Nashville Lifestyles' Most Beautiful People 2019

Andrew East | 27 | NFL Football player

Andrew East has a healthy definition of beauty:

“We don’t have a choice as to what we look like, but we do have a choice in recognizing that everyone has some strengths and everyone has some weaknesses. Having confidence in your strength and honesty with your weakness is beautiful to me.”

They’re wise words that East has proven he lives by. While touting one of his proudest accomplishments—finishing the Boston Marathon—he’s quick to mention, “I cried around mile 19.” East is a man of many talents—from at-home barista to beekeeper—all of which greatly benefit his wife, Olympic gold medal gymnast (and previous Most Beautiful cover model) Shawn Johnson. Together the two have built an impressive following on YouTube and social media, and their followers join them in anxiously awaiting the arrival of their first child. 

Imani Sailers | 24 | Company Dancer at Nashville Ballet

There’s no questioning Imani Sailers’ grace and beauty. As a Company Dancer with Nashville Ballet, she’s worked her way up to become one of the most visible performers on the stage. It’s a position that brings her great pride and great responsibility.

“Ballet dancers begin training for their careers at such an early age, and becoming a professional dancer is the culmination of many years of hard work,” she says. “As an African American woman, it means even more to me personally because I have the opportunity to use my platform to bring even more visibility to the women of color who have pursued this career and who are paving the way for others to follow in their footsteps.”

Sailers furthers her position as a role model by teaching at Rejoice School of Ballet, which provides dance training to students of different cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds.

“To be able to pass on what I have learned to a new generation of dancers is an honor and a blessing.”

Ryan Reisdorf | 29 | Former Belmont Nursing Student turned Entrepreneur | Founder of Placemat 

While Ryan Reisdorf was attending Belmont as a full-time nursing student, he started to consider ways to prevent problems he himself was facing. Namely, a 30-hour clinical workload and living with Type 1 diabetes. His solution? Placemat, a service that prepares wholesome meals in people’s homes. An entrepreneur with a focus on initiating change within preventive health, Reisdorf taught himself to cook and prepare nutritious meals in order to positively influence his diabetes.

“[I’m] holding myself responsible and accountable for every decision I make,” he says. He also focuses on taking care of himself, and others each day by, he says, “sleeping, taking the stairs, holding the door for strangers, eating right,” he says.

“Life is tricky and hard at times, but being able to find passion with what you do and what it can do for others is beautiful. We are all the same and need to be treated that way,” he says. 

Calle Jarnkrok | 28 | Professional Hockey Player for the Nashville Predators

Being a professional athlete means staying fit, but for Preds center Calle Jarnrok beauty comes from within.

“If you are beautiful on the inside, it will show on the outside,” he says.

And he shows that—from spending quality time with his fiancée and daughter in Percy Warner Park to working with the children’s hospital in his hometown of Gävle in Sweden.

“It’s important to give back to my hometown and I think that supporting the children there is a good way to do it,” he says. “Especially now that I have a child of my own.”

But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t love a little pampering.

“I get a massage once a week,” he says. “And when my fiancée’s younger sister is in town, she always treats me to a facial for some extra glow.” 

Britney Ruby | 37 | President of Jeff Ruby Culinary Entertainment

Britney Ruby is proof that working hard for what you want is beautiful. The restauranteur could have taken the easy way into her career, stepping into the successful shoes of her father, Jeff Ruby. Instead, she worked her way up the restaurant ranks and began pursuing her MBA after achieving career success. The mother of four says it was her dad who inspired her passion for what she does.

“He created the amazing company that I’m proud to be part of from an idea of offering excellence on every level,” she says. “He puts a great deal of thought into everything he does, and has been a wonderful example of a great leader. I truly have the best dad in the entire world.”

She notes that beauty starts with a good heart, something she subscribes to in business and in life.

“We talk about this in our leadership training … beauty is being kind, caring, and loving to everyone; and truly laying your life down for another.”

Margaret Riley King | 34 | Literary Agent at WME

As someone who has devoted her life to championing authors and their work, it comes as no surprise that King counts trailblazing writers like Toni Morrison, Maya Angelou, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, and Chinua Achebe—"writers who use the power of language to transport us, heal us, and reaffirm our collective humanity”— among her heroes. It’s also not surprising that she’s on the board of directors for TEDx Nashville.

