Leaning In

DANISH SUPERMODEL NINA AGDAL IS WELCOMING HER NEW NORMAL AS SHE NAVIGATES HER CAREER, HER EVOLVING IDENTITY, AND HER NEW FAMILY — PROVING THAT LIFE’S GREATEST MOMENTS OFTEN ARRIVE ALL AT ONCE, READY FOR A FULL EMBRACE.

Photo Credit: Caleb & Gladys

BY ADRIENNE FAUROTE

PHOTOGRAPHY CALEB & GLADYS

STYLING ANNA KATSANIS

MAKEUP NADIA TAYEH AT A-FRAME AGENCY

HAIR RIAD AZAR

PRODUCTION SHELBY COMROE 

STYLING ASSISTANT SERENA ORLANDO

There is something to be said about life’s major milestones converging in a single year. Perhaps it’s about trusting the universe’s timing or embracing the saying, “When it rains, it pours,” but sometimes, life’s defining moments arrive all at once. And it’s safe to say the past year has been Nina Agdal’s year.

Agdal’s pivotal year began last September when she and her husband, Logan Paul, welcomed their first child, Esmé, into the world. Nearly a year later, on August 15, Agdal and Paul celebrated the wedding of the summer at the iconic Villa d’Este on Lake Como — two life-changing moments that Agdal is still buzzing about.

On the heels of the iconic wedding, we captured Agdal’s post-wedding glow. For the Danish supermodel, she continues to discover special moments from her wedding. “I think that on the actual day, if I take myself back, I was trying really hard to stay present,” Agdal reflects. “We hosted our wedding over three days, and so much happened during that time that I’m still uncovering memories and little chapters I haven’t fully processed.”

The wedding, reflecting Agdal and Paul’s essence as a couple—joyful, vibrant, and full of energy. With 275 guests, the three-day celebration brought their vision to life in a way that felt deeply meaningful, surrounded by the people they love most.

“There were so many people and so much energy that I was just on the go — going with the chaos,” Agdal laughs. “It felt so rock’n’roll,” she continues. “The [wedding] ended up becoming three full days because, during our actual wedding night dinner, this crazy thunderstorm — completely unexpected and not on the radar — forced us to move the entire event indoors, which is an entire chapter in itself. Lake Como can be unpredictable. So, we hosted a final dinner on the third evening, followed by a separate after-party. Instead of trying to force it into something it wasn’t, I told myself to go with the energy. Everyone was there to celebrate us and party, so I leaned into that.”

Photo Credit: Caleb & Gladys

Agdal keeps coming back to the term “rock’n’roll” to describe her wedding, which perfectly captures her approach: learning to let go of control and enjoy the ride. “We were in this grand destination, bringing a new vibe into the elegant setting of Villa d’Este — no judgment, no rules. Guests could relax and enjoy themselves freely, even sharing pasta on the staircase,” she says, highlighting the balance of youthful spontaneity and timeless elegance.

“Looking back, I don’t think I realized how intense planning the wedding was. But being there, seeing all my visions come to fruition, surrounded by everyone we love — and watching them come together — was everything I had dreamed of and planned. It felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders,” Agdal admits.

Yet she never lost sight of the purpose: her husband. “Logan and I had conversations before the wedding to ensure that, while everyone was there to celebrate us, we remembered we were there to celebrate our love and our relationship. Spending time with my husband and soaking in those moments with him was the one thing I wanted to be fully present for. Everything else, I let go of; I let the wedding planners do their job. I was able to let my hair down and have a good time,” she reflects, smiling.

The Agdal-Paul wedding captivated social media this August, with Agdal’s fashion taking center stage — no surprise, given her renown as a model for over 15 years. “I knew fashion would be a major element of the wedding,” she reveals. “When I attend weddings, I’m most excited to see the bride and what she’s wearing. It’s truly the bride’s moment to wear whatever makes her feel most beautiful.”

Agdal decided her wedding wasn’t the time to be understated. “I know my personality, and I’m not usually one to command attention, but for my wedding, I wanted to feel my absolute best. Each of my looks ended up being fully custom, which made them incredibly personal and special.”

