Allyn Rose: The Day We Spoke Our Dreams Aloud
I was a brand-new photographer, camera in hand, eager to prove myself in the world of fashion. The room buzzed with energy at a small charity fashion show in Annapolis, Maryland. Young designers hustled backstage, models lined up for their walk, and I chased every perfect shot. Then she appeared: tall, radiant, with blonde hair that caught the light, sparkling blue eyes, and a smile that made you stop mid-step.
Her name was Allyn Rose, and I didn’t know it yet, but I was about to meet someone whose brilliance extended far beyond the runway.
We spoke briefly after the show, and I asked if she would be open to a photoshoot. She said yes, and a few weeks later, we met at sunrise along the docks of Annapolis. My small team arrived with hair and makeup, borrowed boutique clothing, and sparkling diamond jewelry. Waiting for us was a Sabre 48 Salon Express yacht, our floating studio for the day.
As we sailed through the calm waters just outside the United States Naval Academy, morning light wrapped the boat in soft gold. We photographed along the deck, wind tangling her hair, the Chesapeake Bay stretching endlessly behind her.
But what stayed with me most wasn’t just the beauty of the setting. It was Allyn herself.
Between shots, she spoke thoughtfully about politics, community issues, and public affairs with a depth that surprised me. She was as intellectually curious as she was striking in front of the camera. Modeling, I realized, was only one part of who she was becoming.
At one point, she showed me a photo of her mother. I remember saying, “Wow, she’s beautiful. You look like twins, but she’s a brunette and you’re blonde.” I could see it immediately: the same smile, the same eyes, the same quiet strength. That connection between past and present, memory and aspiration, stayed with me long after that day.
Later that afternoon, after the shoot wrapped, we collapsed into a quick nap as the captain guided the boat back to the marina. When we arrived, Allyn had traded diamonds and dresses for black combat boots and a worn leather jacket. In an instant, the polished runway model transformed into a punk-rock girl with an easy laugh and a warmth that made you feel instantly comfortable.
I asked what had drawn her to modeling and pageantry.
Her answer was simple but powerful. Her mother had passed away from breast cancer when she was young, and competing in pageants gave her a platform to honor her memory and raise awareness about the disease. At the same time, she was pursuing law school, determined to make a real impact in the world.
Even then, her path felt purposeful. I watched from afar as that same girl stepped onto national stages, winning Miss Maryland USA 2011, placing in the Top 8 at Miss USA 2011, and eventually competing in Miss America 2013, where she made the brave choice to undergo a prophylactic double mastectomy. She did exactly what she had said she would do.
Over time, Allyn’s voice became even more powerful. She publicly shared her preventive mastectomy journey after losing multiple family members to breast cancer, sparking national conversations about genetic risk and prevention. Recently, she boldly became the first woman with a mastectomy to model for the iconic Sports Illustrated Swimsuit, promoting a message of hope, courage, and prioritizing life over vanity.
Through it all, we stayed connected.
Then one day, an email arrived that stopped me in my tracks. Allyn was getting married in Germany and wanted me to photograph her wedding. I immediately thought back to that early day on the water, the two of us sitting on the deck of a boat, talking like young dreamers about the futures we imagined for ourselves.
Her wedding took place in a breathtaking castle, where she married a wonderful man who wholeheartedly supported her mission and her voice. Today, Allyn continues that work through her nonprofit The Previvor, the first organization dedicated to educating women on cancer prevention, genetic testing, IVF, and more — all things she personally navigated herself.
Looking back at the photographs from that first day in Annapolis, I see more than a beautiful young model. I see someone who has always led with heart, courage, and purpose.
Allyn Rose truly is a true American sweetheart, someone who followed her dreams while lifting others along the way.
And when I look at those images now, I realize they captured something more than a photoshoot. They captured the beginning of a story: two young women sitting on a boat, speaking their dreams into the wind, not yet knowing that one day, in ways both expected and unimaginable, those dreams would come true.
Story and Photography: Angie Myers
Makeup & Hair: Elizabeth Johnson
Jewelry: Zachary's
Clothing: Lilly Pulitzer-Pink Crab