Priya Mareedu

Putting the “mod” in “model” Priya Mareedu went from walking in fashion shows to roaming around wide open spaces. You can usually find her out on the road with her husband Michael and their giant fur baby Atlas. They especially love the southwest where the adventure is warm, dry, and perfect for going off the grid.

RT: What do you love about the outdoors?

PM: I love that the outdoors holds value that is so personal to each individual. For some people, the outdoors means an adrenaline rush on gnarly mountain slopes or glacial crevasses. For others, the outdoors means a walk in the neighborhood or a drive around the city. I have found the most freedom in embracing nature in every form and I've gained an equal appreciation both for a simple backyard veggie garden and an otherworldly landscape that took a trip across the world to see.

RT: What vehicle do you drive?

PM: This girl drives a Chevy Silverado 2500 LTZ which gives my dog ample room to nap in the back and allows our family of three to hit the road for weeks at a time.

RT: How does your vehicle help you out in the real?

PM: Having an off-road vehicle allows me to explore the parts of this world that are not always accessible to everyone. I love adventure and solitude, and off-roading makes both readily available. It gives us the opportunity to find the rare beauty just past the obvious overlooks and drive up spots.

RT: Can you talk a bit about being a woman in your outdoor space?

PM: Growing up I never in my wildest dreams imagined that this could be my life. My dreams, or my “should” be dreams in my culture, were all about getting a good husband so I could bear children and make a family, and that's where my dreams stopped. That's where my identity stopped. 

Stepping out into nature has allowed me to push past not only these societal boundaries but also my own. I’ve done everything from riding a motorcycle across Slovenia to hiking the glaciers of New Zealand. From paragliding to learning how to lead rock climb. 

The outdoors has allowed me to create a new identity for myself and show me as a woman that this relationship with nature is ever evolving. 

RT: How important is representation?

PM: Representation is everything. I think companies quickly lose sight of how to relate with real people out in the real world because everything has become so curated and perfected. It's vital for women to be represented in an authentic and very real way to honor our inherent value not just in how we look, but in who we are. When women are authentically represented by brands it can change the script. It not only emboldens and empowers the women of this generation, it sets the stage for future generations of women to come.