The Squeeze - Olivia Culpo: Being Your Own Advocate

Episode Date: October 15, 2025

In this week’s episode, Tay is joined by model, actress, host, and entrepreneur Olivia Culpo! Olivia opens up about her journey into motherhood, sharing what her birth experience was like and how her postpartum journey has been, including her experience with D-MER. She gets candid about the challenges of balancing work and motherhood, how she makes time for herself and her husband, Christian McCaffrey, and how the two support each other through life’s highs and lows—especially with Christian’s busy NFL schedule. Olivia also reflects on her pageant journey, the imposter syndrome and comparison she faced, and what it was like winning Miss Rhode Island, Miss USA, and Miss Universe back-to-back in her very first year. She shares how she’s learned to set boundaries with social media, why it’s important to take breaks and stay grounded, and opens up about her experience with endometriosis and the importance of advocating for your health. Plus, Olivia gives us a glimpse into her new Netflix series Next Gen Chef and wraps up by answering the Lemon 7!Be sure to follow Olivia on https://instagram.com/oliviaculpo/!Find resources for endometriosis here:https://facebook.com/groups/NancysNookEndoEd/https://endofound.org/To email us your questions or share your story, you can reach out to [e-mail] sure to rate, review, and follow the podcast so you don't miss an episode! Plus, follow us on all of our socials:The SqueezeInstagram: https://instagram.com/thesqueeze/TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@thesqueezepodcastTay LautnerInstagram: https://instagram.com/taylautner/TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@mrstaylautnerAmazon Storefront https://urlgeni.us/amazon/FDXj7 Taylor LautnerInstagram: https://instagram.com/taylorlautner/TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@taylorlautnerTo learn more from The Lemons Foundation, follow https://instagram.com/lemonsbytay/ and visit https://lemonsbytay.comEpisode Sponsors: Use the code “SQUEEZE” at Rhoback.com for 20% off your first order — now through theend of this week.Thousands of people are already using Rula to get affordable, high-quality therapy that’s actually covered by insurance. Visit Rula.com/squeeze to get started. After you sign up, you’ll be asked how you heard about them — please support our show and let them know we sent you. You deserve mental healthcare that works with you, not against your budget.Let yourself run, lift, sculpt, push, and go. Explore the new Peloton Cross Training Tread+ at onepeloton.com.Visit gruns.co and use code SQUEEZE at checkout for up to 52% off your first order.Learn more and join using our link. Function is a near-360 view to see what’s happening in your body, and my first 1000 listeners get a $100 credit toward their membership. Visit www.functionhealth.com/THESQUEEZE or use gift code THESQUEEZE100 at sign-up to own your health.Shop SKIMS Fits Everybody collection at SKIMS.com. After you place your order, be sure to let them know we sent you! Select "podcast" in the survey and be sure to select our show in the dropdown menu that follows.You can see Eternity in theaters everywhere this Thanksgiving (November 26th)!Produced by Dear MediaSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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prototype and a lot of that had to do with your height and weight. You ever feel like you struggled with imposter syndrome at all or not like feeling you belonged because you were new to that environment? It was more based on how I looked unfortunately. I was the youngest person actually to compete in that year and that I was also by far the shortest. People are going to tear you to shreds online and you're just going to read what they're deciding to tear you to shreds about and you're going to internalize that and be insecure. So for me, it was my hike. Ugh, it's so dumb.

Did you, I guess, learn at the time to kind of set boundaries with social media or have you kind of learned that now? When you need to take breaks, take the breaks from social media. It's toxic. There's always something that you're going to be insecure about and there are always settings that are going to make you feel that imposter syndrome. That's why it's just so important to have a really strong circle who really knows who you are. Lean on that and what they think of you.

Olivia, welcome to the squeeze. Thanks. I'm so excited to chat because I feel like you have so many fun things going on in your life right now with your new Netflix show, being a mom. And I was kind of telling you before we have like a lot of random mutuals. But I have to tell you, my husband reminded me of this. We were at the same Luke Combs concert. My husband reminded me of the same thing. He's like, Don't forget. You met them at the concert. I was like, well, I didn't meet them, but I did think I saw them. Right?

Yeah. We're not in the opposite ends of the rooms. Taylor and I literally had this exact same conversation. We just had this exact conversation. He was like, don't forget the story. I was like, wait, we didn't meet her, though. He was like, no. But, and then he reminded me because he loves football.

He loves your husband. Like, he's just, he's a big football guy. Well, clearly my husband loves Twilight because he was one that brought it to my attention. That's so good. But he sees Christian sitting there and he's like, oh my gosh, look who's here. I'm like, go say hi. And Taylor thinks that he just like hates going up to people because I think he has this irrational fear that like he's going to bother someone or that no one's going to know who he is.

