Makeup: Hailey Hoff, Hair: Bradley Leake assisted by Emma Solorzano, Styling: Paige Janavich, Cinematography: Anthony Mangini, Photography: Mike Anderson, Editor: Adam Blanchard, Producer: Lucy Ivey, BTS: Sammi Smith, On set assisting: Kate Vedder

Blazer: Vintage Bill Blass | Top: Chereshnivska @chereshnivska | Tie: Don Morphy @don_morphy | Shorts: FDS Clothing @fdsclothing | Heels: Elizée @elizeeshoes | Bracelets & Cross Ring: Sterling Forever @sterlingforever | Medallion Ring: Vintage Fusion Jewelry @vintagefusionjewelry

Is there something about you that most people don’t know but you wish they did?

“I am a little bit of an open book. Truthfully, if anybody has questions, just ask.” And that is exactly what I did.

Anna is a jack of all trades and certainly not a master of none. If anyone can complete a sprint triathlon—a 500-yard swim, a six-mile bike ride, and a two-mile run—just days after buying a two-wheeler to train, it would be Miss Sitar. After all, you know what they say about muscles—they have memory. Back in Marshall, Michigan, a town with a population shy of 7,000 and Anna’s childhood home, she dreamed of becoming a competitive swimmer in college. “I will trip on flat ground, so I thought that the water would be a safer bet for me,” Anna said during our phone call last Wednesday afternoon. Her instinct proved correct when she broke the oldest standing record in the 200-meter race at her high school. It's all about rhythm, and her moves undoubtedly speak for themselves. With a broad dance background, she has learned not just how to plié but also about self-expression. “If you want to catch me on the dance floor, I’m doing the coffee grinder. But in my everyday life, it’s those little extra techniques that help me feel elegant,” Anna shared.

For the next 45 minutes, we discussed all the beautiful things that shape her world, including the pastimes that define Anna—such as ballet, photography, and her latest obsession: pottery. She describes her late twenties as a time of transformation, new experiences, and exploring every method to transform 50 pounds of clay into the world’s most adorable coffee mugs.

Jacket & Pants: Tabitha Andelin @tabithaandelin | Boots: The Frye Company @thefryecompany | Necklaces, Bracelets & Zigzag Ring: Sterling Forever @sterlingforever | Shell Ring: Nissa Jewelry @nissajewelry

Anna’s most recent stop was the City of Lights. She wasn’t there just for the sparkling Eiffel Tower—but to see the hundreds of star athletes that were shining, too. It’s no surprise that swimming was one of Anna’s favorite events, and beach volleyball quickly became a memorable Olympic moment, thanks to the iconic backdrop of the court. However, it was Paris itself that truly captured her heart. “When I’m in Paris, I’m so excited to explore that I forget to film,” she said. Reflecting on the most conducive settings for sparking creativity, she added, “Your best inspiration comes from living your life and having real-world experiences; your best ideas don’t come from the internet.” But for her, that doesn’t necessarily mean traveling; being at home and in environments where she feels safe leaves her wanting to create. It’s all about the memories that come with it, and though Anna might call Paris her favorite city, she let me in on a little secret: her most cherished trip was actually to the Greek island of Chios, where her sister got married. Next on her dream agenda? Australia.

Mamma Mia!, A Star Is Born, and even Wonka—while some people hate musicals, Anna unapologetically loves them. Her go-to is none other than the modern classic. “There’s something about La La Land—the realness of it. Sometimes it’s not always the happy ending you were expecting,” Anna expressed. “I think that we’ve all been like Emma Stone, giving up on our dreams and, whether in a literal form or a metaphoric way, we've all stood at that crossroad. It makes me cry, but it's beautiful.” Receiving a Master’s in Film and Television Production, she is a big film enthusiast but has recently ventured into the fantasy realm of Prythian with the Court of Thorns and Roses series by Sarah J. Maas. And I think we can all agree, it’s a BookTok sensation for a reason.

If you're anything like me, you must be obsessed with Anna’s Guide. It’s more than just a podcast; it’s a one-stop shop for dealing with life’s ups and downs, from adulting to maintaining lifelong friendships. With a total of six episodes and more counting every week, her latest segment explores nostalgia inside and out. It started as a series on TikTok called “Anna’s Guide to Feeling Better After a Breakup” as a way to navigate her own self-worth and existence after the end of a relationship. However, when she first began producing content, she faced a bit of an identity crisis. “When my social media job got more serious, I started to care quite a bit about what people thought of me, to the point of creating content to make others happy rather than focusing on what I enjoyed.” Her podcast aims to address these “Who am I?” questions and to stay true to herself without editing down to fit others' perceptions of who she should be. For Anna, it was never about sharing drama but about stitching herself back together. “I love that [the podcast] could be Anna’s Guide to anything where we can grow and change together. And it’s been so fun to share a deeper and more intimate peek into my life.” With raving reviews calling her 'like sunshine' and her podcast 'a dose of positivity,' it guarantees a bit (or a lot) of laughter.

Suit: Vintage Bill Blass | Shoes: Jonak @jonak | Earrings: TOVA @tovastore | Bracelets & Rings: Sterling Forever @sterlingforever

Beyond the podcast, she’s been experimenting with nylon and designing your perfect bikini. Her latest collaboration with Pacsun Swim features over 30 pieces, including the brand’s first-ever ombre suit and a stunning, shimmering purple one-piece. Her first collection was inspired by Southern Californian warmth, while the second paid homage to Midwest summers, with a photoshoot featuring Lake Michigan (a place she used to spend all of July sunning on the pier). “It was one of the most amazing creative processes. I got to walk through samples and styles and make whatever I wanted,” she said. There’s a bit of Anna’s heart in everything she touches. Nothing is without a story, and if you look closely, you’ll always find her candid self, both on and off camera. From a mechanical engineer in undergrad to a designer and everything in between, I’m excited to see where Anna goes next.

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