Defying industry norms as she approaches fifty, biologist, pilot, and veteran model Amy Taylor opens up about finding resilience in rejection, building a vibrant life beyond the camera, and her enduring love for her Italian roots.

What initially drew you to this field, and how has your journey evolved since then?

I came to modeling somewhat unexpectedly. I was studying biology and other breadth requirements in high school, and fashion seemed almost like another universe. What initially attracted me was the creativity—the idea that clothing, photography, movement, light, and personality could come together to tell a story in a single image. Over the years, my relationship with modeling has changed enormously. When I was younger, I was naturally more focused on building a career and getting the next opportunity. Today, I’m much more interested in the creative experience itself. I’m approaching 50 now, and I find that wonderfully liberating. I don’t expect modeling to last forever, which makes me appreciate every interesting project that still comes my way. But I’m nowhere near quitting; publishers and photographers contact me every day, so why would I stop? A career doesn’t have to be permanent to have been extraordinary, but I don’t rush the end because aging isn’t less beautiful. The industry has realized that in recent decades, which is wonderful. The democratization of beauty is a good thing.

Can you share an important experience that significantly influenced your career or personal growth?

One of the most important lessons came not from a single event, but from experiencing rejection repeatedly and discovering that I was still perfectly fine afterward. Modeling teaches you very quickly that you cannot control how other people perceive you. You can walk into one room and be exactly what they’re looking for, then walk into another and be completely wrong. Learning to separate external approval from internal self-worth influenced much more than my career. It made me more resilient in relationships, business, and life generally. Being chosen feels wonderful. Learning that you can be happy without always being chosen is even more valuable.

How do you stay creatively inspired and motivated in your work?

I try to remain interested in things that have nothing to do with modeling. I continue my education in science, history, psychology, economics, philosophy, cities, and whatever strange subject has captured my attention that week. I travel, visit museums, watch people, notice architecture, and talk to people whose lives are completely different from mine. I think creativity suffers when your entire world becomes your profession. The more life you experience away from the camera, the more you eventually have to bring back to it.

Is there a tradition or custom from your upbringing that still holds a special place in your life?

The tradition that matters most to me is simply staying connected to family. As I’ve gotten older—and as my parents have gotten older—I appreciate ordinary family rituals much more than I once did: holidays, meals, phone calls, familiar stories we’ve heard a hundred times, and simply being together. When you’re young, traditions can sometimes feel repetitive. Later you realize repetition is partly what makes them precious. They become little markers connecting different versions of your family across time.

What has been the most challenging project or situation in your career, and how did you navigate it?

Some of the most challenging situations haven’t been individual shoots but moments when I’ve had to decide whether an opportunity was worth accepting. Fashion can sometimes blur the boundary between being adventurous and ignoring your instincts. I’ve learned that no photograph, booking, or career opportunity is important enough to sacrifice your safety, dignity, or values. When something feels wrong, I’m comfortable leaving now. That confidence took time. One of the most valuable professional skills I’ve acquired is knowing that “no” is a complete career decision too.

Who has been a major influence or mentor in your life, and what lessons have they imparted?

I’ve never had one single mentor who shaped my entire life. Instead, I’ve been fortunate to learn from many people in very different worlds—professors, photographers, businesspeople, pilots, creative professionals, lovers, friends, and especially my family. Different people taught me different things: intellectual discipline, professionalism, independence, kindness, financial responsibility, and how important it is to remain teachable. Perhaps the larger lesson was that wisdom isn’t concentrated in impressive people. You can learn something valuable from almost anyone if you’re paying attention.

Can you recount a turning point or milestone in your career that was particularly significant?

Being published for the first time was obviously exciting, as were the larger publications and covers that came later. Those moments make a young model feel that perhaps this improbable career is becoming real. But looking backward, I think the more meaningful milestone is longevity. I’m now approaching 50 and still being invited to create photographs and appear in publications. I never assumed that would happen. The individual credits are wonderful, but I’m increasingly proud simply that I’ve stayed creative, professional, adaptable, and interested for this long. Sometimes the milestone isn’t arriving somewhere. It’s discovering how far you’ve traveled.

What book, movie, or artistic work has significantly shaped your worldview or professional approach?

I’m more influenced by an accumulation of ideas than by one definitive work. I’ve always read widely across science, philosophy, psychology, economics, and literature, and I love art and cinema. If there’s a common thread in the work that stays with me, it’s an interest in human nature—why we behave as we do, how much of ourselves we can change, how much we cannot, and how people create meaning in lives that are necessarily temporary. Perhaps my scientific education influenced that most strongly. Biology teaches humility. We are extraordinary creatures, but we’re also animals living within nature, subject to time, change, aging, and chance. I find that perspective strangely comforting rather than depressing.

How do you find balance between your professional responsibilities and personal well-being?

