[Editor’s note: For Molly Sims favorite LA hot spots for families, click HERE!]
In the realms of fashion and entertainment, there are few paths untrodden by Molly Sims. The 41-year-old supermodel turned actress turned lifestyle expert has graced the pages of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue as well as the cover of French Vogue’s coveted September issue; played casino manager Delinda Deline for five seasons on NBC’s drama “Las Vegas,” and lent her style savvy to MTV’s fashion-focused series “House of Style” as a host, in addition to appearing in several feature films over the past decade. In keeping with the changing nature of the media, she now blogs about beauty, health, and fashion on her website, mollysims.com, and in January of this year, she released her first book: The Everyday Supermodel: My Beauty, Fashion, and Wellness Secrets Made Simple, which recently became a New York Times bestseller.
Though Sims and her husband, film producer Scott Stuber, raise their 2.5-year-old son, Brooks, in LA, Sims considers New York her second home.
“New York gives me independence,” she says. “I feel so cool; I feel like I’m in fashion, I still feel like I’m young. I’ll never give it up unless I have to.”
Sims’ rise from small-town Kentucky girl to pre-law student at Vanderbilt to international supermodel is modeling lore. In the final chapter of her book, titled “I Made That Sh*t Happen,” she divulges how she’s achieved her goals in life, love, and in her career. But more than a look backwards, her book is a greatest hits compilation of the lessons, advice, and observations that have propelled her forward.
“Making the New York Times bestseller list… I think I almost cried,” she says. “Because I’m almost nine months pregnant and it’s been a really rough time to do a publicity tour, but I am proud of myself, I’m not going to lie.”
Congratulations on your book, The Everyday Supermodel. What inspired you to write it?
Honestly, I’m a really big girl’s girl. I kind of am that go-to girl in saying: “You should go see this movie, you should wear this, you should buy this. Don’t eat that. I found these amazing shoes.” I’ve kind of always been that girl, and it started with my girlfriends and it led to a blog, mollysims.com, and then it led to a book. And I think people always want to know secrets, and tips, and how to do something, and what works, and what doesn’t. We kind of take the pun at supermodel and say: “I’m not trying to turn you into a supermodel, but I am going to try to let you be the best you can be.” And I’ve worked with really good people over the last 20 years… You wouldn’t look at me 20 years ago and think: “Oh that was a supermodel.” I changed this, I did this, I did that, I worked on this—it’s really just that journey, documented.
You’ve worn many different hats throughout the course of your career—as a supermodel, as an actress, as a TV personality, and now as a lifestyle guru—how do you think those roles have informed the person you are now?
That’s a great question. [They’ve] kind of made me who I am today… You know, I have different needs than I did when I was 20, than I had when I was 30, than I have now that I’m [over] 40. There’s a big gap missing in my 30s personally, but work was amazing. But that’s never going to be equal… It’s kind of like dieting when you have an awful boyfriend. You look amazing, but when you’re happy you tend to be heavier, you know what I mean? It’s always that balance, that kind of up and down. I think it’s really affected me. I’ve always kind of been the girl that’s been glass half-full—I try to look at the good in things. When one door closes I try to open another one. Do I get down? Sure. But I think all the things I’ve gone through in my life have led me to where I am today. Nothing’s perfect, that’s for sure.
In your book, you’re very open about how hard you’ve worked to get to where you are. What was the hardest part about working your way up in the modeling world?
The hardest part with modeling was that everything depended on what I looked like and how much I weighed, and whether I could fit in the clothes, and that was hard for me… I lived in Europe for six years, barely came home, had no money, didn’t speak some of the languages of the countries I was living in and working in. It was just perseverance. I think while some girls were constantly upset…nothing was ever good enough, I was just like: “Okay, I’m lucky to be here. If I don’t do well, at least I’m living in another country. I’m learning another language. I’m learning about another culture.” So I kind of just didn’t look at it like, if I didn’t make it as a model, it wasn’t going to be an amazing experience or an amazing ride. It worked out that way, but I was never the prettiest, [or] the smartest, I just persevered. I mean, this is me taking the Concorde from New York to Paris and living in LA taking an acting class. I just did it. I took 77 red-eyes in a year and a half to take the [acting] class. And I didn’t know any better, I guess. I think that’s why the whole last chapter [in the book] is how you make that happen… I think the best advice I got is that you can work for $5 every day or you can work for $10 once a month, and I was like: “Okay, well I’ll just work for $5”—I didn’t have an ego in it.