Like he just like doesn't want to make people feel weird. I'm like, just go say hi, hon. It's fine. And he's like, no, no, no. Like I'm not going to. I don't want to bug him. And then like a few. He knows who he is.

Yeah, that's what I try telling him. But then a few minutes later, Christian came and tapped him on the shoulder. And he was very excited. So, so the circle. I like kids in the play box. I know. Do you want to be friends? I know.

Literally. Oh my gosh. That's so cute. So we start each episode off with, I have a jar here. We have a game called Citrus Got Real. It's like little, um, funny icebreaker questions. But I pulled one for you. Um, and the question is, what item do you always carry in your purse or bag?

Ooh. Ooh, it's probably something really horrible and vain, like a lip gloss. No, I'm just kidding. Actually, this is funny. I did it what's in my bag with like my circle at the game this past weekend. And I had a lip gloss, a mirror, and my rosaries. How funny is that? Oh, my gosh.

I'm traveling with my rosaries. I'm really starting to turn into my mom. But, yeah, I know, truly. But what do we carry in our bags now? I mean, I guess an external charger. I always have some sort of like chapsic lip gloss, something like that. I don't carry a credit card anymore because we have her phones. And then now I, my rosaries all the time because I'm a mom and I have to pray for a lot.

That's good. I know. I am a sucker for a lip-y. What's your like go-to lip gloss right now? I have to say I'm a sucker for road. And also just like a good old-fashioned shay butter. Yeah, it's great. They're on, they're $8 for two sticks on Amazon.

It's great. And they work so much. And they work so well. We love a good deal for something. Yes. Absolutely. It looks like a giant Elmer's Blue. Yes.

You want to talk about? Yeah, yeah, yeah. It worked. That's so good. Okay, well, I'm excited to dive all things, life and mom and work, but let's talk about your new Netflix show. There's a new show, NextGen Chef. Congrats.

Can you tell us about the show? Thank you. Yes. It is everything I've ever wanted to. watch in a cooking show. It's the most talented young chefs in America under the age of 30 and they're competing for the largest culinary prize in history. So $500,000 is a huge opportunity for them to truly set their life up for success and change the trajectory of their career. Wow. That's insane. What made you want to be a part of the show? I absolutely love cooking shows. I grew up watching them

with my mom. I also grew up in the restaurant industry myself. So I'm very familiar with that world. And, you know, definitely a dream job for me. I'm so grateful. It's one of those things that have been on my vision board, my whole life. I just, I love feel good shows. I love connection with food. And it's all those things plus like the heat of a competition. You really see a lot of heart, soul and competitive. I love that. What's your, what's like your favorite thing to cook or food to eat? I love Italian food, but living with my husband who is basically a carnivore, like, unwittingly, I cook a lot of meat. I cook a lot of protein. I wish that we had more like pasta carbs and pizza, but because of his job, I do find myself doing mostly like a meat and potatoes type of thing, like a beef stew or stuff like that.

Yeah. I was not like a big meat eater. at all. Obviously, my husband does not have the same job as your husband and does not need to consume the amount of food that yours probably does. But I think, I feel like I've learned that that's like very much like guys just like red meat. Like, I don't know. I don't know like what it is, but my husband is a steak and potatoes type of person. No, I know. Well, gains, man, you know. They got to get the gains. I wish that's how it worked for us. You've been, been a mom for, let's do, how many months? You can probably tell me the months better than I can.

Ten weeks. Oh my gosh. Well, congrats. That is just my, my best friend just gave birth yesterday. And I'm so excited because she's my first, like, friend, like childhood friend to, like, we have friends, like, in my adult life that I've met that I've had babies. We've been friends since childhood. So it is like, I'm, like, so elated. for her, but how has these first 10 weeks been? That's so exciting. Like you guys were babies and now you're having babies. I know. I'm sure you're babies when you met.

Yeah. That's adorable. It's been so fun. Every day is so different and I'm really just trying to really sit in it because I know it goes by so fast. Everybody says these are the days that go by quicker than you could have ever imagined. and she's starting to just become so much easier, sleeping through the night, not waking up every two hours. Like, I can really, I really have the opportunity to be grounded and still in each moment.

