From Dolce & Gabbana to LA Noir: Sara Stamford on Why She Left Modeling to Expose Hollywood’s Dark Side

I had the pleasure of talking with Sara Stamford. Long before she began writing fiction about the seductions and dangers of Los Angeles, Stamford had already spent years inside another world built on appearances. She started modeling at 13, leaving the familiarity of her childhood in Russia for an international career that would take her through Japan, Milan, and Paris. The work offered travel, excitement, and the adrenaline of the runway. It also taught her, unusually early, how quickly glamour can become pressure.

That tension now sits at the center of Stamford’s second novel, The Lost Souls, a psychological suspense story set in Los Angeles. The book follows a young woman who arrives in the city without an established circle and falls into an increasingly manipulative friendship. Stamford describes it as fiction inspired by real events, but its underlying concern comes from something she knows firsthand: the gap between the image outsiders see and the experience of living inside it. Hollywood, she says, is often perceived as “a purely glamorous, flawless world,” and she wanted to show some of what can happen behind the curtain.

Stamford grew up between cultures. Her mother is Russian, her father Swedish, and she spent most of her childhood in Russia, where books became an early obsession. She remembers being surrounded by a literary culture rich in novels and poetry. Reading, she says, “was the seed planted early on that gave fuel to my imagination.”

Modeling interrupted that childhood quickly. At 13, Stamford entered an adult professional environment in which travel and independence arrived together. She spent significant time in Japan and later made Paris her base. Among her favorite assignments were runway shows for Dolce & Gabbana. What stayed with her was not simply the label or the clothes, but the strange imbalance of the work itself: hours of preparation condensed into a walk lasting only a few minutes. She remembers the rush, but also the warmth of a team she felt encouraged its models to enjoy the experience rather than treat every moment with deadly seriousness.

The larger modeling world could be less forgiving. Stamford learned to hear “no” constantly. Once, she says, she was one of two models being considered for a major Vogue opportunity, possibly Italian Vogue. The other model got the job. A week later, Stamford booked a photo shoot in Mallorca that became one of the assignments she remembers most fondly. Her conclusion was less about turning rejection into a slogan than about learning its scale. A lost booking could feel enormous one day and irrelevant the next.

Eventually, the costs of the career became harder to ignore. Stamford left modeling in her early twenties, earlier than many of her peers, because constant travel was making ordinary relationships difficult to sustain. “You barely see your loved ones,” she says of the schedule, “and there is not enough time to build lasting friendships.” It is a revealing reason to walk away from an industry organized around visibility. Stamford had spent years being seen, while recognizing how easily a life in motion could leave too little room for being known.

Los Angeles became the setting for her next reinvention. After moving there, she decided to pursue the interest that predated modeling: writing. Her debut thriller, The Honeycomb Diamond, introduced her as a novelist. Now The Lost Souls, set for release October 8, brings her professional past and fiction into closer conversation. The novel’s central relationship begins innocently, with two women meeting on a beach, then grows progressively more disturbing as friendliness gives way to manipulation.

Stamford sees the story partly as a warning for people arriving in Los Angeles with ambition and little experience of the city. She is especially interested in young women entering adulthood, when independence can coexist with a dangerous willingness to take people at face value. “Surface appearances can be deceiving,” she says. Her advice is not to live in permanent suspicion, but to pay attention to intuition.

That concern extends beyond fiction. Stamford speaks about women’s empowerment and mental health, particularly the pressures younger people face in a culture saturated with images of perfection. Social media, in her view, can make private struggles feel like personal failures because everyone else appears to be doing better. She argues instead for candid conversation, support, and less judgment.

There is a through line in all of it: the girl who grew up reading novels, the teenager who entered fashion, the young woman who chose relationships over a longer modeling career, and the novelist writing about the uneasy distance between what looks desirable and what may be happening underneath. Stamford has spent much of her life moving through environments that invite outsiders to project fantasies onto them. Her fiction is interested in what happens when those fantasies meet reality.

For Stamford, the answer is not cynicism. It is attention. The conversation that follows explores what modeling taught her about rejection, why she walked away, what Los Angeles gave her to write about, and why she believes young women need both confidence and caution as they make their way into unfamiliar worlds.

Yitzi: Sara, it is so delightful to meet you. Before we dive in deep, our readers would love to learn about your personal origin story. Can you share with us the story of your childhood, how you grew up, and particularly the seeds and genesis of all the amazing creativity that has come since then?

