Rae - Confidence is armor. It's your bulletproof vest. Use it to protect your peace

One fine day, circa 2016, we hiked out to this beautiful slot canyon in Las Vegas with a photographer we knew from St. Louis. He lived in Vegas but visited family often in STL. He knew the area we were hiking, so we stopped at a few spots we saw along the way as well. The desert landscape was so beautiful. Unlike anything I had ever seen. It feels like an alien planet. I fell in love with the desert.

I thought to myself, "This is a once in a lifetime moment. I'll never be this young, in this beautiful location, ever again. "; and then I got naked in the middle of the desert.

There was a couple, climbing, about 20 ft away from us. They showed up right after we had set up. We asked if they were bothered and they didn't mind so we kept working while they scaled the canyon wall.

Our lives are fleeting and not every moment is rich with life and opportunity. It takes an open mind and a watchful eye to notice. When your intuition says, "Live and be free. Be present. Experience your humanity." It feels so euphoric to honor that feeling. Modeling helps me capture that feeling for my future self, and technology helps me share that feeling with others.

https://www.instagram.com/raebendafit/

http://www.raebenda.com/

Can you tell us something about yourself?

Hello, my name is Rae! I have a Boston Terrier named Phoenix, she's an absolute character. I'm a single mother of two crazy humans. I watch far too many movies that I've already seen too many times.

When did you start with modeling ? Can you recall your first photo session ?

I started modeling in 2016. My first photo shoot was a trade I did with Gino Santa Maria and former coworker. We did some fashion, business style headsets, and yoga poses.

Life as an athlete. When did you start with fitness and aerial arts?

I was a competitive gymnast in my adolescence and my mother was a yoga instructor for many years while I was a teenager. I became interested in yoga because of her. I studied all types of yoga practices in college and became certified in 2015.

After I had my first child, I was looking for a hobby while my ex-husband was deployed. I became really obsessed with Hula Hoop tricks and I spent a few years learning on YouTube.

Around the same time I started learning Hula Hoop, I also started taking Aerial Silks classes and going to every open gym I could find.

About two years later, I was introduced to a friend of a friend who owned a pole studio and was looking to hire a Hula Hoop instructor. That spiraled into teaching yoga, becoming certified, learning pole, teaching pole, and everything else I do now.

Tell us more about competitions too, you have an impressive results.

I started competing in 2017. My first show was at the Arnold Classic, and I totally bombed. It's painful to think about. However, it was a haunting learning experience, and I handmade my costume which I'm so very proud of because I rarely finish anything.

Since then, I've placed in 3 of my shows. Failure is key to growth, unfortunately.

You look amazing in lingerie and boudoir photos. Do you have a favorite lingerie?

My favorite brand is Honey Birdette. They have the most adorable styles and their pieces are usually adjustable is all the right areas. The material is always luxurious to the touch, and it fits like a glove.

Nude art modeling. When did you start with this kind of art? How did you feel during the photo session? Lots of models that we have published told us that they felt “liberated”, “free”, “beautiful” and “addicted to nudity” because it is natural to show your body. What is your opinion and philosophy when it comes to your beautiful nude art?

I started modeling nude about a year after my first shoot.

When I started modeling, originally it was for promotion for my classes. I had a student who introduced me to Model Mayhem, so I made a profile and reached out to some local photographers.

I was honestly very conservative and modest about my body for most of my life. I was heavily brainwashed by purity culture growing up. I had a very rigid disposition when it came to my sexuality.

I often took jobs with this other model in the beginning of my career. She was much more liberal with her stance on the matter and made it much easier for me to open my mind to the experience. I did a few topless sessions, all shots of my back, accentuating my musculature only.

I started working more often, and I decided to venture out of my local area to larger cities, like Chicago and Las Vegas. I reached out to photographers in those areas and started making even more connections.

I thought to myself, "This is a once in a lifetime moment. I'll never be this young, in this beautiful location, ever again. "; and then I got naked in the middle of the desert.

How to boost self confidence ?!

This is tough. I've changed my mind about this many times. It started as, "fake it till you make it" and evolved into, "you're the best thing I never had". Now, I feel more like it's, "I don't care, I love it".

Everyone will have an opinion no matter what you do. If you let others' feelings or opinions dictate your life, you'll be very bored and confused.

Confidence is armor. It's your bulletproof vest. Use it to protect your peace.

Be ferociously you and look for a community of others who help you grow. Beware of frauds who seek to snuff out your shine, they lurk in the shadows where you least expect.