Natalie Gonchar, the captivating cover model for L&rsquo;Officiel Monaco's digital edition, is a paragon of style and success. Regardless of the fashion she's flaunting, she never misses a beat. Her literary offering can be found gracing the shelves of the ubiquitous Barnes &amp; Noble as well as bookstores the world over, from China to Australia. But she doesn't just bask in her accomplishments; she seizes every opportunity to give back. Indeed, she's used the profits from her book to support the Big Dreams Children's Foundation, on whose board of directors she sits.

Let&rsquo;s talk about your book. What inspired you to write it, and how old were you at that time?
I was 16 when I wrote Mr. Gringle&rsquo;s Magical Wheelchair. I was inspired and honored to help my mom with her charity, Big Dreams Children&rsquo;s Foundation, which helps children who have disabilities. I noticed how little representation there was for young children with disabilities in media, and I was inspired to write a book to give these children a character to relate to in their lives.&nbsp;
Would you say Lisa, the main character of your book, shares any of your personality traits?
I based Lisa&rsquo;s personality on people whom I look up to and qualities that I admire. Though I would like to say that I am kind and compassionate, Lisa has a level of confidence and strength that I can only hope to one day possess.
Friendship definitely comes up in the story. What kind of qualities do you personally look for in a friend?
When I meet someone new, I am drawn to kindness and compassion. These two qualities are essential in navigating life, and they are also values that my parents have taught me since I was a young girl.

Are there any qualities you cannot tolerate in people?
Though I try to understand where people are coming from, and I understand that we all have bad days or even bad moments, there are some qualities that are difficult to accept. I can&rsquo;t see myself becoming friends with anyone who displays hateful orself-absorbed qualities.
What are you reading at the moment and what is the best book you&rsquo;ve read in the past year?
My favorite books that I read over the past year include The French Girl by Lexie Elliot or Without Conscience by Robert Hare, which I read for my forensic psychology class.

You&rsquo;ve got a lot going on in your world. Tell me, what would your ideal day off look like?
My ideal off day would begin with a slow morning, as I don&rsquo;t get much of those in college. Next, I would take a Pilates class and make myself lunch, as cooking is something I&rsquo;ve really learned to love. After lunch, a few hours of reading&mdash;hopefully The Silent Patient, which I recently picked up. If I don&rsquo;t have a new book on hand, I really enjoy going to Barnes &amp; Noble and browsing for a new read. Lastly, my dad and I have a tradition of going to a very casual dinner at a restaurant in our neighborhood before going to the movies. Specifically, if it was the most picture-perfect day off, we would see the new James Bond movie, as that has become &ldquo;our thing&rdquo; since I was little.
What are some of your favorite fashion trends?
My fashion trends usually tie into jewelry, as I&rsquo;ve always thought that jewelry can spice up the most basic day-to-day look. I&rsquo;m currently loving chunky jewelry, as well as colorful pieces that can be layered. When it comes to clothes, I have been looking for ways to mature my style with work-appropriate pieces. I have participated in a summer internship over the past few years, and I plan to return to the role this summer. I have loved adding R&eacute;alisation Par patterned maxi skirts to my wardrobe, along with fun button-ups that can be styled up or styled down.
Natalie, thanks so much for your time. It was a pleasure to get to know you and I can&rsquo;t wait to see what&rsquo;s next.

An Interview with A Digital Cover Star Natalie Gonchar

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