Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model Brooks Nader is pulling back the curtain on the realities of beauty standards and career pressure. In a candid November 5 interview with Bustle, the 28-year-old opened up about her cosmetic procedures, her willingness to be transparent about them, and how using a GLP-1 medication for weight loss coincided with a major shift in her modeling career.
Nader didn’t mince words about what she’s had done. She acknowledged getting a nose job—joking, “People say I look like Michael Jackson”—and veneers by celebrity dentist Dr. Michael Apa. She’s also experimented with injectables and aesthetic treatments, from “salmon sperm facials” to the “Nefertiti” Botox neck lift. “Every Christmas, you can catch me looking like Freddy Krueger,” she quipped, underscoring her frank approach to beauty maintenance in a business where such treatments are often whispered about rather than discussed openly.
Transparent About Cosmetic Procedures
Nader’s forthrightness stands out in an era where performative perfection is easy to curate on social media. By admitting to procedures and making jokes at her own expense, she reframes the conversation around aesthetic work as part of a broader professional toolkit—common, sometimes extreme, and, in her case, not a source of shame. Her acknowledgment of both surgical and non-surgical enhancements reflects a modeling landscape where upkeep can be as much a job requirement as runway walks and photo calls.
The model’s comments also highlight how cosmetic culture has expanded far beyond Hollywood’s A-list, with high-profile dermatology and dentistry becoming fixtures in fashion and influencer spaces. Nader’s willingness to name procedures and providers is notable precisely because it’s rare to hear models quantify what goes into maintaining an image that, for many, can look effortless.
Industry Pressure & GLP-1 Admission
Nader didn’t shy away from the harsher realities either. She recalled seeking feedback when she missed out on bookings early on. “If I didn’t get a job, I would say to [my old agency], ‘Can we get feedback from the client?’ The direct feedback was I needed to lose 30 pounds,” she said. “I didn’t shed one tear over it. I don’t feel bad for myself. I just said, ‘The facts are they want me to lose weight. How can I achieve that?’”
According to Nader, her career accelerated after she began taking a GLP-1 medication for weight loss. “The facts are that when I started GLP-1, my career took off,” she explained. “I’m not saying it’s OK. I’m not saying it’s right. I think everybody is different — but I lost 30 pounds, and I booked all the jobs.”
Nader also addressed the complicated feelings surrounding GLP-1 drugs, which have been widely discussed across Hollywood and social media. “I had so many people message me saying, ‘I’m also addicted to GLP-1. I’m ashamed to talk about it because there’s such a stigma around it. It’s a crutch for me,’” she said. “I’m still on it. It’s a crutch for me, too. It’s not healthy. I should get off it; I’ll be honest about that.”
Her remarks arrive amid an ongoing public conversation about the ethics, access, and health considerations tied to GLP-1 medications, often referenced under brand names in discussions about rapid weight loss. Nader’s comments don’t glamorize the drugs so much as acknowledge the pressures that can drive their use—especially in industries where size and appearance remain stubborn gatekeepers.
From Tulane to SI Swimsuit Breakout
Nader’s path to prominence wasn’t linear. She began pursuing modeling in earnest in 2017, leaving a full-ride scholarship at Tulane University in New Orleans to move to New York City. Early gigs were modest—she even booked hand-modeling work—until a breakthrough moment in 2019.
That year, Nader attended Sports Illustrated Swimsuit’s open casting call, a highly competitive process that drew more than 10,000 hopefuls. She was selected and quickly became one of the brand’s standout faces, eventually landing on the cover. The visibility helped redefine her career, placing her alongside top talent and unlocking opportunities across fashion and brand campaigns.
Today, Nader is represented by the same powerhouse IMG executive who manages Gigi and Bella Hadid—an acknowledgment of her appeal in a crowded market and of the momentum she has built, even as she challenges the narratives surrounding the work it takes to succeed.
Why Nader’s Candor Matters
By speaking openly about cosmetic procedures and weight-loss drugs, Nader highlights a tension familiar to many performers and models: the line between personal agency and professional expectation. Her comments offer a rare, unvarnished look at a playbook that is often kept private, even as its results are splashed across magazine covers and social feeds.
Nader’s perspective also captures an industry at an inflection point. As more public figures discuss body image and health with nuance, transparency can coexist with accountability—acknowledging that certain choices may come with risks or aren’t right for everyone. For Nader, the point isn’t to prescribe a path but to describe the one she took, including the compromises and consequences.
Ultimately, her Bustle interview serves as a reminder that behind the polished images is a complex ecosystem of feedback, pressure, and personal decision-making. Whether discussing a “Nefertiti” neck lift or the career impact of GLP-1 use, Nader’s candor offers insight into the costs of a profession built on appearances—and the individuality required to navigate it.
