Grasie,who is Dominican and resides in NYC, is a former fashion stylist turned actress and model. Grasie is currently on Season III of Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency, where she models under the watchful eye of Miss Janice Dickinson herself! Audiences may remember Grasie as the lucky girl who got to star opposite Ben Affleck in the European Axe Body Spray commercials and Nick Lachey in the US version.

This fall, Grasie will be starring in the Hollywood thriller Darker Reality 2, opposite Daniel Baldwin. In addition to both of those projects, Grasie, who earned a journalism degree from NYU, will also continue to interview celebrities like Sean William Scott and Billy Bob Thornton for her hosting gig on Maxim Television Online.

1. Did you or do you ever struggle with low self image? How did you rise above these feelings and embrace the gifts that you do possess?
Oh yes I did! When I was in my teens I hated the way I looked. I was super skinny and my friends called me “chicken legs”, I didn’t quite know how to deal with my hair…so I hated that too. I also hated the gap in my teeth. As I got older, I learned to appreciate my differences and realized it was those differences that made me unique and beautiful. I accepted being thin and now love my body, I learned to take care of my hair and now appreciate its thickness and I embraced my gap and now love my smile. It’s not easy to learn to love yourself but once you accept all your differences as gifts…it’s priceless.

2. What advice can you give to women who struggle with poor self-esteem or who constantly criticize themselves by comparing themselves to others or not feeling good enough?
Comparison is the killer of happiness! Don’t do it to yourself! I strongly believe that people who are constantly comparing themselves to others will never be happy. There will always be someone richer, smarter or prettier to compare yourself with. My advice is to STOP comparing yourself and START praising yourself. Spend some time alone reflecting on what makes you special, think about what you love about yourself and appreciate that. If you want to compare something, compare where you are in your life now and where you one day strive to be. You’ll be much happier that way.

3. Who has inspired you in your life? What did he/she do to gain your respect and admiration?
My mom is the inspiration of my life. She is one my best friends and confidants. She was born in Dominican Republic and came to NYC at the age of 6. She got pregnant with me as a teenager and had very little support from my father. With all odds against her she continued her education, worked extremely hard to climb the corporate ladder and managed to raise me all alone. She put me through 12 years of Catholic School and then with the help of my step-father paid for my college education at NYU. Even as an adult, I can’t imagine going through the trials and tribulations my mom did as a teenager and young adult. She is an extremely strong woman who has kept her composure and good spirits through many rough times. I admire her and have so much respect for her and it’s her struggle I think of when I’m feeling down. I think…if my mom could do it, so can I!

4. What do you love and admire about yourself?
I love and admire my strength and determination. Being an actress is a TOUGH business full of rejection and disappointment…only the strong survive. When I’m feeling down, I think about the love and passion I have for what I do and it gets me through the day. I love that I found my creative niche; it makes me who I am.

5. Part of our mission at hangPROUD is to give back and refocus negative energy into making positive changes in the community and for friends and family. What types of things would you encourage women to do regarding paying it forward and giving back?
I would encourage women to volunteer if they can…teach our youth to love themselves and show them that it’s okay to have rough times in life as long as you don’t linger on them. Learn from experiences, don’t obsess on them.

6. Tell us the "words you live by"
Live in the NOW. Don’t linger on the past or stress about the future. All we really have is today, so enjoy the moment and accept who you are in it. It’s a magical thing when you can truly be aware of you and everything around you right now. LOVE yourself because the best that you can be is YOU right NOW.