Cilla Dit

Who:

Cilla Dit -- @cillad0ll_ -- 5’8” -- from Salt Lake City, Utah.

Where:

I’m from Nairobi Kenya but I live in SLC UTAH now.

Agencies:

Best Model Management (LA)

- Did you always want to be a model? Tell us about how you were discovered.

Growing up, modeling wasn't necessarily my dream. I'm South Sudanese, and I was born in a refugee camp before my family immigrated to the United States when I was six years old. My dad came to America first as one of the Lost Boys of Sudan after fleeing the civil war, and years later he was able to bring the rest of our family here. My parents made incredible sacrifices to give us opportunities they never had, so they always placed a much stronger emphasis on education, stability, and building a secure future than beauty or fashion.

I was always naturally very skinny, and people constantly told me I should model because of it. At the same time, those comments also affected my self-image. My parents worried that I looked unhealthy, so for a while I actually tried to force myself to gain weight because I didn't feel comfortable in my own body.

One thing that never changed, though, was my love for beauty. I was the little girl sneaking my mom's and aunt's makeup, teaching myself how to do it, experimenting with hairstyles, and putting together outfits. Beauty and fashion have always been my way of expressing myself, and no matter what anyone thought, I never lost that part of who I am.

Even then, I still didn't really care about modeling. It wasn't something I saw for myself, despite people constantly suggesting it.

When I was 15, I started posting more on Instagram and ended up getting discovered by several modeling agencies. At the time, my parents weren't comfortable with me pursuing modeling or having photos of me online, so I chose not to sign.

Everything changed when I turned 18 and watched my younger cousin begin modeling. Seeing her confidently pursue her dream gave me the motivation to finally chase mine. I reached back out to some of the agencies that had previously contacted me and also submitted digitals to my cousin's mother agency. In the end, I decided to sign with the same agency.

Since then, I've realized modeling is exactly where I'm meant to be. Every time I step on set, I feel completely alive. It never feels like work…it feels like I'm becoming the most authentic version of myself.

- What are your favorite forms of self care and why?

For me, self-care starts with spending intentional time alone. I'm naturally a very social person, and I genuinely love connecting with people, but I also value solitude. Whether it's taking a solo trip, spending a quiet day by myself, or simply unplugging, that time helps me reconnect with myself and stay grounded. I think having a strong sense of self is so important, especially in an industry where there are always outside opinions.

Another huge part of my self-care is taking care of my gut health. I've learned how much it affects not only my physical health but also my mood and energy. Prioritizing probiotics, vitamins, health shots, and eating foods that make me feel good has made a noticeable difference in how I show up every day.

- What other passions do you have aside from modeling?

Outside of modeling, I'm passionate about healthcare, beauty, and entrepreneurship. I'll be starting an accelerated LPN program at Tooele Tech because I've always wanted to build a career where I can help people. Long-term, my dream is to combine my love for healthcare and beauty by opening my own medical aesthetics spa.

More than anything, I want to create a life where I'm self-employed, financially independent, and able to take care of both myself and the people I love. I love building, learning, and constantly growing, and I hope modeling is just one part of a much bigger journey.