’t have to compromise themselves to be successful. My platform has been one that promised to not to pose nude, or in my underwear. My choice, as I want to honor my husband and feel that my body is for him, not any one else. If I could succeed with this type of boundary, as well as being a non-traditional age, then for sure, younger people can succeed, even making boundaries that are similar. I have seen so many young people feel that they have to make images that are compromising, and quite frankly, not true modeling, thinking that this is what they need to do to get started.
I have found, that what really gets you the jobs and the success, is a strong work ethic, being able to hear “no” and not take it personally, be prompt and on time, have a team work mentality. You need to exude confidence without being rude or conceited. Being a good networker is also key. This industry is hard work, but so fun and truly inspiring. I have met so many incredible people. People with God given gifts of talent including the designers, the photographers, the stylists and the models themselves. Modeling takes real skill. You have to understand angles, be willing to get into physically grueling positions, have good endurance and resilience. You are often asked to pose in extreme temperatures and not let it show in your expression. It is so satisfying to work as a team and come up with incredible images and moments that show the piece of clothing, the jewelry or the vision of the project as the creators had envisioned it to happen.

You ask, how did I get where I am professionally and if it was easy. I can honestly say, that in my OT as well as my Modeling career, I got where I am today leaning into my faith, hard work, knowing how to ask for help when I needed direction, and treating others with respect. I am the only person in my immediate family who ever completed college and the only one who also pursued a creative career, in Modeling. I worked full time when I went to college, getting my training to become an OT and I have also worked full time while learning and working in the industry of. modeling. You have to have a strong work ethic to do it this way. You also need a good support system to help you get through the difficulties of this type of schedule. It has not been easy. When I was in college, I was hospitalized 2 times for dehydration, as I was not taking good care of myself. Now, as a professional OT and trying to grow my modeling career, it again has been difficult. I could not do it without the support and sacrifice that my husband puts forth. He takes care of the house, the dogs, running errands for me as well as coming with me to shoots to help carry my wardrobe, support me, help me feel safe in new situations, etc.
I feel that anything worth pursuing often takes hard work, sacrifice and sweat equity. It is worth it in the end, for sure.

In modeling, I am most proud of the relationships that I have formed with the young models whom I have the honor to work with. I have a few who even call me their model mom. I had one young woman tell her mom, that she did not have to worry that she couldn’t be there for the event we were working, as I would be, and she felt safe with me. That is the best honor I could ever ask for. Trust is paramount.

I guess what I want the world to know about my brand and story, related to OT as well as Modeling, is one of integrity, kindness, and quality of work. I do everything I do as if I am doing it for God.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If my best friend were to come see me, I would need more than a week! She is coming from Tennessee and it is so different here. I would really love her to come see me in the fall as I feel that this is the best time of year in Albuquerque, where I currently live. We have the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta that I would love to share with her. It is the most photographed event in the world. People, literally from all over the world, come to Albuquerque in October to experience this incredible event. We would definately have to have breakfast burritos and mini donuts while there walking amongst the beautiful people and balloons. I would take her to my favorite coffee shop, Cutbow Coffee every day she was here for sure. This coffee shop is so special because of the amazing coffee, obviously, but mostly because of the people who run the place. The owner, Paul, was a master coffee roaster at Pete’s Coffee in San Francisco, prior to coming home to start his coffee shop. He fashioned his shop name and interior decor in honor of his dad, who was a master fisherman. He is very family oriented and his sister also works for him. His employees, are all incredible people who are warm, kind and hard working. Coffee here is an experience that is world class. I would take her to Historic Old Town in downtown Albuquerque. There are beautiful shops full of indigenous jewelry and fashions, as well as Mexican and Spanish fashions and furniiture that define the diversity or our amazing state. There is a historic Catholic Church in the center of Old Town that is beautiful to visit and across the street is the center of Old Town with a gazebo where traditional Mariachi’s play and sing, indigenous dancers show their skills and weddings happen on the regular. It is a magical area of our town. We would also have to visit Sandia Peak and ride the Tramway to the top. It is the longest Tram in North America, and fun fact, my grandfather was one of the people who helped to build it. Two of my sons have also worked there when in high school. It is part of the city’s history as well as part of ours. We would of course, have to spend a day in Santa Fe experiencing the amazing artisans, there as well. In Santa Fe, I would have to take her to my sweet friend’s at Chipeta Trading, to experience learning how ancient indigenous artisans made the beautiful jewelry that they sell. They sell jewelry from the early 1900’s and the profits are given to indigenous individuals for college tuition. Chipeta Trading is an incredible group, who do incredible work.
El Pinto, in Albuquerque, is a destination that I would round her trip out with. We would have dinner, sitting outside, as they have an amazing patio. While there we would have to share some margaritas as their tequila is top notch. Dinner would have to include, Christmas! For those of you who don’t know what that means, it is red and green chili topping your dinner. Whether you have a stuffed sopapilla, enchiladas, huevos rancheros, etc. It is for sure something that you can’t leave New Mexico without experiencing.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I feel that the person whom most deserves a shout out in my story, is my amazing husband, Bruce. He is my biggest cheerleader, my best friend, my partner in every way. He is the one person, other than my mom prior to Bruce, that has loved me the most, believed in me with no holds barred, and has always championed my ideas. He has breathed literal life into me. We met 5 years after my divorce from my first marriage and he met a person who was terrified to trust again.. He was patient, pursued me gently, jumped into raising 3 children who were not his, all the while raising the two children from his prior marriage. He has been my knight in shining armor and has spoiled me so incredibly, that no one would have me ever again, if anything ever happened to him, God forbid. HA! Bruce is kind, patient, grace giving, hard working, honest, and has a servant heart. He loves being by my side pushing me forward to shine.

Instagram: https://instagram.com/kristysilver70

Image Credits
Keith Tolk

Aeroprey

Don Siegel

Dorothy Shi

Marti Darlene Photo

Shtooka Atelier

Randi Rhea