So I'm really trying to because I know that she's, every day she's changing. I just know it's going to fly by. It already is. Yeah. Oh, my gosh. How was your like birth experience? Did, did you have like a birth plan going into it? Were you able to stick with it? or? Well, she was breached from the beginning. And she was also a really big baby. She was nine pounds. So I knew I needed to get a C-section. And part of that was, I mean, you just kind of surrendered to it. It really wasn't what I envisioned for myself. And it took a little bit of a grieving period. And I tried to have her flip and everything. But I could not get her to move. She was just a really big baby and just like wedged in there. But I, I mean, it's, I think there's, it's just

a really, it's a traumatic experience no matter what because you're delivering a human into the world and it's coming out of like a small hole. Whichever one it is. So it's really, it was wild. It was wild and beautiful and everybody says that like you look back on it and it's the best time of your life. And I will say that's totally true. Like while I was in it, I was really scared and I was thinking like I never want to do this again, but now she's 10 weeks and I'm already thinking that it was, I mean, I would do it 10 million times over. Yeah. Maybe I will. So I know so many people that I know are like, it's just kind of like amnesia. Like you're like, oh, it wasn't fun, but it's fine. I'll do it again. Like that's so sweet. Yeah, you forget. And I'm sure like right when you're about to do it again,

you're like, why did I decide to do this again? And then, you know, you do it and you're really excited about it. So it's the most beautiful thing in the world. It's a wild ride. Yeah. I, um, I, um, So a little on my background, I'm an RN and I worked as an RN during COVID-all stuff. And my best friend who just gave birth, she's actually a labor and delivery nurse. We did nursing school together. And when we were in nursing school doing our rotations, I did like during my labor and delivery rotation. I watched a vaginal birth. And I went home.

Taylor and I were just dating at the time. But I went home and I was like, honey, like I have to forget what that looked like before I can have a child. And I don't, I ask my best friend on the time, like, how are you like just like she literally births babies for her job and she wanted to birth a baby? I'm like, I just like, I need to forget like everything about that because I don't. I always say I want to be from like this end, not the receiving end of it because that's just a view that is like not fun. But I always talk about that I feel like I would want to have a C-section. just because I feel like I'm like a planner and I have anxiety and I feel like I would want to like my friends that have had C-sections they're like you go in you schedule it one of my girlfriends she's like I bring my like her warm tone lamp with her for her two C-sections like she just like makes it like such an experience so yeah yeah I'm I'm so curious to see like how how that time like is for me so I'm like trying to ask all the moms all of the questions. right now because that's like the next phase of life for me. Yeah. And honestly, you will find that

everybody has a different experience. Some women have V-backs, like they'll have a C-section, then they'll have the vaginal birth. Yeah. And they prefer the vaginal birth. I think everybody's birth story is so different. And like, you just have to hope that you get the experience that you were supposed to get. I mean, I just choose to believe that. That's what I had to do because I wanted a vaginal birth because you think, you just hear that it's better for the baby and that they're going to be able to get all the amniotic fluids squeeze out of their lungs. Like luckily that actually was not an issue at all with my C-section. But you just hear all of these things that's better for them to go through the birth canal. So I had to kind of surrender to it too and just like just choose to believe that this is

what is best for me and the baby. Yeah, I know. I think I think it's like what I've learned is you can have a plan, but like know that your plan of birth may not go as planned or most likely. won't, honestly. I know. I know. Well, I hope for you because you have experience and you know what you want already that you can have what you want. Yeah, hopefully. I got it. I don't know how that works, but can you just, like, can you just do that? I don't know. I know. I have to convince Tice to give me a C-section. I just saw her not that long ago. She's like, you're still not pregnant. And I was like, no, I'm not pregnant yet. She's like, I want a baby. I'm like, okay, well, you're going to take that up with my husband. So. Oh, my gosh. Oh. Oh.

I know. I'm the hold up, though. I'm the hold up. He's like, he's been ready for a while. And I'm like, no. Well, how old are you? If you don't mind me asking how old are you? I'm 28. Oh, you have plenty of time. I know. 33. Yeah. No, I, I know. I think I told, I told him and I told Taise that by the time I'm 30, I'm going to be off my birth control and we'll just let nature run its course. Yeah. Time if I'm not. You have time. Yeah. I know. I know, I know. I'm like, I am ready though. I did have a pregnancy scare at the beginning of this year. And I fully thought I was pregnant. But it ended up just being some like hormonal change with my birth control that I had an experience before. And I woke up the next morning after I knew I wasn't pregnant, after I had been thinking I was for like two weeks. And I woke up and my first thought was I was sad I wasn't pregnant. So I was like, oh, I'm ready. That's cute. Yes. Okay. I have one of my best friends had the same experience. She didn't know if she wanted to have her fourth baby. And she and I was like, well, let's just see like, why don't you just see what God has in store for you? Yeah. So she ends up having a similar situation where she thought she was pregnant and then she got her period and she realized that she was really upset. I was like, okay, now you know that you want a fourth baby. Yeah. So it's good. I mean, I hate to say it like that. But, you know, because it could have been a little scarier than that. But now, now you know that you want a baby. Yeah. So, yeah. Yay. Yay. Maybe. I know that I don't not want a baby. Yeah. Yeah. No. Exactly. Exactly. That's so funny. Okay, you guys, I have to tell you about my new favorite clothing that I have been absolutely loving lately.

