No Result
View All Result
Reserve & National Guard
SUBSCRIBE FREE
No Result
View All Result
Reserve & National Guard
SUBSCRIBE FREE
Reserve & National Guard

Air Force reservist promotes women’s wellness as SELF Magazine model

Tech Sgt. Cookie Ward on mission to show health, beauty, leadership come in all shapes, sizes

Emma Comery
by Emma Comery
January 18, 2022
wellness

Photos provided by Tech Sgt. Alia "Cookie Ward. Composite by Kari Williams

Tech Sgt. Alia “Cookie” Ward may sport a bullet proof vest and carry a firearm at work most days, but she’s just as comfortable posing for the camera in a sports bra as she is standing guard on a base.

The Air Force reservist, who works full-time as a hospital security officer, recently launched a side career as a fitness model for SELF Magazine, which specializes in women’s health, beauty and style. 

Ward will be the first to say that, as proud as she is to serve her country, she is more than a uniform, and her service does not define her. 

As a full-time hospital security officer, nursing student and airman, Ward has big goals and is no stranger to balancing a multi-faceted career. She is currently preparing to take her nursing exam and pursue a full-time medical career. 

“I wanted to help people,” she said. 

She also has a natural hunger for new experiences and appreciates that her military service has exposed her to a wealth of adventures. 

“I’ve done a lot of things,” she said. “I was a 50 cal gunner, at 249, mark 19. All the machine guns you can think of – I was qualified in the state of Missouri.”

‘She opened my eyes’

Ward has long been fascinated by the modeling industry and its sister institutions, like the beauty pageant circuit, but wryly acknowledged that a short, tattooed, armed woman in uniform wasn’t likely to be crowned Miss America any time soon.

But her perspective changed when she saw other women in uniform celebrating their feminine side in the national spotlight. In 2017, Ward was watching the Miss USA competition and rooting for her friend Bayleigh Dayton, who had recently become the first Black Miss Missouri, when she saw Capt. Deshauna Barber come on stage.

RELATED: Army Chick Fitness Team teaches soldiers strength and skills

One year prior, Barber, an Army reservist, became the first soldier crowned Miss USA, opening a door for other accomplished, driven women leaders in uniform. 

“I thought that was amazing. She opened my eyes. I’ve always wanted to do that, but I’m 5’4” and have tattoos. I’m not skinny at all,” Ward said with a laugh. 

Despite not fitting the mold of a pageant queen, Ward realized that her rank and uniform shouldn’t – and doesn’t – prevent her from expressing her individuality or her femininity. And even if she didn’t consider the stage-and-sash fanfare of Miss USA to be in her future, she took a shot at modeling to advocate for broader definitions of beauty and womanhood, particularly women with tattoo art.

SELF offered the perfect platform for her goals. 

“SELF was trying to get models with tattoos, plus size models …” Ward said. “They were adamant that they didn’t want the typical 5’7” skinny model.”

‘SELF’ love focuses on wellness

As a high school track, kickboxing, and grappling star, Ward has cultivated a lifestyle built on fitness and wellness. She regularly trains in weightlifting using workouts designed for her by Missouri fitness trainer Adam Franklin.

After submitting her application to SELF, Ward was invited to try out for the modeling gig in New York, where the audition panel had her execute a series of bodyweight exercises that would be featured in one of their upcoming workout articles.

The casting team loved her, and she flew up to New York several times to shoot workout photos and videos alongside models from a variety of fitness backgrounds – a powerlifter, a martial artist, an aerial yoga teacher, a trans bodybuilder and several other athletes. Her images have appeared in multiple online articles, from 20-minute upper-body workouts to 7-minute ab routines.

Ward’s first modeling experience was hugely body-positive, and the photographers even chose to feature her half sleeve in the shoot.

“My sleeve tattoo is a memorial for my brother,” said Ward, whose twin brother, a second lieutenant in the Army, died in a motorcycle accident. “It tells a story, and every time I look at my arm, I have a memory of my brother.”

Having the opportunity to showcase her tattoo as a piece of meaningful art – and not a mark of shame – gave Ward yet another way to promote individuality in an industry that often glamorizes conformity. 