“TED is a nonprofit organization devoted to ‘ideas worth spreading,’” she explains, “and as someone who is deeply passionate about the power of storytelling, I am thrilled to be a part of this community and platform.”

The mother of two, who learned about work/life balance and leadership from an early employer, is also proud to work for a company that believes in the power of its employees.

“One of my favorite things about WME is that mentorship is built into our corporate culture. We are lucky to work where young people have a voice and mentor relationships are encouraged.”

Heidi Egloff | 31| Personal Trainer, Creator of HIIT X Heidi, and Publicist

Heidi Egloff made a name for herself in Nashville as a publicist (a career to which she is still dedicated), but a nagging passion kept popping up.

“My whole life I had a passion for health and fitness. For whatever reason, I chose not to go that path and went the PR route. I always dreamed about personal training, but felt like it was too late. For years I was training my friends for free, just because I loved it that much. It wasn’t until they started referring to me as their personal trainer that I thought, ‘Maybe I should look into that.’ It took someone else recognizing those strengths in me before I acknowledged them myself.”

Now a certified personal trainer, she’s most proud of the eight-week workout program she’s built—HIIT X Heidi.

“It’s been one of the most rewarding experiences for me to hear how much happier and stronger women feel because of it, but the best part is how their confidence changes,” she says.

“The program also comes with weekly devotionals to help women see themselves the way Jesus sees them, so while there are physical changes that come with workouts, it goes deeper than that. It’s truly amazing and humbling when someone is able to be happy with themselves—regardless of what size jeans they wear.”

Dan Huff | 58 | Musician/Music Producer

He’s produced for the likes of Vince Gill, Keith Urban, Taylor Swift, Faith Hill, and even our cover star, Thomas Rhett, but Dan Huff’s enormous catalog of work isn’t the thing of what gives him his greatest sense of accomplishment.

“I’m most proud of the relationship I have with my family,” he says.

So it’s no surprise he names his wife, Sherri, as an inspiration.

“She helps me live in the moment and always tells me the truth, even when she knows I may not want to hear it,” he says. “She makes me laugh.” He’s also a believer in giving back, especially working with Open Table to feed the homeless. “Beauty is not defined by outward appearances, power or success,” he says. “The most beautiful people to me are the one who are compassionate toward others.”

Rupali Patel | 34 | Social Media Influencer

Rupali Patel is a self-made success who knows the importance of putting in the work. It’s something she learned from her parents.

“As an immigrant family, my parents had to make ends meet by all means, and through this I was able to learn the value of hard work and persistence,” she says.

When it came time to carve out her own career, she followed her passion and leaned into those lifelong values.

“I’ve always gravitated towards the creativity of the fashion industry,” she says of starting her fashion blog. “From not knowing the logistics of operating and maintaining an online presence, I’ve come to know HTML, social media marketing techniques, and many more technical, behind-the-scenes operations. This has resulting in me growing the Flikiss brand. I’m proud to have learned [it all], and proud to have grown myself through the process.” 

Janet Ayers | 56 | Philanthropist and Retired Nursing Home Operator

Janet Ayers is proof that big things come in small packages. This petite beauty is a powerhouse—from building her own nursing home from the ground up, to deep sea fishing with her husband Jim, to her philanthropic work with both the Ayers Foundation and Centerstone. Her dedication to her work and her ability to master any task is something she comes by genetically.  

“My mother and grandmothers believe in the power of women; they believe in the power of education; they believe in the spirit of a can-do attitude. All those things I learned from them,” she says.

She’s passing those beliefs onto her own daughter, noting she’s most proud to have raised her to be “the smart, independent young woman she is today.”

Emily Dee | 33 | Jewelry Designer, Ladybird Jewelry

Emily Dee’s beauty shines on the inside, the outside, and from her designs. The jewelry designer creates tangible talismans, but often, she finds beauty in inspiration as well as the finished product.

“I was honored to collaborate on a necklace with Lauren Akins [Thomas Rhett’s wife] benefiting One Love International, which is a rescue center, school, and community outreach program in Uganda,” she says. “It was a thrill to see a creation come to life that would directly benefit those in need.”

