If you’ve been part of our community for a while, you know Birdie & Claire is rooted in celebrating the women who shaped us and continue to inspire us every day.
We’re lucky to be surrounded by an incredible circle of women we admire: artists, entrepreneurs, mothers, athletes, writers, and changemakers. They are thoughtful and bold, wise and curious, endlessly creative, and full of heart.
Today, we’re excited to spotlight our friend, Amira Lerario (if she seems familiar, you likely recognize her warm smile and effortless elegance from perusing our product pages). Amira is a model, actor, and writer, who also happens to be a competitive marathon runner in her free time!
1. We would love to hear how you got started in the world of modeling and acting. Was it something you always saw for yourself, or did it find you in an unexpected way?
One very hot summer day, I brought my teenage daughter to a modeling search organized by an agency, Tina Kiniry Management. To my surprise, women of all ages, ethnicities, shapes, and sizes graced the runway throughout the day. I was inspired. My desire to see where a bold move could take me won over my fear of ridicule, and by the end of the day, I had plucked up enough courage to step up onto the stage and strut my stuff in front of agents and hundreds of spectators.
A career as a model and actor is not a path that I ever envisioned for myself, especially at the age of 52. Tina, my now “Mother Agent” who scouted me at the Top Model Search, knew otherwise. It took me approximately three more years and a pandemic to finally take the plunge into the modeling and acting industry. Even then, I was not sure that I was aesthetically “model material.”
2. Of all the roles you’ve played (whether on screen or in real life), which one has surprised you the most?
If anyone had told my younger self that I would be blessed with raising four amazing children beginning in my mid-thirties, becoming a World Age Group Championship marathon runner in my mid-forties, and starting a modeling and acting career in my mid-fifties, I would never have believed them.
At the age of 55, to find myself in an unexpected career is probably the role in life that has surprised me the most. My work as a cosmetics and skincare product model for L’Oréal Paris has to be one of my proudest modeling achievements. I mean, me? A L’oréal Paris model? No way?!
The speed at which my career has grown and the major companies and products I have been fortunate to showcase over the past four years have brought a real sense of purpose and fulfillment into my life, which I intend to carry into my next chapter as an almost empty nester.
3. You wear many creative hats—actor, writer, and more. How do you carve out space for creativity, and what tends to spark your ideas or creative energy?
I get asked these questions a lot. How do I find the time? The motivation? The ideas? My usual response is, “I don’t know. I just do it,” or, “Things just come to me.” But on deeper reflection, I do make conscious decisions. Take my running, for instance…being a distance runner affords me a lot of time on my two feet to contemplate life and manifest ideas for my acting, auditions, writing, my kids, relationships, etc.
I also make a conscious effort to write down any important snippets about my day, along with any writing ideas that may pop into my head instantaneously on Google Docs. I may be out for a walk, and a thought will suddenly enter my head, and I'll stop and record it on my phone before the thought disappears. Like saving pennies in a jar- one thought, one idea, one little piece at a time.
Life and the people with whom I am in contact with throughout my day can spark ideas and creative energy. As a mother, writer, actor, model, and athlete, I am a constant observer of people, be it at an airport, at a shopping mall, on social media, or at a family party. Anyone, anywhere, and everywhere, is a rich source of information and inspiration. These are the people who shape me as a person and shape my world. My fictional stories, for example, tend to come from these life experiences and the people who share them. As a writer, I write about what I know. When I am in an acting role, I pull my emotions from real-life people and experiences.
Life is rich, life is a blessing, and I endeavour to embrace it and learn from it in order to be the best person that I can be in all that I do.
4. You are also an extremely accomplished marathon runner! Running marathons all over the world must come with some incredible stories. What have been some of your favorite places to run? Can you tell us about a highlight during a race or trip that has stayed with you?
Wow, great question! My completion of the seven Abbott World Marathon Majors in 2024 (Boston, New York, Chicago, Berlin, London, Tokyo, and Sydney) took me around the world. I also competed in three Abbott World Marathon Majors Age Groups World Championships, which were held in London ‘22, Chicago ‘23, and Sydney ‘24. I’ve run the Paris, Dublin, and Manchester marathons, to name a few. Paris was incredible and, to date, my favourite marathon. My favourite place to visit, however, is Sydney, Australia.
The finish line of several of these marathons has to be a race highlight. The London Marathon has you running down the Pall Mall to be greeted by Buckingham Palace. You complete your journey at the Sydney Marathon in front of the awe-inspiring Opera House. The Berlin Marathon finish line rings triumphantly after you run through the Brandenburg Gate, and the Paris Marathon gives an amazing view of the Arc De Triomphe to celebrate.
5. Shifting to fashion, where do you draw inspiration for your personal style?
I don’t know if it’s a British quirk or not, but I don’t like to wear the exact same outfit as anyone else, so I’ll take a dress, for instance, and pair it with a top layer or boots that would not necessarily match the style of the dress. Funky Mix-and-Match is the way I like to style myself. I wouldn’t say that any particular source or person inspires my fashion sense. If I see an unusual garment on a store rack, and it fits me well and makes me look and feel incredible, then it’s off home with me it goes.
I gravitate to timeless pieces that can carry me through the decades. I love, love, love ankle boots and wear them with everything. I’m also all about comfort, so clothes that feel beautiful to wear but also look amazing are my go-to. I do consider myself quite trendy, especially since my daughters have been known to wear my clothes right out of the dryer without me knowing!
6. Are there any women in your life who have inspired you along the way?
Every woman who has waltzed into my life throughout the years has inspired me in one way or another. I have experienced many of my female friends go through serious illnesses while raising families. Friends who have overcome challenges and hardships similar to my own. As an entrepreneur, I am inspired by entrepreneurial women. As a woman who does not have the skill to take care of plants, I am inspired by the lady who goes out and waters her plants every day. When I was a running coach, the months of dedication and hard work that my female friends put into their training inspired me to put the same amount of time and effort into my own training, especially on the days when it was hard to get out of bed.
As women, we all wear a variety of hats and fulfill many roles, not just for ourselves but many times for others. Inspiration doesn’t have to represent itself as something big. Small acts of kindness and caring, like a text from my girlfriend that reads “How are you?” or “I’m thinking about you today.” can inspire a chain of kindness and caring.
7. What is an outfit that made you feel amazing? A memorable outfit, or your go-to ONE outfit that brings you the most confidence?
I love a jumpsuit. My favourite jumpsuit is navy blue with a straight-leg flowy design that mimics the look of a dress. It has a halter top neckline that accentuates my athletic shoulders. My favourite jumpsuit makes me feel tall, fit, classy, and confident.
Thank you for inspiring me to put my writing into action and providing this opportunity to share my passions! Incidentally, I found one of my old running coach business cards yesterday on the garage floor. A quote that I wrote on the card reads: “Get Inspired. Be an Inspiration.”