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Explore the new Peloton Cross Training Tread Plus at one peloton.com. How is your postpartum experience been? Have you been struggling with postpartum depression or hormonal shifts at all? Thank God no postpartum depression, but I do do have an interesting thing called Deemer. which you don't hear about that often. And I just noticed when I was breastfeeding, I had this intense, horrible, depressing feeling, like a pit in your stomach, like hits you like a brick

as soon as she latches and you have a letdown. And so I asked, of course, my best friend chat, GVT, and it's completely, basically when your oxytocin rises for you to have a let down, it's a temporary crash in your dopamine, like complete, Oh. Completely gone. Yeah.

And it's very common. And so I, of course, went to TikTok. And I found so many other people, um, who have this. And, uh, drinking water helps. Distracting yourself helps. But I mean, I cannot complain at all. I thought I want to, you know, it's worth it to feed your baby. But it's such an interesting, unbelievable hormonal thing that happens that no one talks about.

But, um, it doesn't affect everybody. Yeah. What was it called? Deemer. Deemer. Oh, I'm going to look into that. Yeah, that's interesting. D-M-E-R.

Okay. Good. Good to know. I'd love to know. I think something that I struggle with with kind of like being hesitant and being a mom is like just I feel like I'm not going to be able. Which I know is like totally just my mind being silly. But my hold up has been like I'm not going to be able to like do things like like. Like career, like I feel like it's going to like hold me back like once I'm a mom.

Like that's like my thought process. But I've been hearing that that's not the case from most moms. But I'd love to kind of hear like your take on that. Yeah. I think that for anybody who says, no, you can do it all. I mean like I'm just going to be real with you. There's totally a shift. And like whether or not you want there to be or not, like,

Like you have somebody that's physically dependent on you. So I'm not going to sugarcoat it. Yeah, it's scary. And honestly, I've leaned on. Like, that's why I'm so grateful that I have my husband. Because while I'm totally working and I'm doing everything in my power to keep working and I'm so happy to have the opportunities that I have, like, let's say they all went away. Would I have the same ability that I had 10, 12, 15, 20?

years ago to like light that fire up my butt when like I have somebody who like really needs me which is my baby. No, like I would choose my baby 10 times over obviously. So yeah, that's just my honest opinion. It's definitely like a scary time. But I'm also just kind of a worry war in that way. Like I'm very ambitious. So I did have a little bit of an identity crisis. I really did. And it's very common. And to anybody out there who didn't and doesn't. and is like a working woman, I commend you. I do not have the mental fortitude. I totally got scared.

Yeah. No, I love that. That's real. I know. I keep telling myself, like, I'm, I can, like, think about it and, like, worry about it as much as I want right now. But I think once I, like, have a baby, it's just my brain's going to, like, I'm not, I can't view it because I don't have a kid yet.

Like, I'm not going to, I don't have, like, I can't see it, you know, because I'm not a mom yet. But even hearing you talk, and like I wish that I had somebody to say this to me also, like, just the fact that you're worrying about it is enough to say that you're going to make it work. Like, you just do. Like, if you want to work and you want to keep working, you will keep working and you will make it work. It's just kind of, I think you just like are really stuck with, you're just really, you're in a new phase. And it's like a lot of juggling.

It's like a new sort of balancing act. But you can do it. Yeah. You can do it. I can do it. We can do it. what's been like the biggest thing because obviously your schedule's busy your husband's schedule is busy how how have you learned or how are you striving to kind of make sure you have a loan time for

yourself to prioritize yourself and then you guys together as a couple uh that's a good question well we always try to try to go on a date once a week and it doesn't always happen and sometimes the date is literally just rotting in bed watching like um the most mob Netflix show. We were just watching. Actually, sorry, we're watching Next Gen Chef, obviously on Netflix. We really were, though. Yeah, we try to do, to have a date once a week. But his schedule is really different because it's, you know, the football season is so crazy. And then he gets a little bit of a break. And then, you know, eventually he won't be playing football at all. So it's like a short window of time that we just kind of give each other grace because I know he's doing

everything. Yeah. that he has to do for his career and he should be. Yeah. I'd love to know, like, obviously his career has had a lot of, like, highs and lows. How have you learned to, like, support him and him, you with, you know, I've, I haven't been, Taylor and I've been together for about eight years, but he hasn't really been working much. He's been focusing a lot on his mental health the past few years. And we've been in, been together through highs and low.

those in that regard and having to like learn how to support my husband through that has like been a journey but one of like the coolest things. What what if you kind of like learned through that or about marriage and how to support each other? That's such a good question. I feel like just starting out with asking how can I help? Yeah. I feel like we all need somebody to ask us that every once in a while And it means so much when they do. Yeah. I mean, it's an opportunity to not only get help, but to also get what's bothering you off your chest, which is so cathartic in itself. Yeah.