From auditioning to shooting, the entire modeling experience has been hugely rewarding for Ward, and she plans to continue modeling alongside her nursing and military career.

Read comments
Tags: Air forceAir Force reservistfitness modelModelingReservistSELF Magazinewellnesswomen's wellness
Emma Comery

Emma Comery

Emma Comery is a writer who specializes in magazine feature writing and nonprofit storytelling. Emma is the recipient of the Perry Morgan Fellowship in creative writing at Old Dominion University in Virginia, where she is working toward her MFA in Nonfiction. She is also the Nonfiction Editor of the literary journal, Barely South Review.

Related Posts

AFRC warns of fake social media accounts

by AmeriForce Exclusive
3 days ago
0
Social media

Air Force Reserve Command's social media manager warns of fake social media accounts and urges people to take precautions.

Read more

OPINION: Individual Ready Reserve offers chance to ‘take a knee’

by Emily Solberg
2 weeks ago
0
Individual Ready Reserve

The Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) is a little-known option that could help with retention, according to one reservist and military...

Read more

‘Leave it to Beaver’ star Jerry Mathers recalls military service, KIA rumor

by Kari Williams
2 weeks ago
0
Leave it to Beaver

"Leave it to Beaver" actor Jerry Mathers stood on stage at the 1967 Emmys in full military uniform, shortly after...

Read more

Veteran’s dog-treat company honors fallen K-9s, supports canine causes

by Kari Williams
4 weeks ago
0
Canine

Jessica Harris began giving back to her canine companions through K9 Salute after she retired from the Washington National Guard.

Read more

49-year-old guardsman builds brotherhood on junior-college gridiron

by Crystal Kupper
4 weeks ago
0
Football

A North Dakota Army National Guardsman is a 49-year-old freshman defensive lineman on the North Dakota State College of Science...

Read more

Navy veteran serves as ‘steward’ of famed ‘A Christmas Story’ house

by Crystal Kupper
1 month ago
0
A Christmas Story

Former sailor Brian Jones currently owns and operates the ‘A Christmas Story' house and museum in Cleveland, Ohio.

Read more

Ads

Let's get social

The RNG Drill

News delivered directly to your inbox

Let's connect!

ABOUT US

  • OUR STORY
  • OUR TEAM
  • OUR WRITERS

MAGAZINE

  • GET PRINT
  • GET DIGITAL
  • GET THE NEWSLETTER

GET RESOURCES

  • VETERANS TOOLKIT

ADVERTISE

  • GET OUR MEDIA KIT
  • PUBLISHER’S STATEMENT

SUBMISSIONS

  • PITCH US
  • SUBMIT YOUR STORY

Never miss out on the latest stories.

© 2021 Reserve & National Guard by AmeriForce. Privacy Policy | Terms | Site by Swiss Commerce

Thank you for your interest in The Reserve & National Guard Magazine!

Thank you for your interest in The Reserve & National Guard Magazine!

No Result
View All Result
  • NEWS
  • YOUR CAREER
    • UNIT TRAINING
    • DEPLOYMENT
    • PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
    • RECRUITING & RETENTION
    • ENTREPRENEUR
    • TRANSITION
  • EDUCATION
  • MILITARY LIFE
    • MILITARY SPOUSES
    • MILITARY KIDS
    • PARENTING
  • OFF DUTY
    • ENTERTAINMENT
    • TRAVEL
  • HEALTH
    • FITNESS
    • MEDICINE
    • MENTAL HEALTH
  • OPINION
  • HISTORY
  • MONEY
    • PERSONAL FINANCE
    • BENEFITS
  • GET THE MAGAZINE
    • PRINT MAGAZINES
    • DIGITAL MAGAZINES
    • GET THE NEWSLETTER
  • RESOURCES
    • VETERANS TOOLKIT
  • ABOUT US
    • MEET OUR TEAM
    • OUR AUTHORS
    • ADVERTISE WITH US
    • SUBMIT YOUR STORY
    • PITCH US
    • CONTACT

© 2022 Reserve & National Guard by AmeriForce. Site by SCBW