The new direction became a passion for the designer, who vows to collaborate with other nonprofits in the future. But forging a new path is familiar ground for Dee.

“I’ve weathered a lot of change in my life—some self-induced, some not,” she says. “I know I am a more resilient, adaptable, and empathetic person as a result. I know that I’m never starting over—I’m just changing direction.”

Michael W. Smith | 61 | Singer

Fans know Michael W. Smith for his uplifting Christian music, including beloved hits like “Place in This World,” “I Will Be Here For You,” and “Friends,” which he sang at the state funeral of President George H.W. Bush. But what fans might not know is that the father of five is “a little crazy … in a good way! I’m a kid at heart,” he says.

“If you could be a fly on the wall when I’m with my grandkids, you would probably be quite surprised.”

One thing that won’t surprise fans is his desire to give back to the city he’s called home for three decades, especially through his work with Rocketown, a faith-based youth outreach facility.

“I opened Rocketown after the Columbine tragedy as a place for youths to turn to,” he says of the operation, which engages kids through attraction-based programs, like the Sixth Avenue Skatepark, live music and concert venues, a coffee and snack bar, and afterschool enrichment and arts programs, as well as ministry-centered programs. “I’m proud of the work that happens at Rocketown.”

Jack Young | Actor, Swim team coordinator at YMCA of Middle Tennessee

“Give up defining yourself—to yourself or to others.” So begins Jack Young’s favorite quote, one that could easily be applied to the man himself—an actor who proves he’s more than just a pretty face and lines of dramatic dialogue by giving back. Whether it’s with his day job at YMCA of Middle Tennessee, or doing mission work in Mexico, El Salvador, and the Philippines, he puts his all into everything he does. And he owes that work ethic to an important person:

“My grandfather, Robert Flores Sr., taught me the importance of a hard day’s work and compassion for others,” he says. “Almost everything I know about everything started with him. He is 90 years strong and still active and feisty as ever. I hope to be half the man he was to my family.”

Abby Smyers | 31 | Animal Rescuer, Marketing Director

Abby Smyers' beauty is impossible to ignore. From her radiant smile to her enormous heart, she practically glows with positivity. Instagram followers know this dedicated dog mama of four (to Joy, Chief, Ghost, and Mac) for her animal advocacy—she and husband Dan Smyers, of Dan & Shay, have fostered or rescued more than 20 dogs and work closely with local rescues Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue and Wags & Walks Nashville.

“What started with my first rescue dog almost six years ago has become part of my identity,” she says.

“The love and companionship I have received from my animals would be enough for this to be a passion of mine, but the more time I spend in rescue, the importance of what these rescues and shelters do becomes apparent. If only we as humans forgave and loved in the same way these animals do. The love of a rescued animal cannot be duplicated.”

Brian Fuente | 35 | Entrepreneur and Musician | Founder of The Aero Bar

As the founder of The Aero Bar, a mobile bar and beverage service, Brian Fuente now oversees 53 bartenders, two full-time employees, and services in three different states.

“I knew absolutely nothing about the events industry before starting the company,” he says. Today? “We are looking to expand into new communities in 2020.”

 He’s clearly cut out for entrepreneurship, but would you guess that he was once the frontman of a rock band and appeared on The Voice? He still plays guitar regularly, a skill he started learning around age five.

“Because I am not professionally pursuing music anymore, I have fallen back in love with my craft. I am playing better than I ever have before, and most importantly enjoying it,” he says. Besides playing music for fun or heading out on the town to favorite haunts like Lockeland Table and Shelby Bottoms Greenway, he says, “I try and surround myself with people who positively influence and challenge me. I honestly think that’s what keeps my mind in shape and keeps me motivated.”

Daniel Armando Rios Calderon | 24 | Professional Soccer Player with the Nashville Soccer Club

“Work hard, dream big” is not just a favorite quote for Daniel Rios, it’s a philosophy. Born in Aguascalientes, Mexico, he grew up playing soccer alongside his brother. 

“Since we were kids, we have always shared the same dream. He has become a role model for me. He listens to me, supports me, and gives me advice.”

