Meet Tess Annique: The Model Empowering Women Through Her Journey With Fertility And Healthy Living

Tess Annique was only 15 years old when she first stepped into the fashion world, captivating audiences with her stunning look and incredible talent. She has undoubtedly made a name for herself in the industry, gracing the pages of some of the most notable magazines like Cosmopolitan, Guess, and Maxim. Still, the model is more than just a pretty face – Tess has dedicated herself to learning everything about healthy living: fitness, food, mental health, and spirituality.

She also received her BBA in marketing and fashion media from Southern Methodist University and is certified in plant-based nutrition, a subject she studied at Cornell University. She recently became a certified health and wellness coach from the Institute of Integrative Nutrition.

In 2017, Tess made the life-changing decision to embrace sobriety to lead an optimal lifestyle. Along the way, she met her now-husband, former NHL star Sheldon Souray. The couple recently opened up about their experiences with starting a family, hoping to inspire women and their partners struggling to conceive.

Today, she uses her platform and voice to empower everyone and champion ethical fashion, partnering with Thrifts and Threads to create stunning pieces that uplift underdeveloped communities in Mexico. In this exclusive interview with Evie, Tess reveals the influence of her collab with Thrifts and Threads, her path to sobriety, and her ongoing battle with starting a family.

ND: How did you end up modeling and working with Thrift and Threads? 

TA: I got scouted when I was 15 years old and signed with Elite Model Management. I’ve worked in fashion for more than a decade. I started taking my social media more seriously during the pandemic and began working with brands directly. I met Gabi from Thrift and Threads, and I shot a lot of stuff for them. She asked me to do her show at Miami Swim Week. From then, we always spoke about working together, and in February Thrifts and Threads x Tess Annique was born.

It’s been such a blast collaborating with them. You’ve never met a more sweet, determined, and incredible group of women than Gabi and her team. It’s truly been a dream come true. 

ND: What was your life like before sobriety, and what was the turning point?

TA: I didn’t like who I was before I was sober. At first, drinking is fun, then it’s fun with problems, and then you’re left with just problems. I didn’t like who I was when I looked in the mirror. I didn’t want to live life that way anymore. I knew that if I wanted to become the person I always wanted to be, I’d have to give myself the best chance possible – and for me, that means being sober. I’ve been sober for five and a half years now, and I’ve never been more proud to look in the mirror. 

ND: Why did you go through with IVF?

TA: One in eight women deals with infertility. After being off birth control for more than a year, my husband and I wanted to see a doctor to run some tests to make sure everything was okay. My husband has two daughters from his previous marriage, and I was 26 at the time. I thought something was off. When we had our consult after all of our preliminary testings, we were told IVF would be our only option. IVF is a journey. It’s been over four years, and we’re still in the thick of it. But I think it’s important for women and couples to have these conversations. It affects more of us than we know. The more we talk about it, the more normal these conversations become. 

ND: Miscarriages are heartbreaking. How has your healing journey been after IVF? How has your husband supported you?

TA: We’ve done three rounds of IVF over three years. I was naive to think that IVF wouldn’t lead to miscarriages. I had only heard of women having miscarriages before they did IVF, but not in IVF itself. We had transferred a healthy embryo, and I had gotten a positive pregnancy test. Our week 6 ultrasound looked amazing, and at our 8-week ultrasound, we saw the heartbeat. We went back two weeks later for our 10-week ultrasound, and there was no longer a heartbeat. It was the hardest day of my life, and I’ve been through a lot.

My husband really showed up for me during this time. In the months that followed, I became a shell of a human being. I was full of grief and depression. Most days, I didn’t leave the bed. He showed up for me in ways that I didn’t know were possible. This experience has brought us even closer together. 

ND: What made you want to share your story, and what advice would you give a woman struggling with infertility? 

TA: In the weeks after my miscarriage, I felt like I was being followed around by a dark grey cloud. I felt like I had this deep dark secret that was eating me alive. For the three years prior to our miscarriage, we kept our IVF journey private. My husband has two daughters, and we didn’t want our fertility journey to be a public thing as we were protecting our family. But when my miscarriage happened, I felt so broken. I needed other women to relate to. I needed women who had gone through this before. I told my husband I wanted to share our experience.

When I first got sober, I shared my story, and I remember how many people messaged me about their own struggles with alcohol and getting sober. It’s such a meaningful conversation when you connect with people who have gone through similar struggles. Once I shared my story on Instagram, I felt a huge weight lifted off my shoulders. I connected with so many women who have gone through miscarriages in IVF. They pointed me to great doctors and resources that changed my own course in my fertility journey. It’s hard to give advice when I don’t have a baby in my arms yet, but the only advice I tell myself is, “Don’t give up.” That’s the only thing I can’t do. You just have to keep going. 

ND: From sobriety to miscarriage, you've been through a lot. Yet, you show women through your work that you remain beautiful, strong, and confident. What keeps you going, or what gave you the strength to push through your struggles?  

TA: I think about our future family. I’ve been through three rounds of IVF and 10 weeks of shots. I’ve probably injected over 500 shots this year. The only thing that keeps me going is picturing our baby in my arms. It’s really easy to get discouraged, and the flux of hormones certainly doesn’t help. I just try to stay as grounded and focused as possible. 

ND: Could you tell us a little bit about your line with Thrift and Threads, and festival season trends?

TA: Doing this collaboration with Thrifts and Threads has been a dream come true. Coachella Weekend One just happened, and it was so incredible seeing our collab out in the wild. It’s such a sense of pure joy. I saw a lot of cowgirl vibes on weekend one.

A lot of western boots and cowboy hats. I love it paired with pieces from Thrift and Threads. We made a special piece I’ll be wearing for Stagecoach (I’m a country music girl at heart), and I can’t wait for everyone to see! 

If you want to follow along with Tess' journey, follow her on Instagram and TikTok, and shop her Thrift and Threads collection here!

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