At 28, Alana Monteiro has already built one of the most layered careers in American fashion. The New Bedford–born model, actress, and singer-songwriter has appeared on more than thirty magazine covers, Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Elle, Marie Claire, and Grazia among them, ranks in the Top 50 Social on Models.com, and sits alongside Naomi Campbell and Tyra Banks on the platform’s list of the Top 100 Black female models. Her campaigns for Nike, Reebok, Under Armour, Gap, and Macy’s have run in thousands of stores and on Times Square billboards. She has acted in Netflix’s Someone Great and Disney’s Emmy-winning Hocus Pocus 2, and her R&B singles “High,” “Ghosting,” and “Miss No More” have reached global Spotify playlists across Europe, Asia, and Latin America.
Now she steps into her most personal chapter. Monteiro recently welcomed her first child, a son named Zion, with former basketball player for Cape Verde National Team turned trainer Marcus Wills, also a New Bedford native. In a period that carries one of life’s deepest shifts, the artist finally slows down and turns inward. Pregnancy has reshaped not only her daily rhythm but her view of creating, success, and beauty, each now filtered through presence, authenticity, and a quieter kind of strength.
You are entering one of the most pivotal moments of your life. How has pregnancy reshaped the way you see yourself as both a woman and an artist?
Pregnancy has brought me into a deeper relationship with myself. For so long, my life and career moved at a constant pace, traveling, creating, evolving, but this moment invited me to slow down and be fully present. As a woman, I feel more connected to my body than ever before. As an artist, it has stripped everything back. I’m no longer chasing perfection. I create from a place that feels honest, grounded, and true.
Many artists speak about vulnerability as a source of strength. How has this chapter influenced your emotional expression in your work?
This chapter has deepened my emotional awareness in a profound way. Slowing down has allowed me to truly sit with my feelings rather than move past them. There’s less distraction, less urgency. I feel more present within myself, and that presence has brought a new level of honesty to my work. It’s no longer about expressing emotion, it’s about embodying it.
Your upcoming cover celebrates motherhood in a very visual and intimate way. What does it mean to you to present yourself at this stage of life?
It feels deeply personal and incredibly meaningful. I’ve spent years moving through different spaces within this industry, often at a fast pace, but this moment represents stillness and truth. Presenting myself during this stage is about embracing this change and allowing it to be seen. It’s not just about the image, it’s about honoring where I am in my life without rushing through it.
Has becoming a mother shifted your perspective on ambition, success, and legacy?
Completely. I’ve always been driven and focused on building my career, but this chapter has brought a new level of intention. I’m no longer trying to do everything at once. Success feels more aligned and purposeful now. It’s not just about personal achievement, it’s about creating something meaningful while being fully present in my life and for my family.
Music often reflects personal journeys. Is there a particular song of yours that now holds a completely new meaning?
“Miss No More” holds an entirely new meaning for me now. When I wrote it years ago, it came from a place of yearning for a love that felt safe, free, non-toxic, and consistent. At the time, it almost felt imagined, like I was reaching toward something I hadn’t fully experienced yet.
Now, I find myself living in that reality and even beyond it. The love I’ve found, and the experience of starting a family, has expanded that feeling in ways I couldn’t have anticipated. Listening to the song now, it no longer feels like longing, it feels reflective. It reminds me of how much I’ve grown and evolved. While I no longer feel that sense of searching, I recognize that version of myself, and I hope the song continues to resonate with and empower anyone walking their own path of self-worth and self-discovery.
In a world where everything moves so fast, pregnancy invites a different rhythm. Have you learned to slow down, and has that influenced your creative process?
I’ve absolutely learned to slow down, particularly in how I travel and the number of projects I take on. I’m not moving as frequently or taking as many vacations as I once did, and while that was an adjustment, it has been an incredibly grounding experience. It has taught me to be present, to truly exist in the moment and connect with my growing baby. That shift has naturally influenced my creative process, making it feel more intentional, more thoughtful, and more aligned with where I am in my life.
Social media has become a space where artists connect directly with their audience. How do you navigate authenticity while still protecting such a personal chapter of your life?
Slowing down has allowed me to approach sharing with far more intention. I’m no longer posting out of habit or to keep pace, I share what genuinely feels aligned and appropriate. I chose not to speak about my pregnancy for a long time because it felt deeply personal, something meant to be held closely and shared first with those nearest to me.
For me, authenticity is not about full visibility, it’s about honesty within boundaries. Some experiences are meant to remain private, and I’ve come to value that distinction.
