Take one look at Brooks Nader and you’ll easily understand how she landed the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 2023 cover, but it turns out the model’s road to that coveted spot was an uphill battle. “For most models, your agent will send you in to meet with MJ Day [SI Swimsuit editor-in-chief] and her team and then they’ll decide if they want you,” Nader told CNN Underscored. “Even though I was signed to a modeling agency, they wouldn’t send me, they told me there was no way I’d ever get the job.”
Not one to take “no” for an answer, Nader instead opted to go the model search route. “Anyone on planet Earth can submit to model search,” explained Nader. “So, I said, ‘All right, I don’t have a lot of money, but I’m going to somehow fly to Miami and just stand in line and hope that I can at least meet them and maybe they’ll like me.’” As history would show, the SI team did in fact like Nader; she became a rookie in 2019 and four years later, landed her first cover.
A dream of hers since she was a little girl, becoming a cover girl not only opened doors for Nader career-wise, but gave her a platform to inspire others. “I’m from Louisiana from super-humble beginnings,” she says, adding that “you should never take anyone’s ‘no’ to heart — instead use it as motivation to continue to persevere.”
Below, Nader shares with us her top beauty and fashion picks for fall.
“I've been sent $1,000 moisturizers and I give them to friends because I'm a huge Cetaphil girl,”?says Nader. “My moisturizer is an everyday moisturizer that has SPF and it costs less than $20!” Known for being gentle and non-irritating on sensitive skin, this moisturizer from Cetaphil?is packed with broad spectrum SPF 35, not to mention vitamins B5 and B3 for soothing and edelweiss extract for nourishing and repair. Nader says she also uses the brand’s equally affordable Health Renew Night Cream at night.
Related: The best face moisturizers for every skin type, tried and tested
Nader, who is an investor in Dibs Beauty, shares that she was first introduced to the products via a makeup artist and quickly became a devotee. “I was obsessed with everything — the packaging and just how super easy and functional and self-explanatory all of the products are,” she says. One of her favorites is the brand’s cruelty-free contour and blush stick. Available in nine shade variations (Nader’s favorite is 2.5), this bestseller has over 3,000 customer reviews and a 4.6-star rating.
Related: Supermodel and Sala founder Shanina Shaik shares her beauty must-haves
More than 100,000 Amazon customers give Aquaphor a thumbs up, and Nader agrees. “It’s a basic that I put on everything — I put it on cuts, I put it on my lips, I put it on my lashes.” Great for restoring dry, cracked skin, Aquaphor is a jack-of-all-trades product that can be used on pretty much anything that needs healing or moisturizing.
Related: “Wheel of Fortune” co-host Vanna White shares her beauty essentials
“I’ve used this mascara since I was 16 years old,” says Nader. “It’s the best, and it’s under $10, can’t beat that!” Boasting more than 73,000 positive reviews on Amazon, Voluminous is known for adding — you guessed it — a hefty dose of volume to your lashes without clumping.
Related: The 15 best tubing mascaras, according to makeup artists
Her 24/7 travel schedule often results in bloodshot eyes, but Nader has found a solution. “I get tired, all the jet lag catches up to me, so the Lumify eye drops are a lifesaver,” she says. “I’m absolutely addicted, especially before events or red carpets, because I feel like it doesn't only brighten my eyes, but it sort of opens them up a little bit.” Clinically proven to provide whiter eyes with one drop in under a minute, Lumify also lasts for up to eight hours.
When it comes to brightening and tightening her skin, Nader relies on the iS Clinical Active Serum. “This is amazing for pore minimizing and brightening skin and it works incredibly fast,” she says. “Since using it, I've noticed an immediate difference in how my skin looks and feels.” Designed to decrease fine lines and wrinkles while simultaneously evening skin tone, the serum also gives off a tingling sensation.
Nader’s denim brand of choice? “I've been really into Khaite lately,” says Nader. “I love their jeans and denim, anything oversized.” Channel the baggy jeans look with the brand’s Martin Jean, which comes in two shades and is available in sizes 24 to 32.
Related: Model Madison Headrick Nahmad shares her style and beauty picks