Now that he’s reached his dream of playing professional soccer, he’s finding his passions off the field, as well. Whether he’s taking in the sunset from the Pedestrian Bridge, or supporting Nashville Soccer Club’s community outreach endeavors, he makes the most of every day. 

Cicely Woodard | 41 | Eighth Grade Math Teacher and 2018 Tennessee Teacher of the Year 

Cicely Woodard’s passion for bettering the lives of others is clear in all she does. From taking her sons, niece, and nephew to Radnor Lake to learn about life beyond the city to working at a ministry that feeds those who can’t afford to feed themselves, she is a selfless leader. It’s both what earned her the title of Teacher of the Year and a benefit of the distinction.

“I have been blessed with many opportunities to serve others through leadership in education, such as mentoring student teachers, serving as an adjunct instructor, facilitating professional learning for other teachers, connecting with policymakers, giving speeches, and serving on panels,” she says. “Teachers have the unique ability to see greatness in others. We see students every day for who they are right now, yet our life’s work is dedicated to preparing them for the future. To me, the ability to inspire, motivate, and encourage makes teachers extraordinarily beautiful.”

LeeAnna Michelle Burton | 23 | Model for AMAX Talent 

“I am a firm believer that you have to keep an eye on your mental health,” says LeeAnna Michelle Burton, a supermom and model whose work depends on maintaining her physique.

“You can work out and eat healthy all you want but if your mental health isn’t getting the attention it deserves, you’re not healthy!”

That’s why she practices self-care regularly. Outside of her work, Burton says you can catch her singing (“more likely in the car than on stage,” she laughs) or out at hot spots like L.A. Jackson, Noelle, or The Bobby Hotel. She’s also a strong supporter of Caring Hearts Ministry, which provides care for children and families in the poverty-stricken town of San Luis, Mexico.

“It’s important to me because I believe that every person deserves a chance at a good life full of love and success,” she says. 

Greg Woerdeman | 32 | Civil Engineer for TDOT

Earlier this year, Greg Woerdeman went on camera to give an update on roadway safety during freezing temperatures. And while his message was important, it was his physique that got viewers’ attention. Dubbed the “TDOT Hottie,” Woerdeman cemented his place in Nashville’s Most Beautiful history. But that beauty isn’t only skin deep—it comes from the inside. As does his determination to work hard. He counts obtaining his Professional Engineer license as an employee with TDOT as his most proud accomplishment.

“It’s the beginning of a career-long commitment to bettering myself as an engineer, and improving the welfare and safety of the public as much as possible. It’s a responsibility that is earned.”

It’s also something he learned from his father.

“He taught me that if I wanted something I had to work for it, and I’ll be damned—he did it without ever uttering those words to me,” he says.

“Even more impressive was the lesson he taught me as he was fighting cancer while working a physically demanding construction job to support his family. He fought cancer for five years until it took his life. During those five years, my father was my best friend, and he taught me how much a man can accomplish, even when bearing an impossibly large burden. He defines what a real man is and what a beautiful person really looks like.”

Joshua Mundy | 37 | Entrepreneur, Founder of Music City Cleaners, Events at 624, and more

A serial entrepreneur, Joshua Mundy is not afraid to dive head-first into the storm: he opened Music City Cleaners, a dry cleaning business, in the middle of the 2008 recession. He continues to launch businesses (he has the LAB Nashville and Events at 624, among others), host collaborative group experiences, consult, and speak publicly about entrepreneurship. The “life of the party” as he’s known, is also a serial events planner, and an advocate for the disadvantaged through his work with The Fortitude Group, which provides affordable housing to individuals with mental illness.

With so much going on, he says, “I try to work out or walk each morning. That’s generally where I meditate and get my thoughts together for the day.”

The father of six-year-old son Zion, Mundy calls his mother his greatest influence.

“She has always been a positive reinforcement in my life and has always given me the confidence to step out on my dreams with no regrets,” he says. 

Kelleigh Bannen | 38 | Singer/Songwriter

Kelleigh Bannen’s voice is as beautiful as her face. The singer, who co-wrote all of the songs on her upcoming album, Favorite Colors, out this month, also shares every moment of her journey as an artist in Music City—the good, the bad, and the ugly—on her podcast, “This Nashville Life.” And she’s got a heart to match it all:

“I recently got involved with an organization called the Keep A Breast Foundation, whose mission is to fight breast cancer through education and early detection,” she says.

