Meet Erika Rose St. Louis | MODEL | INFLUENCER | DIGITAL MARKETER

We had the good fortune of connecting with Erika Rose St. Louis and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Erika Rose, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
The most important factor behind my success is hunger, passion, and drive. One has to truly love what they do and be in love with the vision of what you can become and achieve in order to keep going. There were many points in my career where I thought of giving up because of external factors and pressures however, if you have the drive you can face anything that comes your way. Along with these emotional factors, networking has to be the greatest contributor to my outward success. Modeling and Influencing has a huge amount of sales and marketing involved. You have to learn how to cater your content and sell what your followers and brands want to see while still keeping your personality and original flair involved. Every room that I walk into I make sure I present myself with my best foot forward. Not only looking good externally, but making sure to shake hands with every face in the room.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I have a strong belief that the world is my oyster and I can have it all. Your biggest opponent is your mindset and limiting beliefs. I currently work as a traveling model, social media influencer, accounting bookkeeper and marketing assistant, Masters student at the University of Southern California, and developer of my new app called Hi Society debuting January 2025.

I believe what sets me apart from my peers is my work ethic. No one knows how hard I work behind the scenes to make my dreams a reality. I work hard to show that little girl who lived in South Florida with big dreams that I will never disappoint her. I work hard to show my two little sisters and any girl who looks like me that you can be beautiful, educated, happy, and successful in this life.

My story started in Manhattan, New York where I was born. I started my educational journey at a gifted school where they enriched their students through exploring creativity. At the age of 3, I started playing the violin, ballet, tap, and Jazz. When I was 4 years old I moved to Coconut Creek, Florida with my mom. Growing up my mother always encouraged me to be strong, unique, and authentically myself. She constantly inspired me with her strength and independence as she told me the story of her own modeling journey when she first moved to the United States from Haiti at 17 years old.

Growing up I always knew I had a passion for business and the entertainment industry. I entered my first pagent and won the title of Miss Teen Haiti at 8 years old. I moved to Scottsdale, Arizona half way through high school and in Arizona is where my modeling journey began. As a hobby my best friend Lauren Morawski and I would spend our free time planning creative photoshoots around the valley with my first camera I got as my 16th birthday present. I began to post these images on Instagram, not caring what my peers thought of me and from there local companies started to reach out to do photoshoots and small runway shows.

I then went to Arizona State University to pursue my bachelors degree in Business Law. My freshman year I joined a club called the business of fashion where I heard of an opportunity to volunteer at Phoenix Fashion Week when I was 17 years old. I went to the event and was pulled aside to work the red carpet by a lady named Kim, who worked for the organization and suggested I audition for the Top 40 models in Arizona the next season. That night with all of the volunteers, I got to sit down and watch the final show for a brand called For the Stars. Sitting in the audience I remember getting chills watching the models walk down the runway and I told one of my peers, “that’s going to be me up there one day”.

The next year at 18 years old, I auditioned for Top 40 and made it! It was one of my first biggest milestones in my career as I went through a 3 month modeling bootcamp and networked with many amazing people. I continued to work with the organization for 3 years, walking for Nike Suits and Sneakers and the Arizona Bridal show.

I graduated college with my bachelors at 20 years old and continued to do modeling through an amazing organization called Luxe and City, who signed me on as one of their first models. Through this organization, I was able to meet many amazing people and creatives as well as completing some of my life long dreams, such as walking New York Fashion Week.

Some of my most proud moments were being on a Times Square Billboard twice in one year. my magazine features,Walking in New York Fashion Week while having my family watch me, and being the Face of Arizona Fashion Week in 2022.

Currently I am pursuing my masters degree at the University of Southern California with a 4.0 gpa and expected to graduate in December 2024. I am continuing to do work around the valley and across the country.

I want the world to know that the journey was definitely not easy, but if you set your mind on something and truly believe that you will get there, the universe will make your dreams come true.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my best friend from Florida was visiting Arizona for a week long trip, I would definitely take her to D’Lite or Hash Kitchen for breakfast. We would go dinner at my favorite restaurants STK, Mon Cherie and Toca Madera in Scottsdale. I would take her cliff jumping at Saguaro Lake and do some hiking at Camelback Mountain and Papago park. We would go to first Friday in Downtown Phoenix and explore the nightlife there and in Old Town Scottsdale. Pool days are my absolute favorite! I would host a pool party at my place with my boyfriend and local friends. I would also plan a day for a staycation at Hotel Valley Ho. I would also plan a day trip to one of my favorite places in Arizona, Sedona. Some fun activities we would do is ride ATV’s, go to the farmers market, attend a industry night with Luxe and City, and watch a Sun’s basketball game!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to shoutout my family and my boyfriend, who have shown me unconditional love and support, and encourage me to continuously push the bar of what I feel I am capable of doing. I would also like to shoutout the organization Luxe & City, who has supported my creative endeavors and pushed me to level up as a creative. I would also like to thank God for putting opportunities and people in my life and showing me the way even when I haven’t seen the vision yet.

Website: https://erikarose.myportfolio.com/portfolio

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eri.ka_rose

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erika-st-louis/

Other: https://linktr.ee/erikarosee

Image Credits
Jeff Otto
Michael Franco
Polo Gibson
Randramoreproductions
Manish Capture n Shoot
Marcel Roshto
Arun Nevader
Obtaining Social