Faces: Meet Ulrika 'Red' Nilsson, International Fashion Model

Meet Ulrika 'Red' Nilsson, international fashion model and mentor to the youth of Port Jefferson. Nilsson has lived in Port Jefferson for nearly 2 years with her husband Mark Pfister. Originaly from a small town in southern Sweden, she has been in the United States since 1994.

Nilsson has extensively traveled the globe, living in Paris for two years during her 9 years in the modeling industry. She currently runs a company out of New York City that focuses on events and experiences such as destination management. Now settled, she has decided to give back to the community her and her husband think so fondly of.  Nilsson has started a program for local youth called .

Recently Patch sat down with Nilsson to learn about what inspired her to start Real Fashion and Runway and what she sees in the future for her program she is so passionate about.

How did you first get into modeling?

I moved to Washington D.C. in 1994 to go to school, when I was there and going to school I was “discovered” in IKEA when we were shopping. I decided I wasn’t going to do that.

School was finished and I didn’t have an option to stay, the visa didn’t cover me staying. So I went and spoke to the people that had approached me about modeling to see how it would go. Luckily it just took off, and I was just as amazed as everyone in my family. I took advantage of that, to be able to stay and do the things I wanted to do. Explore the United States and all the great opportunities that I saw.

Of all the places you've been what made you settle here in Port Jefferson?

When we moved to Port Jefferson, we were previously on the south shore but we have a boat, a sailing Yacht and our boat had been here for 7 years. That was one reason, but also my husband's father lives in Port Jefferson. We love Port Jefferson. We of course had been here many, many times.

How did the idea for Real Fashion and Runway come about?

When we moved to Port Jeff, both Mark and I are very much into the community, and how can we help and support the community. So my passion of course is the younger generation. I said let me go and talk to the people at the Village Center and see if there is any similar activity going on. Fashion and runway, and trying to make something fun but also with a different angle on it. They said they nothing going on, and welcomed me to rent a room and see how it goes.

Can you tell us what you teach in the classes?

How to carry yourself, learn how to dress appropriately for different situations. And how to eat right, being nice to your body. It's important for me to be not as a teacher and not as a parent. I’m almost somewhere inbetween more so. So it is easier to get through to them.

Behind all that there are messages throughout the class. This is what we do in front of a client, but a client can just as well be a school counselor, or a teacher. Or in the future a job interview, so that client can become anybody. There are many little things we learn. It is such a sensitive age, and if they learn now they are setting themselves up for the future.

When do you hold classes?

Classes are held Mondays from 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. at the Village Center and it is $15 a class. If they bring someone new in, they are free for that class. At the end of a series of classes there is the runway show. This is a fraction of what they would pay in the city, I’m basically trying to cover the room cost. My wish is to have sponsors brought in so no one has to pay.

What do you see in the future for the program?

I’m thinking there are so many things going on in the Hamptons. Car shows, and polo and things. Let’s bring something here to the North Shore. Let’s start a fashion week in Port Jefferson or Long Island. I would love to do something like that. This is unlimited how many people we can involve if have a lot of sponsors that are interested. If we had the financial back up from others we could make it a lot bigger and bring in other people and so many other kids too.