So for him, that looks like so many different things. And honestly, what I know to be true, one of the biggest ways that I can support him regularly is just letting him do what he needs to do to feel prepared, which is very time consuming. Like, we don't spend a lot of time together. But I mean, we do. I don't want that to be a quote. Yeah. We do spend a lot of time together. But he is focused on what he's focused on and I completely support that because I want him to feel prepared and do what he thinks he's on earth to do.

For sure. No, I love that. And that's been really cool. I mean, I grew up watching football, but I feel like over the past couple years, we've, we've become close with quite a few, like, players and their families and really gotten to see, like, the. inner workings of like what it is to be married to related to a NFL player. And it's just like, obviously we commend the players a lot, but also we have to commend the wives and the families because it is work for you guys too, not being able to see your spouses and having to deal with the schedule and like really like learning how to adjust. It's really commendable.

Thanks. Thank you. And it's also very reciprocal. does the same for me. So it's great. It's, it would be one thing if I didn't feel like it was reciprocal, but it absolutely is. Yeah, I love that. Okay, so you know those movies that make you laugh, cry, and then immediately text your friends, like, we have to see this together. But that's exactly how I felt after watching the trailer for eternity. It's this visually gorgeous feel good romcom about love, second chances, and what happens when life, or maybe the afterlife throws you one more curveball. It's clever, heartfelt, and the kind of story that instantly pulls you in. And the trailer alone gives you chills. It opens with Elizabeth Olson's character waking up in this dreamlike afterlife,

where everything feels familiar yet surreal at the same time. And that's when she sees him, her first husband, the one she lost years ago in a tragic war. You can feel the wave of emotion hit her. And before you even have time to process it, her second husband walks in. Suddenly, she's standing between the two great loves of her life, both there, both real, and both wanting her to choose them. It's such a unique, powerful concept to this idea of what happens when you're confronted with the loves that shaped you most. Who do you belong with when both love stories were so real, when both changed you? This trailer teases this beautifully. It's emotional, a little funny, and filled with that tension that makes you want to know what happens next. It stars Elizabeth Olson,

Miles Teller and Callum Turner and the chemistry between them is truly so good. You can feel every little glance, every moment of tension, it's natural, charming, and full of heart. It's one of those love triangles where you genuinely don't know who to root for because you find yourself understanding why she's drawn to both. You just want to see how it all unfolds and who she ends up choosing, if she can't even choose. What I love most about eternity is that it's not just the surface level romance. It's got depth. It's that perfect mix of humor, emotion, and introspection that keeps you smiling one minute and quietly reflecting the next. It's warm. It's a little chaotic. It's funny. And it leaves you thinking about the choices we make in life and how sometimes the hardest decisions are the ones

between two really good things. And you know when a movie makes you stop and think about your own life, like what would I do if I were in that position? That's the magic of this. It sneaks up on you with these little moments of real vulnerability and before you know it, you're emotionally and And honestly, it's been a minute since we've had a romantic comedy that feels this big. And the kind you actually want to experience in a theater. There's something about watching a love story play out on the big screen that just hits differently. You hear the crowd laughing, reacting, gasping, and suddenly, you're all a part of it together. It's that collective energy that makes seeing a movie like this in theaters truly so special.

And visually, it's beautiful. Every scene has this rich cinematic glow. It's soft, emotional, and just easy to get lost in. You can tell every frame was crafted with intention. The colors, the lighting, the way it's shot, it feels immersive and romantic without being over the top. It's the kind of movie that feels warm, nostalgic, and full of heart. The kind that makes you want to stay in that world just a little bit longer. And beyond the love story, there's this deeper layer about timing, fate, and what ifs that

shape our lives. It's about looking back of those pivotal moments in realizing how much one choice can change everything. It's also hopeful. It reminds you that love can be messy and complicated. and still beautiful all at once. That's what makes Eternity so special because it's not just a rom-com. It's a story about what really matters, about connection, about finding peace with your past

while also embracing what's next. Whether you go for the laughs, the chemistry, or just a good escape from real life for a couple hours, this movie delivers on every level. So if you're planning your Thanksgiving weekend, this is the one to see. Grab your friends, your family, your partner, whoever you love watching a good story with, and make a night out of it. Eternity is in theaters everywhere Thanksgiving, November 26th. Trust me, it's one of those movies that's even better when you see it on the big screen,

and I cannot wait to see it. I want to jump to talking about kind of your background in pageantry and now having social media. Have you ever, like, struggled with comparison, or do you feel like social media kind of brings like that pressure because I'm sure I mean I don't want to put words in your mouth but I'm sure there was some form of pressure doing pageantry to look or act a certain way not not putting on a front but you know you're competing so like you're oh yeah yeah it was definitely so here is the backstory for that there's definitely putting up a front because I never did pageants I only did the pageant that I did when I was 19 which was Miss Rhode Island and then I won Miss

