Meet Carley Sauce

We had the good fortune of connecting with Carley Sauce and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Carley, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
It started with a craving for freedom: creative, spiritual, and professional. I had spent years working in corporate advertising and media, helping major brands shape their narratives and drive results. Over time, I realized I could take all of that strategy, storytelling, and industry experience and channel it into something of my own. I didn’t want to just help build other people’s visions anymore. I wanted to build mine.

Modeling and painting had always been my forms of expression, but they became much more than that. As a spiritual person, I often feel like many different embodiments in one, and modeling gives me the space to explore and express that. Every shoot, every character, every mood is a way to step into a new frequency of self.

Travel was another turning point. It opened my perspective, softened my edges, and connected me to something bigger. Whether I was sitting on a train in France or watching the sun rise over the ocean, those quiet in-between moments helped me realize what I was here to create. That’s how Atelia was born — from the desire to build a platform at the intersection of creativity, spirituality, and global storytelling.

Launching in January 2026, Atelia will be both a digital and print magazine. A space for seekers, artists, and visionaries to come home to their voice and explore what it really means to live artfully. Starting my own business was ultimately about reclaiming my time, honoring my own rhythm, and choosing alignment over approval.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My art is rooted in transformation and reclamation. Whether through modeling, painting, writing, or building Atelia, everything I create is about returning to the truth of who we are – beyond titles, roles, and expectations. I work from intuition, emotion, and a spiritual lens, often drawing inspiration from travel, memory, the divine feminine, and the invisible worlds that shape us.

A pivotal moment in my journey happened in 2018. I hadn’t painted since I was 10 years old and had stopped identifying as an artist altogether. But one day, I found myself in an art class in Malibu at the home of philosopher, actor, and artist Leigh McCloskey. He had us paint with our hands, becoming one with the canvas, and encouraged us to say “yes instead of yikes.” That experience woke something up in me. It reminded me that creation is about presence, not perfection. That moment brought me back to myself.

Since then, I’ve been slowly and intentionally reclaiming my creative voice. While I still work in the corporate world, leading partnerships in travel advertising, I’ve learned to stop compartmentalizing the parts of me that make me whole. I’m not choosing one path over the other. I’m creating my own. And I believe there’s power in that integration.

That spirit of wholeness and freedom is what led me to create Atelia, launching in January 2026. It is a digital and print magazine at the intersection of creativity, spirituality, and global storytelling. A home for artists, seekers, and visionaries who want more intention and soul in how they create and live.

The road hasn’t been easy. Balancing structure with soul, logic with intuition, and stability with expansion takes trust and self-compassion. But one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that alignment isn’t about perfection. It’s about honesty. And the more honest I’ve been with myself, the more doors have opened.

If there’s one thing I want the world to know about me and my work, it’s that everything I create is an invitation to come back to yourself. To honor your rhythm, your voice, and your unique way of seeing the world. You don’t need to choose between being a professional and being an artist. You can be both. You can be all of it.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my best friend were visiting Miami for a week, I’d want them to experience the energy that makes this city feel like home. I live in Midtown, right between the Design District and Wynwood, which I love. I started my career doing events in Wynwood and South Beach, and that’s when I first fell in love with Miami’s creative pulse and art scene.

We’d start with breakfast at Marie Blancherie Café – my favorite spot for chai and pastries, then stroll through the Design District or check out galleries in Wynwood. For lunch or dinner, Negroni in Midtown is always a vibe with great music and food.

For a beach day, I’d take them somewhere more low-key like Mid-Beach or North Beach to really unwind. We’d grab rooftop drinks at the Esme Hotel in South Beach, and if we were feeling fancy, book dinner at Fontana at The Biltmore – it feels like a little slice of Europe.

I’d also recommend a shoot or creator event at HGAB Studios, where I have my office. It’s an amazing space full of local artists and creative energy.

To me, Miami is a city that invites you to live artfully, and that’s exactly what I’d want them to feel.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My journey is a tapestry woven by so many incredible souls. I owe endless gratitude to my parents and aunts, who have always poured love into every creative avenue I pursued. They never tried to steer me away from the course of my heart and always reminded me I could create anything I dreamed.

My best friends, Brielle and Meg, have been constant sources of support, grounding, and belief. My friends Edwin and Lea, through their own bold and beautiful creative pursuits, continue to inspire me to keep chasing mine – reminding me what’s possible when you lead with vision and heart.

Ashleigh saw my potential early on and helped open the door to the fashion industry, giving me the confidence to step into rooms I once only imagined. Veronica, the founder of StyleX, became a mentor and guide when I was just starting out, teaching me the ropes of events, entertainment, and media. And Karl helped me take a pivotal step into digital advertising, showing me how to combine creativity with strategy. Chloe saw things in me that I couldn’t see in myself at the time and encouraged me to bloom fully.

Kim and Alison both served as anchors and quiet guiding lights in moments I felt like I was losing my footing – their presence reminded me of my center. And my boyfriend Kole has celebrated every aspect of who I am since the moment we met. As an incredible groundbreaking artist himself, his support isn’t just encouraging – it amplifies me.

Each of these people have shaped who I am and helped me stay aligned with the path I was meant to walk. This journey would not be the same without them.

Instagram: carleysauce_

Image Credits
Noah Haye Photography
Derick G
Simon Soong