Sara: Sure. I was born in Russia. My father is Swedish and my mom is Russian, so I grew up there most of the time. I always loved books. Russian culture has an amazing variety of great authors, novels, and poetry, so I was naturally drawn to literature.

At the early age of 13, I started modeling, which brought about a whole new transformation. You learn how to grow up fast and become an adult on your own, and a completely different world opens up in front of you. I modeled for a while and loved traveling; I spent a lot of time in Japan and then in Paris, which became my base until I moved to Los Angeles.

Once I moved to Los Angeles, I decided to pursue writing because that was my true passion. Since I had loved reading my entire life, I began writing. Growing up reading diverse novels and short stories served as a huge inspiration — it was the seed planted early on that gave fuel to my imagination.

Yitzi: You probably have some amazing stories from your successful career, and I’m sure this is difficult to single out, but can you share two stories that stand out in your mind?

Sara: From my modeling experience or publishing? I am still fairly new to the publishing industry as I am releasing my second novel. Many authors release twenty novels, so while this is only my second, it certainly will not be my last.

My modeling career was great, though it came with immense pressure and aspects that were not necessarily glamorous. I decided to end it earlier than most models — in my early 20s — because I wanted to spend more time with my friends and family. When you travel constantly for modeling, you barely see your loved ones, and there is not enough time to build lasting friendships.

I worked extensively in Europe — Milan, Paris — and in Japan. My favorite experience was doing runway shows because of the excitement and the rush of adrenaline. The preparation takes hours, but the runway walk itself lasts only a couple of minutes. I had some wonderful shows; my favorites were probably with Dolce & Gabbana. I loved working with them because their team makes you feel like family — they are caring, loving, and bring a positive Italian spirit that encourages you to enjoy the journey rather than take things too seriously. That was a wonderful experience.

Since transitioning into writing, I published my debut novel four years ago and am now preparing to release my second. The new book is set in Los Angeles and inspired by true events. It is a work of fiction rather than a memoir, but anyone familiar with Los Angeles knows there is an entire side to the city that people on the outside do not see. Hollywood is often perceived as a purely glamorous, flawless world, and I wanted to pull back the curtain on what happens behind the scenes.

I wanted the book to serve almost as a guide for newcomers to Hollywood — for aspiring actresses and young women who move to Los Angeles expecting perfection — giving them insight into real scenarios so they can remain cautious and prepared for challenges.

Yitzi: There is a saying that sometimes our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Do you have a story about a funny mistake that you made when you were first starting and the lesson that you took away from it?

Sara: A funny mistake? Hmm, I cannot think of any mistake that really pops into my mind. I prefer to learn from somebody else’s mistakes. I met a lot of people in my life who shared stories and kind of warned me about things. For example, when I first moved to Los Angeles, people were warning me because when you live in Paris, Milan, or even New York, you take the subway every day, you take public transportation, it’s part of your life. In Los Angeles, it’s different.

When I moved here as a model, I was provided with a driver because I didn’t have my driver’s license yet. As you well know, LA is so huge, you can’t really walk anywhere compared to New York or any other city. One day, I remember telling another model who had already lived in Los Angeles for quite some time that I needed to go to some area and was probably going to take a bus. She warned me. She’s like, “No, no, no, you don’t understand. In Los Angeles, taking public transportation could be very dangerous.”

I was like, “What do you mean?” She told me a story that happened to another girl. It wasn’t a funny mistake, but she said the girl was basically sexually harassed and had to run for her life on the bus. She said, “If you’re a young woman and you’re alone, it’s very dangerous. It could be dangerous to take a bus in Los Angeles.”

I learned from that, and from then on, I would never take public transportation alone, especially in the evenings when I guess it becomes even darker in every possible way. But things like that, where somebody just warns you about things, like don’t go to a certain area or stay away from this part of town, are always helpful.

Thankfully, nothing horrible happened to me personally, but like I said, I’ve heard lots of stories. I’ve been friends with people who experienced things like that, and it definitely impacts me, just knowing about these things even though I didn’t experience them myself. I definitely want to put it out there and tell other people to be cautious.

Yitzi: That’s great. There is a related idea that receiving a “no” represents redirection rather than rejection. Do you have a story where an opportunity fell through, leading to an even better one?

Sara: Yes. In modeling, you hear “no” constantly. You have to develop thick skin and avoid taking decisions personally.

