Mode Around the Globe: Taylor Nuñez

Mode Around The Globe: Secrets Moxché
Taylor Nuñez
@taylor.nunez

Photography by Abe Bermudez
@abe.bermudez
Videographed by Niko Velasquez
@nikovaleasquezz

Location: Secrets Moxché
@secretsmoxche

You've had such an incredible journey so far — what's one defining moment that shaped who you are today?
A defining moment that I still live by is choosing to continue living in Orange County rather than in Los Angeles or New York. I think living in a slower-paced city allows me to recharge and create real separation from the beautiful chaos that is the social media and modeling industry world. Being able to draw that line between my work and personal life allows me to show up as my full, authentic self in both.

Fans love your confidence and presence. What's something about your personality that people may not know but you wish they did?
I think a lot of creators, even some of my favorites, show up differently online than they do in real life. But with me, what you see is genuinely what you get. I pour my real personality into every video. Something people might not expect, though, is that I have incredibly high standards for the friends I surround myself with. The same qualities people typically look for in a romantic partner — loyalty, depth, and intentionality — are exactly what I look for in friendship. Keeping my circle small but meaningful has allowed me to always feel comfortable showing up as I am.

What has been the biggest lesson you've learned in the past year, both personally and professionally?
My biggest lesson this year applies to both my personal and professional life, and it’s about releasing the need to control outcomes. As someone who naturally gravitates toward perfectionism, allowing myself to stop overthinking — whether it’s waiting on a text from a friend or a response from a brand — has been incredibly freeing. When I stop attaching my emotions to things I can’t control, what actually comes to me feels like it was truly meant for me.

Professionally, this mindset shift has been especially valuable in the social media and modeling industry, where so much is outside of your hands — algorithms, casting decisions, brand timelines. Learning to put my best work out and detach from the outcome has allowed me to show up more creatively and confidently, and I’ve noticed the right opportunities finding me when I stop forcing them.

You're constantly evolving and reinventing yourself. What inspires your creativity and drive the most right now?
One thing that’s really helped with my creativity, specifically with my fashion takes, is looking for smaller brands that are really thinking outside the box with their styling, construction, and color theory. I love seeing a fashion piece that is relatively simple but has a fun and unique flair — like a simple white tank top with a bit of fringe on the shoulder.

I then take that same mindset to pieces I already own or makeup looks I love to recreate, and think about how I can add a new touch to give something familiar a fresh twist. My drive comes from wanting to fall deeper into myself each day. Shifting my thinking from needing something new to improving what I already love is how I keep things exciting.

When you think about your dream life, where do you see yourself in the next five years?
I genuinely feel like I’m already living my dream life, which is something I don’t take for granted. In five years I’ll be 28, and I see myself on a similar path but with more depth and intention behind what I create. My vision is to blend high-quality fashion imagery and portraits with the relatability of everyday content.

I have a strong passion for creative concepts and highly produced visuals — natural scripts, intentional sets, cinematic lighting — and I want to bring that level of production to the beauty and fashion space in a way that feels accessible and authentic. Highly produced content would allow viewers to truly see how a beauty product lays and blends on the skin without filters, and how fabrics drape and move in real detail.

I’d love to create a platform or resource that gives other creators access to that same level of production, because I believe we all deserve to bring our dream content to life. The goal is to grow intentionally, invest in the craft, and build something that raises the standard for content in this space.

What's one project or passion you're currently working on that you're most excited for fans to see?
Since the very first time I walked into a Sephora, it has been a dream of mine to one day work with a brand carried there. I’m so excited to share that this dream is becoming a reality. I recently got to be part of a shoot for one of my absolute dream brands that is already shoppable in U.S. Sephora locations and will soon be launching in other countries. You’ll be able to see me on the Sephora site very soon, and I honestly cannot wait for everyone to see it!

Your travel schedule is amazing — what destination has inspired you the most recently, and why?
I’ve been spending a lot of time in New York City lately, and it has honestly been the most inspiring place for me recently. I currently live in Newport Beach, which I love for its slower pace and the way it allows me to recharge, but NYC has been stirring something in me every time I visit.

There’s something about being surrounded by people who are actively and ambitiously working toward their goals, with so much culture and energy all in close proximity, that makes me feel incredibly alive and creative. Every time I leave, I feel charged and full of ideas, yet somehow still at peace — and I think that has to mean something. I also love the people I’ve met who call New York home. There’s a certain energy where people are laid-back and approachable but deeply ambitious at the same time, and that balance really seems to unify the community in a beautiful way.

