LIFE

 

Teens are capable of anything: running a business, raising cash for a cause, making a difference, inspiring others. There are great girls everywhere—and in our new “Great Girls” series, created in partnership with Barbizon Modeling, we’ll shine a light on remarkable young women with incredible stories. Whether you get some solid ideas or just some serious inspo, take notes on these top-notch teens—and maybe we’ll be sharing *your* story someday soon.

Meet Eddia…
From becoming a model to writing and publishing her own books, Eddia does it *all*. After surviving a complicated surgery, she learned to chase after her dreams no matter what—and inspires other girls to do the same. Eddia has started her own blog, written tons of short stories and even published her own book. But she’s not stopping there. Check out our interview with this goal-getting girl to find out more about her incredible accomplishments and what exactly she has planned for the future. 

Girls' Life: Let’s talk about your blog. What do you usually write about? 

Eddia: I typically write about my daily adventures, but I do have some posts where I write about my feelings on racism, politics, and societal expectations.

GL: What are your favorite tips and confidence boosters for young girls? 

Eddia: My favorite tip that I've *ever* posted on my blog is to just be yourself. You're the only you on this planet. Don't try to be others when the best thing you can do is to be yourself.

GL: What inspired you to start writing books? 

Eddia: It started in 2010 when I started to have these crazy dreams and I decided to start keeping track of them. I started writing into my dream journals—which I still have to this day—and writing became an outlet for me because I was going through a battle with depression. In fact, it was *such* an outlet that I couldn't go one day without writing. Now I have written 14 books, over 200 short stories and have one published book, Elena: The Beginning. Most of my books are romance, science-fiction or historical-fiction, and I have one biography which I am planning to publish in the near future. 

GL: How do you think your books inspire others? 

Eddia: I use my books to inspire women in particular to chase after their dreams and goals, because many of my main characters are strong female women who go after what they desire. 

Girls' Life: What are your own goals and dreams for the future? 

Eddia: Oh wow, I have a lot of goals—I want to have a New York Times best-selling novel, I'd like to become the next big supermodel and I'm trying to pursue acting. I also want to attend college in the city, preferably Columbia or New York University.

Want to see what Barbizon Modeling is all about—and chase your dreams like Eddia? CLICK HERE to get more information about programs and opportunities.

by Emily Mullin | 1/20/2017