Miami Living Magazine features the best Miami has to offer. Click on any magazine below and enjoy. You can download our free app on iTunes. Ideal for iPad and iPhone users.
Issue link: https://digital.miamilivingmagazine.com/i/1011164
Since her reign, Olivia has been steadily building an ever-expanding brand as a model (she is the face of TIME X), ac tress, and influencer, who just amassed 3 million followers. This year, she became a Spor ts Illustrated rookie and bared all for their "In Her Own Words" project, a continuation of the essence of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit. In the artsy, black and white images she proudly dons the words: woman, pain shapes, love transforms, imperfect, and strength. Sports Illustrated is among the reasons the Los Angeles-resident is in town for Miami Swim Week. In addition to the events and press Olivia has lined up the next couple of days, she is assisting with SI's swim search. "There were like 3,000 girls that came from all over the world to be chosen and it's just a handful that will win. So, it's crazy." So, what is your advice for the SI model hopefuls? "I would say, work really hard. Have a clear idea of your interests, what you're passionate about. Have a point of view. You have to be interested and interesting… I feel like the thing that makes Sports Illustrated so unique as a brand is the fact that it's so much more than just bikinis and the way someone looks. It's about every thing: their personality, what they're passionate about, what their talents are, hobbies, so much more. It's very dimensional and a lot of the girls that are a part of this brand usually end up doing so much, in terms of branding for themselves. It's like Tyra Banks, Brooklyn Decker, Kate Upton, Chrissy Teigen —they're so much more than just a pretty face… If any thing, girls should know that they have to come with more…and they really need to want it also." Sage advice from a woman who made the world take notice with her very first attempt. The first beauty pageant Olivia entered, she won (Miss Rhode Island USA 2012), and from there hit a streak, winning Miss USA 2012 next, then the ultimate honor, Miss Universe 2012. The swift ascension of the brunette beauty comes as no surprise —Olivia knows exactly what she wants and is putting in the work for it. When she was younger, the Rhode Island-born, middle-child-of-five thought that she would become a restaurateur –like her father— or hotel owner. The former title was achieved last summer when her family and she opened Back 40 in North Kingston, Rhode Island. "Which is kinda weird," she muses about her childhood dream, "but that's all that I thought I wanted to do…because I love the way that I grew up," beams Olivia. Back 40 ser ves up "coastal comfor t food" like lobster mac 'n' cheese, and Philly Cheese Benedic t and Maple- Sriracha Chicken & Waf fles for brunch. Now, this is my kind of restaurant. "I grew up in restaurants and I saw the way that it brought people together and I always had so much fun when I could go and see so many familiar faces and see families coming together eating and enjoying good food!" Now that Olivia is an adult, her horizons have broadened, and she's thinking bigger than a single career. When you're passionate about so many things, why not fulfill them all? Olivia has embraced her inner thespian, appearing in a small role in the comedy, I Feel Pretty with Amy Schumer ("It was such an honor to work with Amy. She's so fun, so nice, so easy to work with.") and in the action-thriller, Reprisal, alongside Bruce Willis and Frank Grillo, in theaters on August 31st. "I play the wife of a banker who is involved in a robbery at the bank that he works at…so my neighbor Bruce Willis and my husband combine to try and find the robber… but I'm held hostage with our daughter." Filming, which took place in Cincinnati, was fun, especially since Olivia got to work with her good friend, Randall Emmet t. "It makes such a big dif ference when you know familiar people. Frank Grillo was the other co-cast member, which was really fun. Of course, Bruce Willis is a legend, so that was awesome.