Meet FLVS Alumna Makaila Nichols

This is the first post in a series by former FLVS student Makaila, a model, author, and anti-bullying advocate.

Hey blog readers! I’m the new kid on “The Virtual Voice” block.

My name is Makaila, but all my friends call me Mak and I’m 18 years young. I was once an FLVS Flex student and attended a small private school in Windermere, Florida. So why did I take classes from FLVS when I was already in school full time?

Opportunity.

I started modeling when I was 14 with Wilhelmina Models and had to spend a lot of time in Miami, Los Angeles, and New York (and not at school).

I found myself on a plane quite often and was always told the same thing by the people I worked with, “take classes online.” So I did – and by the time I completed high school, I applied 18 credits from FLVS to the final total that resulted in my diploma from Windermere Preparatory School.

In May this year, I finished high school. I am now attending the University of Central Florida and juggling a multitude of other projects. I am still modeling in New York City with One Model Management (under the ONE.1 board, if you want to check it out), so it will be quite the adventure trying to find time in my hectic Tuesday/Thursday class schedule to travel for work.

I am also now the National Ambassador for NoBull, an organization that speaks out against bullying. While writing for the Virtual Voice throughout the coming year, I hope to get you and other members of the FLVS community involved with this organization. NoBull uses creative outlets and social media to promote filmmaking, writing, and other channels to deliver messages that will help put a stop to bullying once and for all. Get involved with me on this amazing project that is changing the world, one voice at a time. Learn more about The Great American No Bull Challenge here.

I saved the best project I am working on for last – my own personal latest and greatest. I have a book coming out on October 3, 2016, titled Blatantly Honest: Normal Teen, Abnormal Life about my experience as a teenager. I talk about topics like bullying, body image, drug usage, sex, addictions, peer pressure, and so on. I’m not going to lie, the book gets down to the nitty-gritty and can open your eyes to situations you may never have dealt with before, but I can say I am 99 percent sure you will at some point in your life. One of the greatest aspects of my book is that it can read by all ages, preteen to grandparents. There is no age limit or restriction, although it is intended for a mature mindset. Check out the link below to learn more.

So that’s enough about me for now.

During the coming school year, I will be posting once or twice a month about topics I wrote about in my book and other areas that I will be addressing. My goal is to become a friend and role model for students who need someone to look up to or hear advice from; with that being said, I’ll be talking to you all soon!

Read next post >

Mak Nichols is a model, author, actress, and student advocate on a mission to inspire and support her peers through philanthropic initiatives including the Great American No Bull Challenge and the release of her first book, Blatantly Honest: Normal Teen, Abnormal Life, available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Indie Bound. After taking FLVS courses in high school, she is now studying business, entrepreneurship, and writing at the University of Central Florida. Learn more at makailanichols.com.