Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicole Ribera-Ergueta.
Hi Nicole, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I am a proud Bolivian immigrant who came to the United States at the age of two. Growing up, I was always drawn to the arts. Singing, dancing, and acting became some of my earliest forms of self-expression and creativity.
I had the privilege of attending Nashville School of the Arts for high school, where I majored in Theatre Arts and began developing my foundation in acting. Surrounded by creative, driven peers, I found myself drawn not only to performance but also to visual storytelling. With many friends pursuing photography, I naturally stepped in front of the camera and quickly realized modeling felt like an extension of acting. It gave me the freedom to embody different characters and express a range of identities in a single frame.
In 2018, I signed with The Avenue Agency and remained with them through 2023. During that time, I booked commercial and promotional work, gaining firsthand insight into how the industry truly operates. At the same time, I immersed myself in collaborative photoshoots with photographers who were experimenting, pushing boundaries, and bringing bold, creative concepts to life. That environment shaped me deeply and taught me artistry, adaptability, and the value of creative risk-taking.
I’ve had the honor of walking in the Deep Tropics Music Festival Fashion Show in both 2024 and 2025, as well as the Fashion Is For Every Body show in 2025, and I’m proud to share that I will also be walking in the 2026 show.
I’ve collaborated with brands including Local Honey and Deep Tropics, and have been featured in both local and international magazine publications through creative collaborations with photographers I deeply admire. I’ve also worked with students from Nossi College of Art and Design and the Academy of Makeup Arts, all experiences that allowed me to grow alongside emerging creatives. I’ve appeared in commercials and music videos, and recently returned to acting, reconnecting with the foundation of my passion for storytelling and performance.
What matters most to me is the creative community. The models, photographers, designers, makeup artists, directors, all of it. Being around people who are fully committed to their craft keeps me evolving. I’m constantly learning, constantly being pushed to go further.
Right now, I’m looking to sign with new representation in both modeling and acting while building my presence online in a way that actually reflects who I am. I want my work to feel honest, raw, and intentional. I want to create things that make people feel something, and to be part of work that stands and inspires others to be unapologetically themselves.
I’ve been shaped by the people around me, and I carry that into everything I do. If I can give even a fraction of that inspiration back, then I’m doing something right.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Some of the biggest obstacles I’ve faced as a creative have been learning how to balance my passion with my career. I attended the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, where I earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology with a minor in Criminal Justice. I graduated a semester early in December 2019, right before COVID-19 hit. I started my first post-grad job in Nashville just one week before the world shut down in March 2020.
Like for so many creatives, COVID slowed everything down. During lockdown, I was working remotely and suddenly had a lot more time at home, which actually pushed me to reconnect with my creativity. I started doing self-portraits just for fun, and that eventually led to my first fashion show opportunity with Trapxart in June 2020.
When things started to return to a “new normal” and people went back into offices, I was still freelancing in modeling and acting in my spare time. However, it became really difficult to balance a 40-hour work week with last-minute auditions and bookings. A lot of opportunities would come up during the week, and I couldn’t always step away from work to make them happen. There were definitely moments where I felt discouraged and found myself wondering how other people were managing to live in both worlds.
Body image has also been something I’ve had to work through. Growing up, my weight has fluctuated, but I often didn’t feel “skinny enough” to be taken seriously in modeling. I would tell myself, “once I get fit, then I’ll really pursue this.” On top of that, constantly seeing very curated, “perfect” bodies in media really impacted my self-esteem. It’s gotten harder to find natural, unfiltered representation online.
Over time, I’ve learned to unlearn a lot of that and to meet myself where I am in every phase. I’ve been working on prioritizing balance and consistency instead of extremes. At one point I was very deep into fitness, but I approached it in a way that wasn’t sustainable for me, and it eventually led to burnout.
Now, I’m figuring out how to make all of my passions work together. I do photoshoots on weekends or in the evenings and stay open to opportunities whenever I have space to create. My professional work is in domestic violence, trauma, and substance abuse support, and I’m working toward becoming a counselor in that field while still keeping room for my creative path. To me, both worlds don’t have to compete; they can exist at the same time, but it takes intention and effort to build a life that holds both.
A lot of my drive comes from personal experience. My mother is a domestic violence survivor, and she’s the reason this work is so important to me.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a model and actress based in Nashville, TN, and I’ve been doing this work for over a decade. I specialize in editorial and fashion photoshoots, but I also have experience in commercial and print work. On the acting side, I’ve worked in both film and theatre. I’m always looking for ways to evolve and grow in my craft, whether that’s learning new poses, or experimenting with wardrobe, hair, and makeup to better understand how to tell a story visually.
One of my proudest accomplishments in the last few years has been the opportunity to participate in incredible fashion shows. Those experiences have taught me a lot about myself, my confidence, and what I want out of runway work. They’ve also allowed me to meet and be inspired by so many talented people along the way.
I’m proud of myself for consistently putting myself out there; feeling the fear and doing it anyway, regardless of the outcome. Over time, I’ve built a stronger sense of confidence, and I really value the connections I’ve made within the creative community. I stay open to ideas and opportunities because I genuinely believe no vision is too out of reach, you just find different ways to make it happen. I’m very committed and determined in that way.
As a natural-bodied Latina immigrant with several tattoos, I’m also aware of the space I occupy in an industry that doesn’t always reflect or celebrate that kind of representation. I’m proud to be creating and showing up authentically, especially in a broader political climate that hasn’t always felt safe or welcoming for Hispanic and Latinx communities. That awareness also fuels my work and my voice within the creative space.
Outside of modeling and acting, I also have experience in event planning and have collaborated with other creatives, who also happen to be some of my best friends, to help showcase local and international DJs and dancers within the Nashville community. Check out @thechildren_ofhouse on Instagram to learn more.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
What I love about Nashville is that it is constantly evolving and growing. There are so many creatives here, and they are all doing incredible things across the city. I have the honor of knowing DJs, artists, dancers, models, actors, yoga instructors, healers, advocates, and so many others who have created spaces that feel intentional, welcoming, and rooted in self-expression and strength. There are also many collectives that bring people from all walks of life together, whether within Hispanic and Latinx communities, Black communities, or broader creative circles. Nashville has a rich and beautiful blend of culture and community, and I see people consistently showing up for one another.
I am a Nashville native (shout out to Antioch), which feels increasingly rare these days, and I have watched this city grow and change over time, including through natural disasters such as the 2020 tornadoes and, of course, the pandemic. I’ve seen countless moments where neighbors and communities came together in times of need, and that sense of resilience is something I really value about this city.
At the same time, I think it’s important to acknowledge some of the broader challenges communities in Nashville and across Tennessee are navigating right now. There have been ongoing conversations around immigration policy, representation, and equity that have had a real impact on many immigrant and BIPOC communities throughout the state.
What stands out to me is how deeply these communities contribute to Nashville’s culture, creativity, and growth. Even during periods of political or social tension, I believe it’s important to continue fostering spaces where people feel supported, represented, and connected to one another.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://nikkiblueskies.my.canva.site/
- Instagram: @nikkiblueskies
