What if softness wasn’t something to hide, but something to honour? For 25-year-old model Georgia Rice, growth hasn’t come from toughening up, but from embracing her own gentle rhythm. A quiet force in the fashion world, Georgia was a model on our first-ever Beautilist shoot, and an instant reminder that kindness and calm are anything but passive. Here, she shares her journey from Surrey to set life, how she’s rewriting the meaning of strength, and why softness might just be your secret superpower.
Where are you from, and how did your journey begin?
I’m Georgia, a 25-year-old model from Surrey, with a love for pilates, matcha, and reading. I began modelling professionally at 18, and the past seven years have taught me so much, not just about the job, but about myself. One of the biggest lessons? The power of female energy. The best sets are always the ones filled with warmth and strong women. That inspired me to create an all-female fantasy book club, a space for connection, creativity, and softness in a world that often asks us to be hard.
What drew you to modelling?
It all started when I was 16, on the way to the Summertime Ball with my family. I got scouted outside the stadium. A few months later, it happened again, this time at a festival with my best friend. That second time, it felt like a sign from the universe. I took the leap.
What does being gentle mean to you?
It means staying true to who I am. I’ve always been naturally soft and sensitive, and I’ve never tried to change that to meet someone else’s standards. Gentleness, for me, is strength. It’s enough just as it is.
Have you ever felt softness was mistaken for weakness?
Absolutely. But I’ve come to learn that it takes far more courage to remain kind and vulnerable. Softness isn’t about being small. It’s about holding your ground with grace.
Tell us about a moment when gentleness became your strength.
There’ve been moments on set where I’ve needed to speak up. Instead of reacting with frustration, I’ve found that staying calm and respectful makes a bigger impact. You can protect your boundaries and still create a positive space.
How do you practise self-kindness?
My mum really instilled that in me. I believe the way you speak to yourself sets the tone for everything. I try to treat myself with the same compassion I’d give someone I love, especially when things get hard.
Where has softness helped you most?
Definitely with rejection. In modelling, not every casting goes your way. But I don’t see that as a failure. It’s just a redirection. What’s meant for me won’t pass me by.
How do you want people to feel around you?
Relaxed, happy, and totally themselves. No pressure, no judgment, just ease.
What would you tell someone who thinks they need to be hard to succeed?
You don’t. Kindness, empathy, and emotional intelligence are real strengths. You can set firm boundaries and still lead with compassion.
Has modelling changed how you view strength and softness?
Yes. My best work has come when I felt most like myself, not when I was trying to perform or be perfect.
Who reminds you to stay soft?
My mum, always. She’s a Cancer and I’m a Pisces, so we’re deeply emotional and intuitive. She reminds me that softness is powerful.
What does “growing softly” look like in your everyday life?
It’s choosing joy, protecting my peace, and moving gently. Whether it’s pilates, padel, or a smutty fantasy book, it’s about doing what fills me up.
A model with a love for stories, both lived and imagined.
Follow Georgia for more glimpses behind the lens and join her fantasy book club for a different kind of escape.
Instagram: @georgia_rice
Georgia’s Fantasy Book Club: @fantasybookclubdxb
Lead image direction by Alexandra and Morgan Venison, with photography by Chloe Grace Allen. Styling by Samantha Francis Baker of Aces of Space. Makeup by Nikita Georgia and Hair by Micki Florentina. Model Georgia Rice wears a full look by Zimmermann. Shot on location at Elara Villas in Park Hyatt Dubai.
Gif looks include: Look one swimsuit by Hunza G; look three t-shirt & four silk pyjamas, both stylist’s own; look five long silver sequin dress by Rosario, and final look Zimmermann.