Rhode Island when I was 19, then I won Miss USA when I was 20, and then I won Miss USA, Miss Universe when I was 20. So I won, I did all that really within that one about, I didn't grow up doing pageants. My parents thought it was such a joke and they were so embarrassed. My dad, like, left halfway because they're in the Miss Rhode Island pageant because there was like a football game going on. You know, they did not grow up with that at all. So I would say it was 100% playing apart and 100% apart, like a front. I had to learn how to walk in heels. I watched past pageants. I kind of figured out the whole thing. And I just faked it until I made it. What made, what made you want to do that first pageant? So I looked at a lot of, I knew that I wanted to do something at

entertainment. And at the time, I didn't know if I would want it to be a host or if I wanted to go into acting. But I knew that Halliberry had been the runner up of Miss USA. I knew that Julianne Arancic did pageants. I knew Maria Minunos did pageants. I knew Michelle Pfeiffer did pageant. I just knew a lot of these people in the entertainment world started out in pageants. And I was just this 18-year-old in Rhode Island trying to make it, you know, and just get out of there. And that was something that I saw as an opportunity. And I really just didn't think that I would win. I just thought it could get me one step closer to being like these people who were really successful in my eyes. Wow. Wow. I didn't, I didn't realize that. So you've, that must have been a lot,

like winning all three of those, like back to back. Did your life just like completely change? Yeah, it really did. It really did change overnight. I remember winning Miss, Miss USA and then being immediately going to New York. I was at the time it was with NBC and it was like, you know, It was a big production. I remember, we didn't even have Instagram, but I remember waking up with like hundreds of thousands of Twitter followers and looking out my window and I could see all the lights of New York City. And it was just, it was wild.

It was just, it really was like not a lot of things. You can't say a lot of things change your life overnight. Like that really did. Yeah. That is, that is what? Like I can't even. I can't even. I was a college student.

And then all of a sudden, forget your class. I still have dreams about. the classes, nightmares, about the classes that I didn't finish. Oh my gosh. So how long from winning Miss USA did you go on to competing for Miss Universe? Well, it was all so it was all the same time. Yeah, it was all the same year. So I was Miss Rhode Island 2012, then I was Miss USA 2012, and then I was Miss Universe 2012. It was all just like that circuit. That's kind of how it works. Yeah. That's that's literally crazy. What did that following year look like for you? while I was carrying the title.

A lot of travel. By the way, this was 11 years ago. A lot has changed. But at that point, it was a job. And you would travel, especially as Miss Universe. I went to over 30 countries, I think, I believe. And I lived on a plane. I truly lived on a plane.

I would go and address like with the state officials of, this town in India. I had no idea what I was doing, but I was somehow just there showing up, speaking in front of thousands of people along all these little, you know, tours around the world. Because as I know the pageants have a certain reputation, but in Asia, they're really, really, they're huge. Yeah. So you'd be, it was, it was truly a different world. Yeah. Not having like that background in pageants. Did you ever feel like you, struggled with imposter syndrome at all or not like feeling like you belonged because you were new to that environment? There were definitely things that contributed to imposter syndrome, but it was more

based on how I looked, unfortunately, just because I was, I was the youngest person actually to compete in that year. And then I was also by far the shortest, which at that time, I mean, we've come such a long way as far as inclusivity. But at that time, I don't know, I hope people listening can actually actually know what I'm referring to, but you had to be a certain height to be any sort of like runway model or model in general. Like you had to fit a certain prototype and a lot of that had to do with your height and weight. So I was really, I'm short ter. I'm short in the modeling world. So that was one of the things. And you just, you're going to, people are going to tear you to shreds online and you're just going to read what they're deciding to tear you to

shreds about and you're going to internalize that and be insecure. So for me, it was my height. But I mean, it sounds so silly even looking back on it. It's like, ugh, so dumb. Yeah. But yeah, I've definitely had imposter syndrome in different more real ways. But I'm being honest with you with pageant, it was the height. It's so crazy. Yeah. How have you, how did you, or did you, I guess, learn at the time to kind of set boundaries with social media or have you kind of learned that now to protect your mental health and mental peace with that? I feel like I'm trying to think because as far as imposter syndrome and insecurities and all that, it definitely, I feel like it's something that follows you regardless of where you are in your career.

