In Conversation with Madelane De Jesus

For Madelane De Jesus, confidence isn't something you achieve. It's something you uncover.

There’s a steadiness to the way Madelane moves through the world. Whether she’s in front of the camera or guiding someone through breath and movement, her presence is quiet but unmistakable. Grounded. Attuned. Fully there.

Born in the Dominican Republic and shaped by years moving between cities, studios, and sets, Madelane has built a life that looks fast-paced from the outside. But underneath it all is a deep commitment to slowing down, to listening, and to trusting what she knows in her body.

As a model and Pilates instructor, whether she's teaching movement, caring for her curls, or helping someone reconnect with their breath, her approach is rooted in the same philosophy: slow down, pay attention, and learn to trust yourself.

We sat down with Madelane to talk about movement, intuition, hair, and the power of being fully present.

Madelane was featured in Soulstice's inaugural launch campaign, photographed in Los Angeles in Spring 2026.

Nancy Twine: You move between modeling and teaching Pilates, which seem like very different worlds. How do they influence one another?

Madelane De Jesus: They're actually much more connected than people might think. Modeling has taught me how to be present with people. Every job brings a different team, different personalities, different cultures. You're constantly learning how to connect with someone you've never met before.

Pilates is similar, but in a deeper way. When I'm teaching, I'm spending an hour with someone, paying attention to how they move, how they breathe, how they're feeling that day. Sometimes we don't even need many words. You're communicating through movement.

What connects both worlds for me is human connection. And presence. That's something I care deeply about.

NT: What first drew you to Pilates?

MDJ: I've been modeling since I was fifteen. I moved to America for modeling, and while I loved it, I always knew I wanted something else that would allow me to help people. I remember praying about it. I knew it needed to be flexible because modeling is unpredictable, but I wanted to build something meaningful alongside it.

I'd been practicing Pilates for years and eventually people started encouraging me to teach. Once I started, it felt incredibly natural. The thing I didn't expect was the community. The amount of women who wanted to come together, move together, support one another. There is something so beautiful about creating spaces where women can connect, grow, and simply be present with themselves and each other. That's what keeps pulling me back to it.

NT: What has movement taught you about confidence?

MDJ: That confidence comes from understanding yourself. Once you start learning your body, the confidence you gain is unmatched. We spend so much time judging ourselves. We say we're not flexible enough or strong enough or capable enough. But often we're just disconnected.

The moment you start paying attention, everything changes. You notice where you're holding tension. You notice what feels good and what doesn't. You learn what your body needs. That awareness creates confidence. Because suddenly you're not operating from what other people think you should do. You're operating from what you know about yourself.

NT: What does strength mean to you today?

MDJ: Trusting myself. When I was younger, I think I spent more time worrying about making other people happy. As I've gotten older, I've realized that this is my life. The more I get to know myself, the easier it becomes to make decisions. You stop looking for permission. You stop asking everyone else what they think. You start listening to your intuition.

Pilates actually reinforced that lesson for me. I remember being nervous about pursuing certification because of how it would affect my modeling schedule. But deep down, I knew it was something I needed to do. Now I'm so grateful I trusted that feeling.

NT: Hair is often tied to identity, femininity, and self-expression. What has your relationship with your hair looked like over the years?

MDJ: I've always loved my hair, and a lot of that comes from my mom. I grew up in the Dominican Republic, and at the time, curly hair wasn't always celebrated the way it is now. I remember being told my hair was too big or drew too much attention.

But my mom never let me see it that way. She was always telling me how beautiful my hair was. Looking back, I realize how important that was. That's why I always encourage parents to speak positively to their children. Sometimes we don't realize how much those messages stay with us. They become part of how we see ourselves.

NT: Has modeling changed the way you care for your hair?

MDJ: Absolutely. For a long time, I blamed modeling whenever my hair felt damaged. It gets straightened. It gets curled. It gets braided. It goes through a lot. But eventually I realized something important. My hair is my responsibility.

Now, if a client wants my hair straight, I'll prepare it beforehand. If they want it curly, I'll prepare it for that too. I come to set already knowing what my hair needs. That mindset changed everything. Instead of feeling frustrated by what the industry required, I started focusing on how I could support my hair through it.

NT: What's the biggest hair lesson you've learned?

MDJ: Hydration. Honestly, I think textured hair needs far more moisture than most people realize. As I've gotten older, I've started treating my hair the same way I treat my skin. I moisturize it every day. Leave-in conditioner. Oils. Hydration. Every single day. It's not complicated, but consistency has completely transformed my hair.

NT: You have such a calm energy. What helps you stay grounded?

MDJ: Gratitude. Whenever I start feeling overwhelmed, I remind myself how lucky I am to be here. I pray. I focus on the present moment.

I think a lot of anxiety comes from living in the future. We're worrying about things that haven't happened yet. But when I bring myself back to what's happening right now, I feel peaceful again. Even this

NT: As someone who works closely with the body, do you think we carry emotions physically?

MDJ: One thousand percent. We hold so much tension. In our hips. In our shoulders. In the way we breathe. People often think they're stiff or inflexible, but many times they're carrying stress that they haven't acknowledged. One of my favorite parts of teaching is watching someone finally take a deep breath. You can feel the release happen. Not just physically. Emotionally too.

NT: What has slowing down taught you?

MDJ: Appreciation. When we're constantly rushing, we don't even notice how we're feeling. We don't notice the headache. We don't notice the tension. We don't notice the beautiful things happening around us. Slowing down allows me to regulate my nervous system. It allows me to check in with myself. And most importantly, it allows me to appreciate where I am.

NT: What do you hope people feel when they're around you?

MDJ: Supported. I genuinely want people to feel like someone is rooting for them. I love encouraging people. I love helping people believe in themselves. Sometimes all someone needs is a little support. A little reminder that they can do the thing they're afraid of doing. If people leave feeling more confident than they did before, that makes me happy.

NT: If there's one thing you hope people take away from the way you move through the world, what would it be?

MDJ: Resilience. Everything happens for a reason. And if it isn't happening for a reason, it's teaching us something. Life keeps moving. There will always be another opportunity. Another chance. Another day. The important thing is to keep moving forward. With intention, gratitude, and with trust in yourself.