I’ve become much better at recognizing that not every available hour needs to become productive. I value sleep, exercise, long walks, time alone, time with people I love, travel, day spas, great restaurants, fitness, and days when absolutely nothing impressive happens. When I was younger, rest could feel like time stolen from ambition. Now I understand that rest is part of having a sustainable life. I’ve also become protective of peace. Not every opportunity deserves a yes, not every disagreement deserves a response, and not every problem deserves permanent residence in your mind.

If you could collaborate with anyone, past or present, in your field, who would it be and why?

I would have loved to work with Peter Lindbergh. His photographs of women were beautiful without making beauty feel fragile or artificial. He seemed interested in the person inside the photograph—the intelligence, confidence, vulnerability, humor, and history visible in a face. I particularly admire that philosophy now. At this stage of my life, I’m much more interested in being photographed as an interesting woman than in being photographed as a supposedly perfect one.

Looking toward the future, what are your major new goals or aspirations, both personally and professionally?

Professionally, I’m trying to remain open rather than create an elaborate master plan. I’d love to continue modeling as long as interesting projects appear, particularly work that explores beauty, femininity, and style across different stages of life. I’m also interested in writing and other forms of storytelling, and I’m curious about what I’ll eventually do when and if (though they keep calling, as I said, so I guess that’s not just yet!) modeling occupies a smaller part of my life. Personally, my ambitions have become clearer. I want time with my family, good health, financial independence, travel, enough luxury to satisfy my slight snobbery (haha), interesting people, continued learning, and a peaceful life. For years I thought every new chapter had to be wilder than the previous one. Now I think it simply has to be peaceful. Peppered with adventure (I’m still very much into athletic pursuits: I still ski, SCUBA, shoot, play golf and tennis and polo, rock climb, fly planes, all that), but I’m losing my interest in that which costs me health (i.e. late nights, being around people who do drugs, environments where drama can occur, any of that). I love my life how it is now, so more of the same would be just fine, for the coming years!

Aside from your professional work, what passions or interests do you pursue?

Almost too many! My academic background is in biology, and science remains a lifelong interest. I later earned an MBA and became a commercial pilot, so business and aviation are also worlds I love. I’m adding my rotorcraft and sea plane ratings, and I continue to enjoy a variety of activities as I said before. I’m fascinated by psychology, economics, philosophy, history, architecture, and cities. I love traveling, museums, yoga, long walks, good food, beautiful hotels, and conversations that unexpectedly become interesting. And a considerable amount of my ordinary life revolves around my little dog, who remains completely indifferent to my professional accomplishments. I find his priorities refreshing…keeps me humbler.

What piece of advice would you offer to someone aspiring to make a mark in your field?

Build a life that is larger than your career. Learn your craft. Find reputable professionals. Be reliable, arrive prepared, understand movement and light, and treat everyone on set with respect. Save your money. Protect your boundaries. Develop interests outside fashion. And don’t make the mistake of believing that being selected means you’re valuable or that being rejected means you’re not. Modeling can give you extraordinary experiences, but eventually every career changes. If you’ve also built an education, friendships, interests, independence, and a strong sense of yourself, you’ll have something much more valuable than a portfolio. You’ll have a life.

Have you ever been to Italy? In case, did you like it?

Yes, many times, and I’ve been fortunate to experience very different sides of Italy. Like it? Absolutely not; I love it. Adore, more like. Obsessed, almost. As is the entire world. Italy is utterly spectacular (as you know). I’ve visited Monza and Lake Como for the Formula 1 race, which was an unforgettable combination of Italian passion, speed, glamour, and one of the most beautiful landscapes imaginable. I’ve spent time in Tuscany in autumn, when the grapes and olives were ripe and the countryside seemed almost impossibly beautiful. I’ve explored Rome with my family, which was especially meaningful because part of my ancestry is Italian (my great grandfather immigrated to New York City from Valstagna), so experiencing the history and culture together gave the trip a personal dimension. I’ve also had the magical experience of approaching Italy from the water, traveling by yacht from Spain along the Mediterranean, spending time along the Ligurian Riviera, and continuing down the Italian coast toward Civitavecchia. There is something extraordinary about seeing those coastal towns from the sea—the landscape, architecture, light, and color are difficult to forget. So yes, I absolutely ache for Italy! What strikes me is how many different versions of beauty exist within one country. Italy has extraordinary art, architecture, fashion, food, history, landscapes, and regional cultures, but beauty also seems integrated into everyday life rather than reserved for special occasions. And of course Milan has its own extraordinary relationship with fashion and design. I’ve always admired Italian style because at its best it combines elegance with sensuality—it can be sophisticated without ever feeling sterile. Perhaps what I love most is the Italian appreciation for enjoying life well: beautiful food, long conversations, family, craftsmanship, culture, and taking time to appreciate where you are. With my partly-Italian roots, perhaps I’m slightly biased—but Italy will always have a special place in my heart, and I certainly hope it hasn’t seen the last of me. I’ll be back soon.