So there's always something that you're going to be insecure about and there are always settings that are going to make you feel that imposter syndrome. I definitely find myself limiting my time on social media because of that. And yeah, I think just just thinking of it. it as a part of you and not all of you. And just, you know, it's so hard because you listen to what the world thinks of you and you can internalize that and it's struggle with it. I mean, who wouldn't? But that's why it's just so important to have a really strong circle who really knows who you are and lean on that and what they think of you. And when you need to take breaks, take the breaks from

social media. It's toxic. It's definitely very hard to process certain things on there and the way that it makes you feel and the things that people say. Yeah. No, it's so true. That's great advice. I recently just wasn't on my phone because the finale of one of the shows that I watched was coming out and I was watching it at night with my girlfriends. And I was like, I don't want any spoiler. So none of us went on social media that day. And it was like the next. stay. I was like, oh, I don't feel the need to, like, go on my phone. Like, it just, even that one day of detoxing just felt like so nice. And it reminded me that I don't like need to chronically scroll and I really should not be. Yeah. Well, things like this are so valuable on what you're

doing because it's such a feel good place for people to seek comfort and connection without having to fall into a, you know, something that makes them feel bad. Yeah. No, that's so true. Thank you. That's really sweet. Has motherhood changed how you view or use social media at all? I've always tried to limit the time that I spend on it because I, you know, everything that you do is giving you feedback. Is this making you feel clear? Is this making you feel bad?

Is this draining you or is this uplifting you? And based on that, I really try not to scroll a ton. With my daughter, I think it's just like, you know, you've got your eight hours during the day that you can do what you have to do. And I think it's just turned into a survival tactic. I don't have time to just aimlessly scroll on my phone. Like I have to prioritize what's most important, which is usually not what's on my for you page. Yeah.

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Shop Skims Fits Everybody Collection at skims.com. After you place your order, be sure to let them know that we sent you. You can select podcasts in the survey and choose our show from the drop-down menu that follows. Last thing I would love to kind of shed light on is endometriosis and kind of your experience with it. because obviously we've had Taise Dr. A on the show. We've talked about endometriosis a bit. I have quite a few girlfriends that have it. One of my girlfriends actually just had her third surgery earlier this week.

So I'd love to kind of hear, if you can just kind of explain what endometriosis is. And when did you like first realize something was going on? So every month, the woman's endometriosis is. endometrial lining sheds. That's what's your, that is your period. The endometrial lining is supposed to line your uterus. Enometriosis is when the endometrial lining that sheds grows outside of the uterus. So it could grow in your bowel, it could grow in your liver, it could grow in your rectum, it could grow in any other part of your body. And it's extremely painful depending on where these lesions, they call them, or endometrial tissue decides to grow. So with, with,

these lesions, it gets worse and worse and worse and worse and worse until eventually, hopefully you get answers and you get a surgery. But the average, the average diagnosis time for endometriosis is 10 years, which is something that I've worked really hard to try to bring to light because that's absolutely horrifying. And even me myself suffered for years. And so dozens of physicians before I was actually taken seriously with my condition. So I really, I knew something was wrong because it because I had excruciating pain my endometriosis is primarily in the back of my uterus so um a lot of low back pain and to the point where I couldn't get out of bed I was like I was living in the bath I was taking prescription level medication and still in pain just

so upset and it's one thing to live with chronic pain but it's another thing to live with chronic pain and feel like no one's hearing you because then scary. Yeah. Like at least you know that there's an answer. That would be a great situation. I didn't even know what was going on because nobody would diagnose me with what I later research for myself was endometriosis. This was before I met Dr. A. But I'm so grateful for her because after I finally did enough researching on YouTube, Reddit, Instagram, Facebook, I realized, okay, I think that I have this thing called endometriosis. And it wasn't in the front of my pelvic area. It was in the back. So because of that, like my symptoms were just a little bit more unique.