Do you feel pressure to share motherhood publicly, or do you prefer to keep certain moments just for yourself?
I don’t feel pressured to share motherhood publicly. I spent the majority of my pregnancy keeping that experience private because it was something deeply personal to me. I was able to simply live in the moment of my pregnancy without any outside noise or external opinions around it, and that felt really grounding. For a long time, I only shared it with those closest to me, and that decision felt both natural and necessary.
I’m not focused on documenting every moment. Instead, I’ve come to deeply value the quiet, sentimental experiences that don’t need to be shared in order to be meaningful. Of course, I will share what feels right to me, but I’ve learned that not everything has to exist publicly to hold significance.
With new generations growing up through digital platforms, how do you see the relationship between artists and audiences evolving?
The relationship has become far more immediate and interactive, which can be both powerful and complex. There is a greater sense of accessibility, but also a greater need for boundaries. I think audiences are beginning to crave authenticity in a deeper way, not just constant visibility. Moving forward, I believe the balance will lie in meaningful connection while still preserving personal space and creative integrity.
Your style has always been expressive. Has your relationship with fashion changed during pregnancy?
It has evolved in a very natural way. Fashion has always been a significant part of my identity and career, but now it feels more intuitive and personal. I’m less focused on structure or expectation and more drawn to what feels right in my body. It’s no longer about keeping up, it’s about expressing where I am. There’s a softness to it, but also a deeper sense of confidence.
How do you define beauty today, especially in a time when your body is changing so naturally and profoundly?
To me, beauty truly comes from within. It goes far beyond physical appearance, there’s something powerful about a person’s energy, their kindness, and the way they move through the world. When someone is beautiful on the inside, it naturally reflects outward.
Physically, I’m no longer focused on maintaining a certain image or trying to control every detail. Slowing down has allowed me to genuinely appreciate what my body is doing in this moment. My body is going through a profound shift, and rather than trying to control it, I’ve learned to trust it. There is something incredibly powerful about that process. It’s no longer about perfection, it’s about honoring what my body is doing and embracing it fully.
What kind of world do you hope your child will grow up in, especially in terms of culture, communication, and human connection?
I hope my child grows up in a world grounded in acceptance and diversity, where individuality is not only accepted but celebrated. I want them to feel confident in their ideas, their creativity, and their unique perspective.
I also hope for a world that values presence. Everything moves so quickly, but there is so much importance in slowing down and truly connecting. I want them to feel grounded in an environment where communication is genuine and people take the time to understand one another.
If you could dedicate one song, written or unwritten, to your child, what would it feel like?
Before my pregnancy, my partner and I would often listen to “Zion” by Lauryn Hill. That song has taken on an even deeper meaning for me now. It reflects her shift from a career-focused mindset into embracing motherhood despite external pressures. I relate to that journey deeply. It became such an important part of our story that it ultimately inspired us to name our son Zion.
If I were to dedicate one song to my child, it would be “Zion” by Lauryn Hill. It felt as if listening to that song at the time was more than just a moment; it felt like a sign we were meant to hear it together. Almost like it was quietly affirming something we hadn’t fully stepped into yet but were already moving toward. In hindsight, it feels woven into our journey in a way that was always leading us here.
Finally, in this moment between who you were and who you are becoming, how would you describe yourself today?
I would describe myself as grounded and evolving. I’ve lived a life that has moved quickly, filled with constant growth and transition, but this moment has allowed me to slow down and truly be present. I am still becoming, still discovering new layers of myself, but in a way that feels more intentional, more centered, and more aligned than ever before.
Alana Monteiro’s story has always been one of range, the runway, the screen, the studio. What emerges in this conversation is the quieter thread running beneath it all: a woman learning to listen to herself. As she steps into motherhood alongside Marcus Wills and raises their son Zion, the pace has softened, and the work feels sharper for it.
She is still the artist who has fronted covers for Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, and Elle, still the voice behind songs that have traveled across continents. But she is also something new, grounded, deliberate, and answering to a smaller, more meaningful audience at home.
Credits
Model: Alana Monteiro (@alanaamonteiro_)
Photography: Emily Teauge (@_emilyteauge)
Makeup & Hair: Olympia Dalley (@olympialyana)
Styling: Quan John (@1quanjohn) and Emari Campbell (@emaricampbell)
Wardrobe: Vivienne Hu New York, Pietro Brunelli Maternity, Shein
Jewelry: Callivista