Ellory Grace Gives Back
Ellory Grace supporting the Kids Mental Health Foundation. Photo Credits: Jenny Rutherford
Rising actress, musician, international model, and youth advocate Ellory Grace commits her time to authentic creative ventures and community service. This year she co-hosted the Annual Red Carpet Ice Skating Toy Drive benefiting the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program. She is also heavily involved with other youth organizations, including the UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital and The Kids Mental Health Foundation. To learn more about Ellory Grace and her upcoming projects, read on.
Where are you based?
I’m based in California.
What inspired you to pursue a creative-driven career path?
Creativity was always part of my environment, but authenticity is what drew me in. I was drawn to creative work because it gave me a way to communicate ideas and emotions honestly. Over time, I realized that kind of storytelling can create real connection and change.
You started your career in fashion at a young age. How did growing up in that environment shape who you are today?
Fashion was the environment I grew up in, but it was never the point. I was intentional about staying grounded and letting people know me for who I was, rather than what I did. What that environment gave me early on was exposure to responsibility — deadlines, collaboration, accountability, and an understanding of how visibility works.
I remember being backstage at a show overseas and watching how much unseen coordination went into a few minutes on the runway. That stayed with me. It taught me that access comes with responsibility, and over time I became more intentional about visibility — not as an end in itself, but as something that can be used to lead, represent, and create impact. That perspective continues to shape how I approach creative work and the opportunities I choose to step into.
What has been one of the highlights or favorite moments from your modeling career?
One of the most meaningful moments was realizing how versatile modeling could be. I love the creative collaboration and expression it offers, and I continue to value it as a craft I care deeply about. At the same time, I began to see how modeling could open doors to other forms of storytelling and influence. That perspective has shaped how I approach my work — staying committed to modeling while also remaining open to new creative opportunities.
Ellory Grace at the Toys for Tots drive she co-hosted at LA Live in collaboration with Key Elements PR. Photo Credits: Jenny Rutherford
Who are some of your biggest fashion inspirations?
I’m inspired by people who treat fashion as storytelling — designers and artists who balance creativity with intention and aren’t afraid to evolve. I’m drawn to work that feels considered and expressive, rather than performative.
You’ve recently expanded into acting and music. What inspired those pursuits?
Acting and music felt like natural extensions of storytelling for me. Modeling taught me how to communicate visually and emotionally, while acting and music allow me to explore narrative and voice more directly. I’m especially drawn to stories about identity, pressure, and quiet resilience — the things people don’t always say out loud.
What messages do you hope to convey through acting and music?
I want to tell stories that help people feel understood, especially young people navigating expectation, anxiety, and self-doubt. I’m drawn to work that values emotional honesty over perfection, and that makes space for vulnerability in a way that feels grounded and human.
You co-hosted the Annual Red Carpet Ice Skating Toy Drive benefiting Toys for Tots at LA Live. Can you tell us about that experience and how you got involved?
What drives my work is making it easier for people to turn good intentions into action — especially when they don’t know where to start.
That belief is what led me to co-host the Annual Red Carpet Ice Skating Toy Drive benefiting Toys for Tots at LA Live. After several years of leading youth-led community service efforts, I was invited by Key Elements PR to take on the role, which allowed me to extend work I had already been doing in Northern California into Southern California and support more families through the same approach. I stepped into the role wanting more teens to feel included and confident getting involved.
Alongside co-hosting, I supported the effort across regions. I organized a mini toy drive in Northern California and brought 250 toys collected from friends, family, and the local community to Los Angeles, while also contributing to outreach and event coordination throughout the drive.
The experience reinforced why I created Start a Mini Toy Drive in Your Community. By the end of the drive, the community collected 1,175 toys — the largest Toys for Tots drive in Los Angeles County, including Palmdale and Santa Clarita. More than the number, it confirmed for me that when people are given the right tools, leadership doesn’t need to be assigned — it emerges.
You volunteer with organizations like UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital and The Kids Mental Health Foundation. How are you involved?
I’ve supported children’s events and mental-wellness initiatives through hands-on service and youth programs. Being present in those spaces showed me how much impact comes from consistency and care, especially when young people feel supported rather than overlooked.
Ellory Grace stands alongside U.S. Marines at the Toys for Tots drive she co-hosted at LA Live, with toys donated by the community for local families. Photo Credits: Jenny Rutherford
Youth empowerment, mental health awareness, and animal rescue are important to you. What drives those passions?
I grew up believing that responsibility toward others was normal. Seeing anxiety and pressure affect people my age made mental wellness personal to me, and animal rescue taught me empathy early on. All of these causes come back to the same idea: people — and animals — deserve care, patience, and space to grow.
What do you hope to inspire in younger generations through your advocacy?
I hope other teens realize they don’t need a title, a following, or permission to start helping. Small, thoughtful actions matter, especially when people feel confident enough to begin.
As a two-time recipient of the U.S. Presidential Service Award, why is community service so important to you?
Service has always been part of how I was raised. I grew up understanding that opportunity carries responsibility, and that being involved in your community isn’t something extra — it’s part of showing up fully. Over time, service became less about recognition and more about paying attention, taking initiative, and doing what you can with what you have.
What advice would you give young girls interested in creative careers?
Stay curious, protect your voice, and don’t rush to define yourself too early. Growth comes from learning, listening, and allowing yourself to evolve.
Ellory Grace stands with 250 toys collected through a mini toy drive organized with friends, family, and her local community, all donated to the Toys for Tots drive she co-hosted. Photo Credits: Jenny Rutherford
Are there any upcoming projects we should look out for?
I’m continuing to develop work in acting and music while expanding youth-led projects that give teens clear ways to take action. I recently released Start a Mini Toy Drive in Your Community, a guidebook I created to make giving back feel more approachable for teens and families. Writing it showed me how powerful clear, practical tools can be in mobilizing people to act, and I plan to continue developing similar resources that help turn good intentions into action. Across everything I’m working on, I’m interested in connecting creative expression with work that gives people clear ways to take action.
It’s been a challenging few years globally. How do you stay positive?
I stay grounded by focusing on what’s within reach — learning, creating, helping where I can, and staying connected to people who keep me centered.
What is your motto in life?
Access only matters when it’s shared.
To learn more about Ellory Grace, please check out the links below:
Start a Mini Toy Drive in Your Community guidebook https://ellorygrace.com/toydriveguide/
UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital
