I first met Amber Valletta at the Copenhagen Fashion Summit. We had one of those instant

connections where you met someone who thought the same way and felt the same way about things

happening in the world. I also knew that our editor-at-large, Tim Blanks, had known Amber from her

very early days as a 90s supermodel. Today Amber has built a name that goes far

beyond her modeling career, having struggled with addiction and become a mother herself. Amber has become a new

kind of role model in the fashion industry. She really is proof that feeling good is the new looking good.

I invited Amber to speak with Tim at Voices in 2016 to share some of the lessons from her

journey. Just keep in mind, Amber's conversation with Tim was recorded in front of a live audience,

so please excuse any audio issues.

Amber, it's such a pleasure to talk to you. It's always been a pleasure to talk to you.

20 years ago when you arrived, and I guess what was the second wave of supermodels,

you were always so open and accessible and where a lot of your peers, you could feel,

they hadn't really felt their way into the job, but you always were so present.

So it's interesting to hear actually there was a behind the scenes story that was happening there,

that you presented extremely well, but there

actually was all that inner turmoil and...

I'm surprised that you say that, so thank you because I always felt I was cranky and

shy and rebellious. Yeah, I mean, I was 15 when I started modeling from Oklahoma.

And, you know, I hadn't traveled much.

I'd never been outside the United States.

And when I met you, I think it was probably 17 or 18.

And my trajectory was quick.

...