I was once on hold for a major opportunity with Vogue — I believe it was Italian Vogue — and the decision came down to me and one other model. I hoped to land it, but the job went to her, which was disappointing at the moment. However, the very next week I booked an incredible photo shoot in Mallorca with another publication. The experience was wonderful, the team felt like family, and the final photos were fantastic.

I learned quickly that when one door closes, another opens. Rejection is simply part of life — whether you are interviewing for a job, auditioning for a role, or going on a date that does not pan out. You learn to take it in stride and keep moving forward.

Yitzi: Let’s talk more about your book. Could you share a story or central thread from the novel that stands out as your favorite?

Sara: Of course. My second novel, The Lost Soul, is a contemporary psychological suspense story exploring the darker dynamics of female friendship, ambition, and life in Los Angeles.

Early in the story, a young woman moves to Los Angeles, completely unfamiliar with the city and without a social circle. She crosses paths with another woman riding a bicycle on the beach, and they strike up a friendship. That random encounter quickly evolves into something much deeper. As the narrative unfolds, the reader sees that this dynamic is far from healthy; it turns into a manipulative, twisted relationship.

It serves as a cautionary tale: surface appearances can be deceiving. Just because someone appears friendly does not guarantee good intentions. It is easy to be taken advantage of when you are young, trusting, and stepping into independent adulthood. While you do not need to keep your guard up at all times, trusting your intuition is essential.

Yitzi: This brings us to our signature question. Sarah, you have achieved significant success and gained valuable perspective along the way. Looking back to the start of your career, what are five key lessons you have learned that someone starting out today could benefit from?

Sara: First, cultivate self-confidence and hold onto it. Pursue what you genuinely love and are passionate about. Success rarely arrives overnight, so you must remain persistent and driven by your passion.

Second, do not let rejection discourage you when people turn you down or disagree with your vision. It is vital to preserve your own voice and unique perspective, regardless of your industry.

Third, seek out a mentor, but always balance guidance with your own intuition. A mentor’s experience is invaluable when you are weighing options, but you do not have to follow every recommendation blindly. Evaluate advice carefully to ensure it aligns with your personal vision.

Fourth and fifth, maintain belief in yourself and keep an optimistic outlook. The biggest hurdle for most people is simply staying the course and refusing to give up on their goals.

Yitzi: Beautiful. Can you share some of your self-care routines that help your body, mind, and heart thrive?

Sara: Absolutely. First and foremost is spending time in nature. Taking a short hike or going to the ocean grounds you, releasing the stress and tension accumulated throughout the workweek. Giving your mind space to reset in nature is essential.

Second, maintaining healthy, uplifting relationships is vital. Surround yourself with people who celebrate your milestones, remain supportive, and are free of jealousy or judgment — whether that is a close friend, a sibling, or your family. A dependable support network is key to long-term well-being.

Finally, stay aligned with your personal values and do what revitalizes you. Whether your version of unwinding is going out for a drink or riding a bike along the beach, everyone is different. The key is making dedicated time to nurture yourself and honor what brings you genuine joy.

Yitzi: This is our final aspirational question. Sarah, with your platform and work, you have an impactful voice. If you could spread an idea or inspire a movement that brings the greatest good to the most people, what would that be?

Sara: I am a passionate advocate for young women, female empowerment, and mental health awareness. The younger generation faces immense pressure navigating today’s world — particularly with social media creating unrealistic standards of perfection. It can be overwhelming, and many individuals silently struggle under that weight.

That is why we see widespread challenges with depression and anxiety that often go unaddressed. People frequently carry these struggles in isolation. It is critical to foster open, honest conversations with empathy, active support, and zero judgment. Everyone walks a different path, and nobody has an easy journey. A differing path does not imply something is wrong with someone. Leading with kindness, dialogue, and mutual support is what our culture needs most right now.

Yitzi: Beautiful. How can our readers purchase your latest book, follow your journey, and support your work?

Sara: My second novel, The Lost Souls, will be released in early October across all platforms in hardcover, ebook, and audiobook formats.

Young women navigating major transitions, moving to new cities, or stepping into adulthood will find it very relatable. The story draws inspiration from real experiences and speaks to the realities of contemporary city life and the entertainment industry.

Yitzi: Wonderful. Sarah, it has been a true pleasure speaking with you. I wish you continued success, good health, and blessings, and I would love to connect again next year.

Sara: Thank you so much for your time.

Yitzi: It’s my absolute pleasure. I look forward to sharing the draft with you and the final feature with our readers.

Sara: Thank you. Have a great day.

Yitzi: You too. Bye-bye.