Photo Credit: Caleb & Gladys

For her wedding look, Agdal wore a custom Galia Lahav dress, having long felt drawn to the designer. “I did a campaign with them seven years ago, and I absolutely love their head designer, Sharon Sever. I admire how he dresses and celebrates women through his designs. So, as soon as I got engaged, I knew it would be a Galia Lahav dress.”

 Like many brides, Agdal’s vision for her dress evolved during fittings. “I initially thought I’d choose a modern, lace-less look, but when I tried on the classic A-line lace gown, I immediately envisioned myself at Villa d’Este. To me, it was classic and timeless, which was the number one thing I wanted for all my looks — especially my wedding dress. I wanted a dress that would still feel beautiful and classic in 50 years.”

 Another standout moment was her welcome party dress by House of Gilles, adorned with over 37,000 hand-sewn crystals. “I even told the designer I hoped the dress could live on and be worn again, because the craftsmanship was too beautiful to stay hidden away,” Agdal says — to which I suggest she save it for her daughter.

Laughing, Agdal replies, “Esmé has to do her own thing — what if she doesn’t like sparkles?” Touché.

Agdal is one of those people with whom you feel an instant bond — her personality radiates. She is passionate, full of life, and animated in a way that immediately captivates you.

Perhaps I expected a more ‘reserved Nina’ after watching Paul American, the family reality TV show that aired in March, starring her husband, Logan Paul, alongside his brother, Jake Paul.

In Paul American, Agdal shows a quieter side of herself, which, after speaking with her — and being in my final week of pregnancy as I write this interview — I now understand. “It was an interesting time for me to be filming a reality TV show,” she admits. “I was pregnant throughout the entire show, and after giving birth, that was the end of it. Any woman who has been pregnant knows that pregnancy feels like a little bubble. So, I was very protective of my energy — from what I did and consumed to what I ate. I was so specific about everything I did.”

 “I’m a big believer that what you surround yourself with affects everything — every organ in your body, every atom. I was consumed with creating life inside of me, and I had to protect everything I could, all while filming this reality TV show,” Agdal adds.

 While her priority was protecting her peace amid the chaos of filming and navigating an entirely new experience, it was unforgettable. “It was a really cool thing that I could document my entire pregnancy journey and see the clarity I had about so many things. Looking back on the show, it’s interesting to see how my pregnancy shifted the dynamics of my relationship and the dynamics of the family. It’s like I now have the best-edited home video — eight episodes — that I can share with Esmé one day.”

 Agdal’s authenticity shines through. She wasn’t performing for the cameras; she was simply living one of the most vulnerable chapters of her life: becoming a mother.

Photo Credit: Caleb & Gladys

NINA THE MOTHER

Agdal is a multifaceted person. She is dynamic, revealing new layers as we speak. The latest role that she has stepped into, motherhood, has been the one that has forced her to evolve the most.

“[Motherhood] has definitely been an ongoing transition,” Agdal reveals, further confirming the perfect timing of this interview, my last before becoming a mother. A coincidence? I think not. The universe’s energy gracefully intervening? Absolutely.

“Everyone has their own journey,” she continues. “I don’t think I was prepared for how big the change of having a baby is for a woman. You definitely hear about it, and people say you can’t prepare for it — and that’s the truest statement of all time. You simply cannot prepare for what happens when your baby enters the world — in the most magical, positive, and out-of-body-experience way.”

She pauses for a moment. “But there’s another side to motherhood. For me, the transition to not being able to do whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted, was really challenging,” Agdal shares — a hard truth that some women find difficult to admit.

Agdal naturally thrives in chaos, from her work as a global model to traveling the world with her husband. Now, her ‘chaos’ looks different as she focuses on what’s best for Esmé.

“I don’t think I fully realized how my role on this planet would change instantly after having a baby. I was never formally diagnosed with postpartum depression, but I definitely think I was going through it, having dealt with depression in the past. Transitioning from my previous lifestyle to my entire existence revolving around caring for this baby wasn’t easy. Yet, at the same time, it’s one of life’s most rewarding and incredible experiences. You don’t realize the capacity your heart has to love someone so deeply — it’s like your heart beats outside of you.”

“It’s beautiful and magical, but at the same time, it’s a rollercoaster. This ‘new normal’ has challenging aspects, which makes it so incredible — you evolve so much as a person so quickly,” she says.

Photo Credit: Caleb & Gladys

In this moment, I can tell that Agdal is a deep human, and motherhood has introduced a complex duality that pushes and pulls her daily.

