Her grandmother was a model. Her mother, Esme Marshall, was on the cover of Vogue six times. And now, 29-year-old Rachel (Ray) Roberts Stoker is carrying that lineage forward. Stoker started modeling when she was 13 years old.
She was nine years old when she first lived in Malibu, but then she had to move away. But she said she was always drawn back.
The Malibu Times got a chance to sit down with the woman who is a model to the world, but says she is socially awkward and shy and will just keep talking because she’s nervous.
At what moment did you know you have made it as a model?
For any career path, as long as you can pay your way in the world, I think you’ve made it. I’m not a supermodel. I’m always reaching for more. I’ve always been able to support myself. More recently, I just bought a house in Malibu and that’s such a huge accomplishment for me. That’s how I know I’ve made it.
What advice did your mother give you about being a model or what did you learn from her?
She taught me not to let people mess with me. I also learned to really enjoy life from my mom. I travel and have a lot of fun. She had a lust for life and she taught me the same. She also taught me how to do the catwalk with books on my head when I was young. But she always let me be me.
How does it feel to buy your first home in Malibu?
The craziest dream come true. I’ve been through some real financial ups and downs my whole life. We moved around a lot, and I’ve never lived in one place for more than three years. This is the first time I have some stability in my life. My life’s dream was to buy a house. I’ve never been so proud of myself. I feel so safe. But I wouldn’t have been able to do any of this without the support of my husband Patrick.
What would you like to tell aspiring models?
When I was younger in modeling, I was more insecure and less confident than I am now. Modeling is so one-sided and you see your worth by what you look like. So it’s important to have other interests that validate yourself and help you feel loved and confident. Otherwise you’ll just be in a world of vanity and you get wrapped up in that. But once you feel whole, you don’t care if it works out or not.
Your modeling career has taken you all over the world. What is your favorite city or country and why?
I chose to come back here and stay here, so this is my favorite place in the world. I’m very patriotic. I can’t live anywhere else. I’m definitely an all-American, California girl.
What would you like to accomplish next in life?
Now that I’m back in Malibu and settled in my marriage, we’ll probably have kids soon. I want to dig deeper in my spirituality and settle into the Malibu life.
What do you enjoy doing on your free time? What are some of your hobbies?
Going to the beach. I’m a beach addict. My relief and my church is being at the beach. My husband and I surf and we play beach volleyball. That’s my happy place.
What is your favorite thing about Malibu? If you could change one thing about Malibu, what would it be and why?
The beach. I would like all the development to stop and to preserve the community I grew up in.
How was it having your portrait painted by Johanna Spinks?
It was really cool. I was looking forward to it. She makes you feel so comfortable. It’s one-on-one. We talked about everything. It was a wonderful, woman-to-woman intimate conversation. She’s so beautiful and talented.
Follow Rachel (Ray) Roberts Stoker on Instagram.