Having spent years in front of the camera modeling for brands like Gap, Levi’s, and Skechers, Ellory Grace is no stranger to stepping into a role. But with the release of her poignant new single, “Girl I Buried,” the multi-talented artist is stepping out from behind expectations and revealing her most authentic self yet.
Rather than shedding her past with bitterness, Grace approaches her evolution with deep gratitude and grace. In this candid Q&A with Blackbird News, the two-time U.S. Presidential Service Award winner and former Kids Mental Health Foundation Teen Reporter opens up about the art of letting go, finding her true voice through songwriting, and why self-growth starts with compassion rather than shame.
Hello Ellory Grace, welcome to Blackbird News! You’ve worked with iconic brands like Gap, Levi’s, and Skechers from a young age. How did growing up in the entertainment industry shape who you are as an artist?
Growing up in entertainment taught me a lot about how people see you. As a model, my job was to become whatever a brand or photographer needed me to be. I loved it, but songwriting gave me something completely different. It became the one place where I didn’t have to perform or fit into anyone else’s expectations. I could just be honest. Looking back, I think growing up in that world made me appreciate authenticity even more because music became the place where I could figure out who I actually was.
“Girl I Buried” is about letting go of an old version of yourself. Why was it important for you to write about that with gratitude instead of resentment?
Because I don’t think that version of me deserved to be hated. She was doing the best she could with what she knew at the time. She stayed quiet, tried to make everyone happy, and worried a lot about getting things right because she thought that was how you earned love or belonging. I don’t look back at her with embarrassment. I look back with compassion. She helped me get here. The song isn’t about pretending she never existed, it’s about realizing I don’t need to live the same way anymore.
As a Teen Reporter for the Kids Mental Health Foundation, you interviewed kids and families from all over the country. Did that experience influence the way you write?
Definitely. Listening to so many different stories reminded me that everyone is carrying something you can’t always see. I realized that people often feel alone in experiences that are actually really common. I don’t sit down trying to write a message or solve a problem, but those conversations made me want to write honestly enough that someone else might hear a song and think, “I’m not the only one who feels this way.” If that happens, that’s the greatest compliment I could receive.
Fashion has always been part of your career. Has your relationship with style changed as you’ve grown into songwriting?
A lot. Modeling taught me how to step into different characters, but songwriting has taught me how to be more myself. Now I think of style as another way to tell a story. I still love fashion, but I’m less interested in wearing what people expect and more interested in wearing what feels true to who I am and the story I’m trying to tell.
What would you say to someone who feels like they’re still carrying around the version of themselves they’re trying to outgrow?
I’d probably tell them something I still remind myself: you don’t have to hate who you were to become who you’re becoming. I think we all have versions of ourselves that were just trying to get through life the best they knew how. Growth doesn’t have to start with shame. Sometimes it starts with being a little kinder to yourself.
Between modeling, acting, songwriting, and school, how do you make space for creativity?
Most songs start with me sitting alone with my Notes app open, writing down one sentence I can’t stop thinking about. Sometimes that sentence sits there for weeks before it becomes anything. I’ve learned that creativity isn’t something I can force. It’s more about paying attention. If something stays with me long enough, it’s usually worth writing about.
Was there a moment when you realized you were becoming a different version of yourself?
I don’t think it was one big moment. It was a lot of really small ones. Speaking up a little more. Worrying a little less about disappointing people. Trusting myself a little more than I used to. Looking back, those tiny decisions added up to someone who feels a lot more like me than the person I was a few years ago.
You’ve been awarded the U.S. Presidential Service Award twice and hosted major community drives. How does community work keep you grounded amidst the demands of the entertainment industry?
Community work taught me that making a difference isn’t always about what you can do by yourself. One of the projects I’m most proud of wasn’t just organizing a drive, it was creating online tutorials and a step-by-step guide so other kids and families could organize their own in their communities. Watching people take an idea and make it their own was one of the most rewarding parts because it showed me that one small effort can grow into something much bigger. I’m really grateful that music and entertainment have given me a platform, and I don’t ever want to take that for granted. If I can use that platform to encourage people to help their communities or make it easier for someone else to get involved, then that’s something I’ll always want to do. That’s what keeps me grounded. Success is exciting, but it’s even more meaningful when it creates opportunities for other people to make a difference too.
If you could send one thing back to the younger version of yourself on those early modeling sets, what would it be?
I’d probably send her a journal and a note that says, “You don’t have to earn your place by being perfect.” I think she spent a lot of time trying to get everything exactly right. I’d want her to know that the things she’s overthinking one day become songs and that the parts of herself she’s worried about might end up being the parts that connect with people the most.
When someone finishes listening to “Girl I Buried,” what do you hope stays with them?
More than anything, I hope they feel understood. I don’t expect everyone to hear the song the same way I do. I actually hope they don’t. I hope they hear their own story in it. If it helps someone be a little gentler with an older version of themselves or realize they’re not alone in what they’re feeling, that would mean a lot to me.
You can connect with Ellory Grace through Instagram @ellorygracetell, Youtube @ellorygrace, Zigazoo and TikTok @ellorygrace