“Being vulnerable, open, and honest with yourself and your support system about how you’re feeling — even if it may not feel right — is key. I remember moments when I thought I should be so happy and grateful, yet I still felt shame or guilt. These feelings are very common, and instead of pretending you’re in a fairytale, it’s important to talk about how you feel and lean on those around you. It’s all so up and down!” Agdal says, again alluding to the constant push and pull of motherhood.

It’s no secret that Agdal and Paul lead a highly public life, so I can’t help but wonder how she’s approaching this as a new, protective mother. “It’s a big conversation for us,” Agdal shares. “We live a nontraditional life, blessed with abundance and experiences, so we ask ourselves, how do we balance raising our child in this lifestyle? It’s not her fault she was born into this crazy world she is in.”

She continues, “I think it’s important for us to model and teach strong morals and values to Esmé. The classic advice parents often give is to be kind and treat others as you’d want to be treated, which is essential.”

Perhaps one of Agdal’s primary focuses is modeling the value of goal setting. “It’s also extremely important to instill a work ethic and goals,” she begins. “Even though we live a lavish life filled with blessings, we are still going to make her do the things we did as kids, like earning 50 cents for emptying the dishwasher. There is value in working for something and feeling accomplished. Reaching goals is extremely important, no matter where you are in life.”

Agdal makes a compelling point that achieving a goal builds confidence, which leads me to another facet of her character.

Photo Credit: Caleb & Gladys

NINA THE MODEL

As one of this generation’s most renowned supermodels, Agdal has achieved remarkable success in the industry. Starting at the age of 16, she has been modeling for 17 years, first appearing in the iconic Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue in 2012. She was then featured in multiple issues, gaining widespread recognition in 2014 when she co-starred on the magazine’s 50th anniversary cover alongside Chrissy Teigen and Lily Aldridge. Her impressive modeling portfolio includes campaigns for major brands such as Victoria’s Secret, Chanel, Billabong, and more.

Agdal has accomplished modeling career highs that most only dream of, which is ironic since modeling wasn’t Agdal’s dream per se, but rather a mechanism to get to her dreams. “Modeling was actually more of my grandmother’s dream for me,” she laughs, “My dream was always about wanting more.”

 “I grew up in Denmark with a very different lifestyle from the one I have now. I always knew I wanted more. While I’m deeply grateful for my upbringing there, I knew it was too ‘small town’ for me. I wanted bigger, more chaos, more crazy — in fact, the stability bored me,” Agdal shares.

 Modeling became Agdal’s one-way ticket to America, where she could fulfill her dream of being part of New York City’s colorful chaos and build the life she envisioned for herself — an achievement that forever altered her trajectory.

 Seventeen years ago, the modeling industry was completely different. “When I first started modeling, it revolved around a specific stereotype: 5’10”, size double zero, and lanky limbs. Being different wasn’t celebrated,” Agdal reflects. “Social media didn’t exist then either. Modeling was like scenes from old movies — you went to castings with your portfolio and competed for jobs. Now, it’s a different industry. There are no limits anymore; as long as you’re passionate, creative, and disciplined, you can find ways to succeed. It’s beautiful that we’re expanding beyond that narrow image.”

Photo Credit: Caleb & Gladys

THE FUTURE NINA

Finally, we turn to the future Nina. For now, she’s focusing on what’s right in front of her. “I’m enjoying being married and moving past the chapter of wedding planning. As incredible as it was, now we can enjoy being husband and wife with our beautiful baby girl,” she says — a joy she fully deserves. “I am soaking in this time with Esmé as she turns one and becomes a toddler. I get to watch her take her first steps and say her first words.

Time truly flies during these early years of family life, so I’m making sure to soak it all in.” Professionally, too, Agdal is still finding her balance. “I want to return to work, but I’m figuring out what that looks like and the best way to do it, especially since I do want more kids. I’ve been in the fitness and wellness industry for a long time, so I’m exploring how to dive back into work while spending time with my daughter and trying to get pregnant again,” she reveals, and we both laugh at the ongoing juggle of it all. Agdal has definitely been focused on building her family and creating a new life for herself, but her true passions — for social media and modeling — aren’t far away. They’re still waiting for her, ready to embrace her next step as the new Nina.