Today we’d like to introduce you to Taylor McAllister.
Hi Taylor, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I am a Dallas-based certified functional nutritionist & fitness coach/influencer. I graduated from the NTA with a certification in Nutritional Therapy Practitioner and am going on to become board certified as well through the state. I also work as an online fitness/wellness coach where I guide and help educate women on living healthier lifestyles to reach their goals. I’ve established my brand and business out of the two over the past 18 months. My love for fitness and nutrition started when I went through my own journey of losing 45 pounds and becoming my healthiest and happiest self. It is now my purpose that I have discovered through my passion to help other women do the same. I also dabbled in photography but after a few months of deciding to do it professionally, I’m now a signed model with Wilhelmina, IT Model Management, BMG, and a few more underway. It’s something I never thought I’d have the confidence to do. I’m a tough love, straightforward kind of gal who is also simple and authentic; and that resonates with a lot of people. Being relatable and real on social media is so important in this day and age and is what makes you stand out.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I really fought through depression at the end of my college career in 2011. I later discovered the connection between gut health and mental health and was able to heal my gut, become healthier, and overall lead to feeling happier and more myself. I have always been an entrepreneur by heart; it started with me opening up Taylor’d Coffee in Melissa, TX back in 2017. It was successful and I was very proud of the work I was doing at just 21 years old, but I felt trapped in the constant work and knew there was more for me to discover out there and this wasn’t meant to be it. I ended up selling my shop and bought a one-way ticket back to Maui which is where I spent the majority of my childhood growing up. There I discovered a lot about myself and after moving back to Texas in 2019, I was really to apply these new discoveries into shaping my future. I lost my job as a bartender during COVID and with my newfound free time, I decided to take my health seriously. I started being more consistent with my fitness regime and nutrition. On top of the weight, I had already lost in Maui with simply living a more active lifestyle and eating more whole, locally grown foods; I was on the road to healing my gut, mind, and body. I worked as a Personal Assistant during the remaining time of the covid era throughout 2020 only to discover that I really didn’t enjoy that field of work; let alone working for anyone else again. I busted my ass and within 6 months of taking my own line of work seriously (with the help of partnering with a fitness company), I was able to leave and work for myself full time. During my first year throughout 2021, I decided to finish my schooling with nutrition and gain the credentials I could to really apply my teachings to help other women with their health like I was able to do with my own. During that time, I also was asked to model for local photographers and my new hobby/career of being a model was developed as well. I’m here to show women (and men!) that you can do anything you put your mind to if you just put focus on yourself and never say no to the scary things. I was very lost in my first years entering adulthood; I never thought I’d find my purpose and be the person I knew I was capable of being. It wasn’t until I got out of my own damn way and started believing in myself that I would and could accomplish the things I wanted out of life. Now I’ve gotten the incredible honor to help coach and inspire other women to do the same.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a Certified Nutritionist who specializes and focuses on functional nutrition and have really made an emphasis on gut health as of recent. I also do nutritional assessments to do personal suggestions based on lifestyle, diet, and holistic supplementation based on your bio-individuality to help you look and feel your best. I am a freelance promotional and commercial model who is currently pending with multiple modeling agencies nationwide
I am the developer behind Taylor’d Presets; a picture editing tool featured in Lightroom to help beginners and seasoned editors enhance their pictures
The Taylor’d Diet eBook as well as established meal plans in relation to my teachings is underway and should be available soon!
I am a virtual fitness coach who works with women monthly through online accountability groups through the platform I have access to as well as educate and work with them one-on-one with bettering their nutrition. It’s a safe place for women to feel supported, encouraged, get educated, and feel empowered throughout their wellness journey.
I am a local Dallas-based influencer who collaborates with local and nationwide businesses to either promote their products, services, model for their platform or simply provide feedback and content for their marketing teams.
I’m a signed, professional model throughout the nation with multiple agencies in multiple cities. As well as promotional modeling for recreational events, charities, banquets, tournaments, etc.
I’m most proud of the diversity, simplicity, and realism that I have to offer. Not only through my business, but on my social media as well which I feel is hard to find nowadays. I just want women of all ages to be inspired in a healthy way and see the transparency on all levels.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
I’ve got big goals of course to push myself to continue excelling and bettering myself, but at the same time, I think enjoying the ride is so important. We get so caught up in a society of BEING more and HAVING more (especially so quickly) that we forget to take things on a day-to-day basis. As long as you’re showing up daily to be the best YOU that you can be and to bring positivity into this world, then that’s all you really can do right? Tomorrow isn’t promised, and you shouldn’t spend a lifetime chasing after false promises, spend it doing things you hate or being too busy being miserable. You have to make the change. You have to choose your hard. It’s hard to be stuck, but it’s also hard to be unhappy. No one coming to save you. Surround yourself with good people, work on your personal development, make a mind shift change, and just be YOU. We need more of that in the world today. That’s exactly and truthfully what got me to where I’m at today…and I feel like I have just begun scratching the surface.
My long-term boyfriend Evan and I see ourselves eventually settling down, getting married, and perhaps popping out a few kids, but there’s still so much we have to accomplish and discover first before we’re ready to take on that role. We’re not her very fatter driven right now and I’m so happy to have such a supportive parntner and cheerleader by my side. These next 5 years, hell even these next 12 months are going to be so different! I’m so excited to see how far we’ll go and all the dreams we get to accomplish together!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: _taylormcallister
- Tiktok: _taylormcallister
- Website: www.Taylormcallister.com
Image Credits
Hector Reyes
Alex Eissinger
Nick Laning Agnieszka
David Arellano