“Particularly, their focus is on educating young people about breast health, because 12,000 women age 40 or younger are diagnosed with breast cancer every year. I just did a cast as part of their Nashville Keep A Breast Collection, which is a campaign that is creating breast casts of musicians and pairing them with artists. The casts will be painted, displayed, and ultimately auctioned at a private fundraiser. It’s a beautiful approach to education that is meant to take breast health out of the cold clinical setting, and make it less scary, and more understandable.”

Alice Farquhar | 31 | Global Education and Training Manager for Belvedere Vodka

When the half-Australian, half-English beauty isn’t traveling for work (“sometimes I’m flying to four different countries in a week”), she’s spending time with longtime love Max Goldberg.

“After meeting 14 years ago and spending 10 years apart, any day with him is special now,” she says.

On those days, she can be found throwing axes at Downtown Sporting Club, enjoying Nashville’s finest meat-and-three at Arnold’s, or hitting the golf course—“Max plays, I keep the bar running,” she jokes.

She also takes causes seriously, especially charities that benefit pancreatic cancer research.

“Sadly [the disease] took my father seven years ago. It is one of the deadliest cancers, with no change in survival rates for the past 40 years, so I am very keen to support anything that can change that and help patients and their families.”

Amy Brown | 39 | Radio Host on The Bobby Bones Show

Amy Brown may spend most of her day talking, but as a mom of two and professional radio host, the Austin, Texas, native values her silence.

“I’m on air five hours every morning talking up a storm, so people assume I’m always that way, but I love my alone time—with no talking. Like, love it.”

Brown also loves giving back, which she has done through the show’s #PIMPINJOY movement, which was inspired by her own mom.

“We’ve been able to donate more than $2 million to various causes because of her simple decision to choose joy while battling cancer. Keeping her legacy alive in such a cool way is something that will always make me proud.”

And she’s teaching her kids the importance of giving back, too.

“Haiti is a place that forever has my heart because my husband and I have two beautiful children that we adopted from there. A few years ago, the orphanage where they grew up was in a financial bind, so my BFF, Meri, and I started our company espwa., which means “hope” in Haitian Creole, as a creative way to send them support through apparel sales.”

The company now benefits several organizations in Haiti, especially through the sale of its recognizable #4ThingsTote bags.

“My daughter has even gotten on board and makes custom espwa. bracelets that send funds to her friends and former caretakers in Port-Au-Prince.”

Mo Hasan | 21, Student, Athlete, and CEO of nonprofit Second Spoon

As a student, Mo Hasan has a passion for learning, but that won’t dwindle when he graduates from Vanderbilt University.

“There is tremendous value in approaching everything with a novice mindset,” he says. “Even practicing the quarterback position for over 16 years means I still learn new strategies in every practice. The more I learn, the more I realize how much more I have until reaching mastery.”

One thing he’s learned—and put into practice—is the importance of helping others.

“More than any feat on the field, the opportunity to start Second Spoon, a nonprofit aimed at feeding communities in need while curbing food waste, is significant to me. On a micro scale, Second Spoon enables student-athletes to use their platform by taking surplus university foods before repurposing them for the homeless. In the macro, we are taking steps to drastically reduce methane emissions resulting in disruptive climate change.”

Meg McDonald | 35 | Nurse Anesthetist 

Meg McDonald calls herself both hard-working and “chronically overcommitted,” but she still finds time to train for triathalons—she and her racing partner just completed their fifth Ironman competition.

“I learned a long time ago that being physically active is pretty important for my psychological health,” she says.

She also counts on her group of friends—“inspiring, hardworking, uplifting” people—and her wife who supports her in every way.

“I’ve always felt like accomplishments in a vacuum mean very little. Sure, doing something that makes you feel good about yourself is rewarding. But for myself, if I had no one in my life to share those moments with it would mean much less to me.”

Outside of her work, she has served on the board of the Middle Tennessee School of Anesthesia (MTSA) Mission and Awards Gala, which raises money to send anesthesia personnel on surgical mission trips to Haiti.

“I love serving with an organization whose purpose is to help directly provide, or improve access to, needed surgical care,” she says.