We believe every model deserves a community that feels like family
Who We Are
Being a model looks incredible from the outside — but behind the scenes, it can be one of the loneliest careers in the world. Constant travel, unfamiliar faces, and an industry that often pits you against the very people who understand you most. The Model Sanctuary was created to change that. We are a private community built by models, for models — a place where competition gives way to friendship, and where every woman who walks through the door is met with warmth, understanding, and people who genuinely get it.
Inside The Sanctuary, we show up for each other in every way that matters. From expert-led conversations on mental health and confidence, to yoga classes, group hikes, volunteer days, and movie nights with zero makeup and zero pressure — everything we do is rooted in one simple belief: that when models feel safe, supported, and truly seen, they thrive. This is your team, your family, your soft place to land. We are better together.
Meet Dasha
Founder & CEO
Hi, I’m Dasha.
If you’ve been in the industry for a minute, you know how it goes. On paper, it’s all Prada debuts, Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar shoots, and working with dream brands like Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, Victoria’s Secret, and Estée Lauder. I’ve been incredibly lucky to live this life for 13 years, working everywhere from Japan to Europe.
But behind the gloss? It can feel so isolating.
When I moved to the US ten years ago, I struggled so much to find my people. In this business, we’re always on the move, surrounded by crowds but often completely alone. A little while ago, I was at a few industry events and started having real, unfiltered conversations with the other girls. It turned out we were all carrying the exact same feeling: we were tired of being lonely, and we desperately wanted a place where we didn’t have to "pose" or worry about being judged.
My amazing partner, Nicoline, felt that exact same spark, and we decided to build the space we both wished we had.
For me, staying grounded means stepping away from the cameras to get my hands dirty making ceramics, singing, or just sitting in meditation. I wanted to bring that exact same feeling of peace to all of us. When you’re here, you’re part of a genuine big sisterhood. You can finally let your guard down, relax, and just be you. I’m so happy you’re here.
Meet Nicoline
Founder & CCO
Hi, I’m Nicoline!
I came to modelling later than most — signing my first contract at 28 with NEXT Canada in Toronto and hitting the ground running, building a career that has since taken me to Milan, London, New York, and LA, with clients like YSL, Maybelline, Oribe, Kate Spade, and Moroccan Oil along the way. But long before the runways, there was a six-year-old on horseback, jumping fences and fearless — a spirit that never really left. I graduated with a BFA from Parsons School of Design and spent years afterward running my own painting studio, collaborating with major New York artists, and working in production design. I am, at my core, a creative — someone who has always found a way to make art out of wherever life has taken her.
It was modelling itself that planted the seed for The Model Sanctuary. Despite working alongside people constantly, I was struck by how isolating this industry can feel — the travel, the transience, the quiet pressure that so many of us carry but rarely say out loud. Coming into modelling with a little more life behind me gave me both perspective and purpose, especially watching younger models navigate an industry that asks so much of them so soon. The Sanctuary is my answer to that — a place rooted in genuine connection, creative spirit, and the belief that every woman in this industry deserves a real community around her.
Our Mission
Community
The Model Sanctuary exists because this industry is better when the women in it look out for one another. We are a private sisterhood built by models, for models — a space where competition gives way to genuine friendship, and where every woman who walks through the door is met with warmth, zero judgment, and people who truly get it.
Wellness
Behind every campaign and every runway is a human being who deserves to feel grounded, supported, and seen. Through wellness programming, honest conversations, movement, and community events, we show up for the whole person — not just the model. Because when we feel safe and cared for, we do our best work and we stay healthy.
Belonging
From volunteer mornings to game nights, group hikes to meditation sessions, everything we do is designed to build something real. Not a network. Not a platform. A family. One where you can finally let your guard down, find your people, and always know you have a team in your corner — no matter what city you wake up in.