What does a perfect, slow, restful day look like for you?
A perfect restful day starts with waking up slowly, throwing on some eye patches — a current favorite being the Rhode eye patches — and making my favorite iced coffee before heading out for a morning walk in the sun. I’d come home, put on a workout set I’ve been excited about lately (I’ve been loving CSB recently), and take an authentic Pilates class.

Afterward, I’d get ready with a light “no-makeup makeup” look and the perfect blowout for a lunch meetup with my closest friends, because I genuinely recharge when I’m around the right people. Or I’d swap the lunch for a slow afternoon at the beach soaking up a tan I’m hoping will last for weeks. Either way, I’d come home to an everything shower and perfectly timed takeout arriving right as I finished.

The night ends with binge-watching my current hyper-fixation show or rewatching Marvel movies, and being in bed with matching pajamas by 8 PM. That’s the dream.

Fashion-wise, how would you describe your style in three words?
Feminine, effortless, and unexpected.

What's one beauty or self-care ritual you never skip, no matter how busy life gets?
I never skip eye patches or sleeping in a thick eye cream. Some people say it’s performative, but I think my makeup lays nicer with less creasing, and my overall complexion looks brighter and more awake.

Fans love your authenticity — how do you stay grounded amidst such a fast-paced career?
My family is an obvious anchor for me, but my friends have made an equally noticeable difference. I feel really lucky to have both. Some of my closest friends are in the industry, so they understand the pace and pressures in a way that feels validating. But my longtime friends outside of it are just as important, because around them my brain completely shuts off. There are no phones, no content, no industry talk — just genuine connection. Having both worlds keeps me really balanced and reminds me of who I am outside of all of it.

What's a misconception you think people have about you, and what's the truth?
A big misconception is that I’m a social butterfly. My content shows me traveling, going out, and being in a lot of different places, so I understand why someone would assume I thrive in big social settings. But honestly, I’m much more in my element in intimate environments. I genuinely love deep one-on-one time or small group settings where real conversations can actually happen. I think I come alive the most when I feel truly comfortable with the people around me, and that’s something you just can’t replicate in a crowded room.

What's one piece of advice you wish you could give your younger self?
As someone who has always been naturally anxious, I would tell my younger self that the things keeping you up at night right now will have no role in how your life actually unfolds. I live by the idea that if something won’t matter in five years, it doesn’t deserve five minutes of your energy — and I really wish I had found that peace sooner. Everything works out exactly the way it’s supposed to.

You've become such an inspiration to many. Who inspires you the most?
There are so many women who constantly inspire me, but someone who has been deeply inspiring me lately is my younger sister, who is currently on her way to becoming a doctor. There’s something so beautiful about watching someone commit to a journey that requires years and years of dedication just to reach the starting line of their dream.

In some ways, it reminds me of my own journey with social media. I started when I was 13 years old, and it honestly took 10 years before I felt like I truly had a grip on how I wanted to show up. Watching my sister embark on something so much bigger and more demanding, while still showing up with so much joy and making everyone around her feel loved and important, is something I find endlessly inspiring. She reminds me that the long roads are always worth it.

What's your current go-to outfit when you want to feel confident and empowered?
A pair of perfectly tailored vintage jeans and a sculpting tank top as my base, styled with a statement jacket and vintage heels or boots.

If you could only bring three items in your handbag for a day, what would they be?
Hand sanitizer, a thick lip balm, and sunglasses.

What's something your fans would be totally surprised to learn about you?
I’m an avid movie watcher. My absolute favorite way to pass time is getting fully lost in a film, whether that’s by myself or with friends. In a world where social media has shortened so many people’s attention spans, it might actually be surprising coming from someone in my field that I can sit down, disconnect completely, and finish an entire movie without picking up my phone. It’s one of my favorite ways to unplug.

What's a personal mantra or quote you live by?
A negative mind will never provide a positive life.

What did you love most about your stay at Secrets Moxché?
What I loved most was that there was truly no reason to ever leave the property. Everything you could possibly need or want was right there. Every single meal was exquisite, and I genuinely never wanted them to end. The property is also so expansive that there was always something new to discover, and I loved feeling like I was experiencing something fresh every single day.

What exciting projects or career moments do you have coming up that you'd love to share?
I have some really exciting things in the works that I genuinely cannot wait for everyone to see. For now, though, you’ll just have to stay tuned.