But now that I talk about it more, I find a lot of people who actually have exactly what I had. So anyway, I went to her and I said, I think I have any metrosis. And lo and behold, she found it on an ultrasound after I went to so many other people and they did so many ultrasounds. Oh my gosh. Dr. A for president. I literally, I feel like so inspired by her every time I like see her or like hear her talk. Like she's just, I just love what she's doing for women and just like really shedding light on our stuff that we have going on that a lot of people don't know about. And I have so many friends that have been, you know, diagnosed with PCOS and like are finally getting a diagnosis after hearing like how to advocate for themselves and pushing and pushing for like they knowing something's wrong, but not.

really being heard. So yeah, we, we love her. But I'd let to know, before we head into our last little Lemon 7 segment, what piece of advice would you give to someone to women out there that feels like they're in pain, something is wrong, but they aren't being taken seriously, how they could better advocate for themselves? As far as animatiosis goes or in general? Yeah, I mean, or in general, but yeah, with endometriosis or just our female reproductive problems that so many women struggle with, but don't know how to advocate for themselves or don't feel like they're being heard similar to kind of what you experienced. Yeah, well, that's what that endofound.com has a whole page of resources specifically for animatiosis. There's also Nancy's Nook on Facebook. Like, that's kind of where I. I have told people to go, but for anybody out there who is suffering, just know that you're not alone.

And hopefully you can see the better part of social media and find people who have the same condition and what they did to seek help. It's such a cool thing to see the strides we're taking with women's health, specifically endometriosis, seeing the amount of people that even on my own little level are advocating for themselves and going to the right doctors. calling out the wrong, the bad doctors. It's amazing to see people getting the help they need and being vulnerable about it because unfortunately, if you don't advocate for yourself, you're not going to always get the help you need. Yeah, I love that. Thank you for that. Let's head into our last little segment, shall we? Fun little, fun little segment, Lemon 7. You could rapid fire these. You can share a monologue of your explanation, whatever your heart desires.

you can answer. But number one is what movie or song title best describes your mental health today? Dreams by the cranberries, because I'm in love with my daughter, obviously. Oh, she's neat. Number two is how open are you with people in your life when struggling? Core friends, very, very, very, very, very, very open. Everybody else, very, very, very, very, very, very not. Yeah. Have you always been like that? that or is that something you've kind of like had to learn later in life to kind of just like it's so funny i was literally just talking to my husband about this no it's 100% a defense mechanism when i was growing up i feel like i wanted to be best friends with everybody but then you know

you get you go through life and bad friendships and bad people and friendships callous you so i have a really hard time now as an adult opening up to people and i think we all so i envy people who are just like able to be really vulnerable with a lot of people. I struggle with that, but I'm working on it. Yeah. I mean, at least you have your core people that you can be honest with, because I feel like that's, as long as you got someone to talk to, I feel like that's the most important thing. Yes, it's true. Number three is if you could only follow three social media accounts, what would they be? Definitely a parenting account. I don't have a specific one right now. I really like the Moody Foodie, who's on Instagram.

She makes most delicious food and she makes it look so easy. And I need to get her cookbook. So I really like her. I also really like, who doesn't love like a feel good, uplifting Instagram account like yours. And also everybody else puts out feel good content. So I do those. Yeah. I love that.

Well, thank you. I'm honored. Number four is what is your favorite form of self-care? Uh, being in nature. Oh. Is there like, like anywhere just walking outdoors or do you like to go and like vacation somewhere outside? Well, either. Honestly, I'll just take what I can get.

But I do, I just notice that nothing grounds me more than being in nature. Yeah. Do you think they're more of a beach person or a mountain person? I think my husband and I also talk about this all the time. We're a mountain people. You are. I know. Okay, number five is what is the most misunderstood thing about you? I think people don't know how goofy I am. I'm very goofy.

And they, you know, yeah, they have this idea of me being, I don't know, uptight or really put together. And it's not totally accurate. We love goofiness. Number six is who has had the most positive impact on your mental health? Definitely my husband. and family special. And the last one at least, number seven is if you could go back to one moment in your life, what moment would that be? And what would you say to yourself? Any moment? Oh, wow, this is a lot of pressure. Probably just my younger self going through, well, situations that I

didn't necessarily have to put myself through, like tough relationships or toxic situations that I should have not been in. I wish that I had told myself that there is hope so that I, but, but then again, the pain of those moments is what. Yeah. Perhaps you for the rest of your life. So I guess I have to be grateful for those moments too. So no, no, no, no. I don't know. I think that's a good answer. I think there's still, like I always say like I, so like I worked as the COVID nurse and I was diagnosed with PTSD and depression from working. And I always say I wouldn't change it, but I would go back. and be like, hey, like, you're going to get through this. I just give myself a little, like, a little pep talk.

So I think, I think, I think that's nice. I feel like we all need to hear that when we're going through something. There is a light at the end of the tunnel. Yeah. And this is making you better. Yeah. That's the other thing. This is making you a better person.

Yeah. I love that. That's a great note to end on. Well, thank you for joining me today. And I'm excited to watch this Netflix show. I love a cooking show. So we will be watching this tonight. Good. I'm so happy. I hope you like it. And thank you for having me.

Awesome. Thank you. Please note that this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode.