Meet Heather Brooke | Model, Actress, Behavioral Therapist, Neurofeedback Specialist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Heather Brooke and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Heather, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
I have never been a big risk taker, but that all changed in 2016 when after my divorce, I decided it was time for a change. Professionally, I’m a behavioral therapist and I began putting in my application across the state looking for a new job and a new place to live. When I got offered a job in Loveland, Colorado, I didn’t even know where I was going. While I’d lived in Colorado for 10 years, I’d never been north of Denver. After accepting the job, I moved as a single woman with my two young daughters to a town where I didn’t know anyone. Professionally, it was the best decision I have ever made. Then I took the risk to compete in the Ms. Woman Colorado 2017 pageant. Having lived with a hair pulling disorder called Trichotillomania since I was 10, it was a huge risk. I had always tried to hide my hair pulling. This time, I sought out sponsors and found Hair Club. My collaboration with Hair Club Denver and talking openly about my disorder with not only other contestants, but judges, paid off and I was crowned Ms. Woman Colorado United States 2017. Everything changed from that point. I was then part of a Hair Club infomercial, I appeared on ABC’s The Proposal and got my first role in an award winning feature a length film, Final Transit. These opportunities have led to more work as an actress and model and I’ve walked runways not only in Colorado, but also in New York. When I took a risk to relocate and then took a risk to embrace my flaws, my life changed. Taking calculated risks can lead to some of the best experiences of your life.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Breaking into modeling and acting is not always easy, in fact, it can be down right difficult. You hear a lot of no’s before you hear yes. It can take a toll on your self-esteem. It causes you to doubt your abilities and talent. But when you embrace who you are, flaws and all, that can change everything. I found I received more no’s when I was trying to hide my Trichotillomania (hair pulling disorder) and was trying to be what I thought others wanted me to be. Once I embraced my flaws, stopped trying to hide them and actually started talking about them, I found that I started receiving a lot more yes’s. The biggest lesson I learned along my journey that started when I was a child and competed in my first beauty pageant almost 35 years ago has been to always be myself and to embrace who I am instead of hiding it. People can always tell when you’re hiding something and they want to work with someone who is real and honest.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Some of my favorite things in Denver are staying at The Curtis (I love all the themed floors), going to Nativ, attending concerts at Red Rocks and Pepsi Center, going to Denver Zoo (Zoo Lights in December is one of my favorites) and checking out the many breweries across the city.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I wouldn’t be where I am today without my children, Skylar and Avery, who are my motivation behind everything I do and continue to encourage me to pursue my dreams and even enjoy taking part in photoshoots and traveling with me to shows. I also want to give a huge shout out to Hair Club, my HC stylist, Sarah Albright (now at August Parlor) and the first photographer to believe in me and my talent and who has become not only one of my favorite photographers, but also a great friend, Chris Aderhold of Arclight Photography and Imagery. I would also like to say a huge thank you to my Black Lion Endeavors family and founder, Super Dave Raines. Dave has given me opportunities and a platform to express my creative side and continues to encourage my personal and professional growth.

Instagram: heatherbrookemodel

Facebook: heatherbrookemodel

Image Credits
Arclight Photography and Imagery