A model escaped from Los Angeles and found her idyll in the wilderness (10 photos + 1 video)

A former model shares the story of how she left glamorous Los Angeles and partying with Hollywood stars. Laura La Rue bought an old school bus and settled in the countryside with her newborn daughter.





Laura La Rue, 32, grew up in Thousand Oaks, California. At 16, she dropped out of school to pursue a modeling career. And soon she was shooting for famous photographers, including David LaChapelle, and partying with Leonardo DiCaprio.



After eight years in Los Angeles and a failed romance, Laura decided it was time to escape the city.

"I was bored with city life," she told the LA Times. "I thought, 'I don't like this at all.' I felt like my cortisol levels were going through the roof. The stress was causing me health problems."





At first, she lived in a small house on her mother's 72-acre ranch in Santa Pola. However, in 2017, her home was destroyed by the Thomas Wildfire, which swept through Ventura and Santa Barbara counties.

Forced to start over, the American moved to Ojai and found work at a hotel.



She says she felt lonely at the time, but it worked out for her.

"I was on a strict model diet and wanted to change myself. I started going to therapy and doing self-analysis to become a better person."



At this time, she met the cowboy she had met at her mother's ranch again. He was very different from the city guys, and they quickly began a relationship.

The couple settled into a trailer near the small town of Carpinteria.

During the pandemic, La Rue discovered her passion for dyeing and began turning used clothing into unique pieces. Her hobby grew into a business called Ride or Dye Ojai.



But when she became pregnant, she realized she didn't have enough space. Her relationship with her boyfriend deteriorated. So when she learned of a lease for a plot of land in Ojai, California, she signed the lease and bought an old school bus to live in.

Today, Laura grows most of her natural dyes on her property, including indigo, cosmos, coreopsis, scabiosa, and madder.

Through her hands-on classes and her channel, La Rue hopes to help others change their lives: "My goal is to inspire people to make positive changes and not be afraid to take risks," she explains.



La Rue, her one-year-old daughter Laska, their dog June Carter, and their cat Johnny spend most of their time outdoors.

"We do everything outside, it's the perfect environment for a child. Most people get married, buy a house and have kids. This is what I wanted, a safe place where I can have guests and enjoy the basics. Luckily, my lifestyle doesn't require a lot of money."

Her father, Allan Crandall, built a comfortable cabin on the property to provide shelter from the summer heat.



Laura's mother lives nearby and is always there to help her daughter.

"I was very worried when she lived in Los Angeles," said Holly, La Rue's mother. "I hoped that her upbringing would do the trick, and it did. My daughter created her own life in Ojai. She didn't know anyone. She left Los Angeles, found her place here, started a business, joined the community of artists and musicians. She is very warm-hearted."

"Laska is a wonderful and calm child," the woman continues. "I even envy the way she is raising her daughter. As a mother, I am very pleased to see her success."



Speaking of her daughter, Laura added: "I hope she grows up to be aware of where her food comes from. She will appreciate the changing seasons and learn to live in harmony with nature. I want Laska to grow up in an atmosphere of solidarity. In a small town, people know each other well and are ready to help in any situation. She will understand that it is okay to go her own way and that she has the strength to overcome difficulties."