You primarily make your home in LA, but consider New York a second home. What are some of your favorite things to do in the city as a family?
Well, we [have gone] to the big children’s museum on the West Side, I love going to brunch at Bubby’s, I love going to the Standard for breakfast or brunch. We joined this little cool program called Citibabes. [We go] to the parks. At one of the parks I was hanging out with David Beckham and his daughter—that was a cool moment—people thought we were friends… I love going to Central Park, I love going to the zoo. There are so many amazing things. The one thing about New York City with kids is that there are built-in stimuli, you don’t have to make them. [Editor’s note: Click here for Sims’ picks for family fun in LA.]
Since you travel between coasts, do you have any tips on traveling while pregnant or with young kids?
Yes. Be prepared. Bring lots of stuff. I would have 12 Hot Wheels cars wrapped in Christmas wrapping paper, and [Brooks] would open one every 10 minutes. I would bring pipe straws, I would bring stickers, coloring books, an iPad, kitty cat ears—I bring everything. In terms of [being] pregnant—if you can bring an extra pillow, bring it, and—like what we talk about in the book—don’t eat plane food. Don’t eat it. Bring almonds, bring crackers, bring whatever. Make sure and be prepared.
Tell us about your family. What’s your son like? Is he excited for his baby sister?
He’s 2.5. You know, we’re having a few tantrums. But we’re getting there. He’s great, he’s very verbal now, he’s laughing, he’s talking, and he has an opinion. We’re trying to get him ready for baby girl Stuber… He told me he had a baby in his belly the other day. So, I’m not sure he quite gets it. But yeah, he’s excited.
How has this pregnancy compared to your first? What’s the biggest lesson you’ve been putting into practice?
Oh, well I gained almost 80 lbs [during my first pregnancy], and now I’ve gained 30 lbs, so it’s much better. I had a thyroid problem. I think you just have to listen to yourself. Definitely have a village, but at the same time…you just have to do the best you can—there are only so many things you can do.
Do you think you’ll approach raising a daughter differently than raising a son?
You know, I just want to raise them with values, and morals, and ethics. When [Brooks] gets toys, then we’ll pick out 10 [of his toys] and everything else goes to Baby2Baby or another charity. The excess of things is crazy, and I don’t want him to be that kid. So I think I’ve done a pretty good job with him, and I think [I’ll instill] the same values with her.
What are the greatest joys and biggest challenges of motherhood for you right now?
I love being a mother. I think the biggest challenge is balancing work and being a mom and wife. You always feel sort of guilty you’re not giving enough time to each one of those roles. I try to look at the week and really designate some time for each of those things, and I’ve gotten to where sometimes I have to schedule work versus play time. My greatest joy is the contentment I feel having my husband and son by my side.
How do you and your husband’s parenting styles compare and contrast?
My husband and my parenting styles are pretty similar. I will say it’s kind of good cop-bad cop. Every now and then one of us will be like: “Well dad said…” Or: “Well your mom said…” But we’re pretty much on the same page, which I think is really important. I have to say, with [Brooks], you need to have a back-up. Because if one is constantly undermining the other, it does not work.
In your book, you mention that you and your husband prepared for in vitro fertilization because you weren’t sure you would be able to get pregnant. What was your thought process like?
Yes, we froze [my eggs]. It’s like insurance. Like you buy insurance for a car, I bought insurance for a baby, you know? That’s really all. Just in case I couldn’t have [kids]. I’ve been so fortunate to have [Brooks], and I’m so lucky to be able to have them, and then if we decide to have a third and I can’t in two years, I mean, I’m covered. Does it work for everybody? No. Is it for everybody? No. Is it a good insurance policy? It was for me. And I think more and more women are putting off having children, so it’s hard when you wake up and you’re like: “Okay, I want this.” Whether I was with someone or not, I knew I was going to try and have a baby.
What are your philosophies on balancing work, wellness, and motherhood?
I think the better you feel about yourself, the better you do, in terms of being a parent, [and] in terms of how you feel about yourself. If you feel good you look good, and if you look good you feel good… That’s why I tell women to get a blowout, get your nails done, go exercise, and go walk around the park. Go do whatever, but make sure you take care of you and have time for you, and your husband, or your partner, or whomever, and go for a walk, or go shop, just make sure you don’t lose you. I think sometimes we get so overwhelmed and so exhausted that it’s hard, and you end up not being happy and you’re like: “Okay, it’s been two years since I’ve had date night!” And that’s just not good.
To discover more of Molly’s lifestyle secrets, visit mollysims.com.
