Meet the Team

Sherrie Gearheart is a highly accomplished community activist, business owner, and renowned expert in the world of fashion and pageantry. With two decades of industry experience, she has consistently defied conventional beauty standards and stigmas since 2008. As the driving force behind the Model Citizen Leadership Academy and an acclaimed coach, Gearheart has fundamentally changed lives through her intensive mock interview sessions, academy training, and runway coaching. Her expertise has successfully guided numerous individuals to victory, training multiple pageant winners across all age categories and catapulting models' & their brands. Through her leadership programs, she empowers aspiring models and community leaders to harness their full potential and find their voice. Gearheart proudly runs the Miss Royalty International pageant system, which focuses on helping others find their purpose and platform. Gearheart’s impact extends to her dynamic production portfolio, which includes the largest Kentucky Derby fashion shows and a streak of sold-out Chicago shows for several consecutive years in a row. Her event production footprint is global, with successful events in Indianapolis, New York Fashion Week, Louisville, Chicago, Paris, and Ireland.

Carving her own path as a model, Gearheart (standing at 5'6") defied strict height standards to walk in prestigious events like Mercedes Benz New York Fashion Week (2015) and several seasons of Chicago Fashion Week, LA Fashion Week, & Paris Fashion Week. She has modeled for international luxury brands, completed a World Supermodel Tour in China, and appeared in major beauty campaigns across billboards, magazines, and runways in China and the Philippines. Her international presence also includes hosting live red carpet interviews for LUXE TV Paris Fashion Week and for other major productions during New York and Los Angeles fashion weeks.  As a dedicated humanitarian and activist, Gearheart utilized her pageant platform for over a decade to spearhead a major grassroots initiative focused on suicide prevention, educating people on the signs of depression and suicide intervention across eight countries and the USA.  Gearheart has 20 years experience in the industry. Her significant recognition includes receiving the 2013 Miss America Community Service award (from the nationally televised pageant) for her humanitarian work overseas, the Minnie Riperton Humanitarian of the Year 2015 award for her suicide prevention work across Chicago and nationally, and the 2019 Lifetime Achievement award from the Fashion World Grammys for our sold out productions, to name a few.  She also held the title of Miss United Nations 2015  among her numerous national, state, and local level titles. Now, Gearheart channels her extensive experience, knowledge, expertise, and passion into Model Icon, a venture designed to cultivate the next generation of industry professionals through high-end coaching, exclusive shows, and media connections.
 

Nallely Garcia Nava is an award-winning model, accomplished pageant professional, and a versatile industry creative with over a decade of experience spanning competitive pageantry, professional modeling, expert coaching, and fashion media. Her extensive background has earned her multiple regional, state, and national crowns and a reputation for excellence, authenticity, and transformative leadership.A dedicated humanitarian, Nallely is a passionate advocate for social causes, proudly serving on the board for several notable non-profits. Her impactful volunteer work includes vital suicide prevention initiatives and participation in humanitarian trips overseas, reflecting her deep commitment to service. Nallely's expansive industry experience and commitment to helping others grow with purpose make her an ideal fit for her dual roles at Model Icon. As a seasoned professional, she serves as a media blogger and industry representative for  Model Icon Magazine, leveraging her insider knowledge to provide on-site publicity, interviews, commentary, and professional storytelling that elevates designers, models, and events across major fashion shows. Her discerning eye for talent, honed through years as an award-winning model and a respected pageant judge for systems like the MRI Pageant, enables her to effectively handle talent acquisition for Model Icon's fashion shows and pageants. She excels at scouting and connecting emerging models with opportunities within the Model Icon network, utilizing her expertise as a modeling mentor, runway coach, and consultant.

Beyond her media and talent acquisition roles, Nallely is a highly effective pageant coach who has developed contestants of all ages in stage presence, interview skills, and brand development. She has coached multiple competitors to winning titles across various systems, becoming known for her strategic approach and dedication to empowering each contestant to perform at their highest potential. As a blogger, speaker, emcee, and powerful industry voice, Nallely continues to shape the fashion and pageant world through creativity, professionalism, and a commitment to helping others grow with purpose.