Brooks Nader Says She ‘Manifested’ Her Old Navy Campaign

Brooks Nader has a lot going on. When we catch up over Zoom, she’s just wrapped filming the upcoming Baywatch reboot, is preparing for the second season of Love Thy Nader, and is about to make her debut in Old Navy’s new fall denim campaign alongside Cardi B, Paloma Elsesser, and more.

It’s a busy moment, but also a full-circle one. Long before she was starring in one of Old Navy’s biggest campaigns of the year, Nader was making annual shopping trips to the retailer with her mom and three sisters in Louisiana, each armed with a $100 budget. These days, her life looks a little different, but her love of a great pair of jeans hasn’t changed.

With so much happening in her world, we covered a lot of ground, from her defense of low-rise jeans to filming her first scripted series and why Love Thy Nader season two “changes the game.”

What was your favorite memory from filming the new Old Navy campaign?

Truly, it was a dream shoot day. For starters, it was so L.A. We shot on a studio lot, and it was just so Hollywood. The stages were so extravagant—it truly looked like we were on the set of Kill Bill or something. And of course, Cardi B’s energy is out of this world. Just hearing her voice, her humor, and the way she brings her own little spunk to everything she does was such an honor to witness.

Then, of course, Zac [Posen] and the Gap team perfectly cast an ensemble of amazing supermodels. I’m always pinching myself when I’m around people I look up to in the fashion industry. Zac was on set, and he’s so involved in all the campaigns, which I think is so rare and special. It was a dream two days. I was like, “Can it be a whole week?” When it doesn’t feel like work, you know it’s a great campaign.

Was it your first time meeting anyone on set?

It was my first time meeting Cardi, and it was also my first time working with the photographers and the video team. It was a total dream come true.

Everyone in the campaign has such a distinct sense of style. When you’re getting dressed, is there one denim styling formula you always come back to?

Especially lately, living in L.A. and shooting Baywatch and Love Thy Nader, the style here is so relaxed, and I love it. Denim is truly a key part of every woman’s wardrobe in L.A. I’ve been loving the nostalgia of the ’90s: low-rise denim, a Pamela Anderson-esque white T-shirt or tank, cool shades, and jeans. Even for dinners or parties, I’ve been going back to my classic Old Navy jeans, a cute white tee, and a little vintage Manolo heel. I love the Arc jean, which was the style I modeled most in this campaign. It complements the body so perfectly. You really can’t go wrong with these jeans. You can wear a silky blouse and black heels, or you can just throw on a tank and still look fabulous.

Has your personal style evolved into that formula recently, or has it always been your go-to?

I’ve evolved so much over the years. I look back at old red carpet photos and I’m like, “Is there someone we can pay to remove these?” But at the same time, it’s funny. It’s part of my story, and it’s fun to watch people grow into their own sense of style. Since being on Baywatch and spending more time in L.A., my wardrobe has definitely shifted toward denim. Whether it’s denim shorts or jeans with heels or boots and a white tee, that’s my uniform. My closet is basically all jeans and white T-shirts.

Denim trends always spark debate. What’s one you’d happily keep forever?

I know this is controversial—people are very opinionated about it—but I die for a super-tight, low-rise, old-school ’90s jean. I love that style, and I stand by that statement.

Did partnering with Old Navy bring back any memories from growing up?

This campaign was such an emotional moment for me. Growing up in Louisiana, my mom said, “Oh my gosh, this is so sentimental.” Every year, my mom would take the four girls to Old Navy with a $100 budget. The best part was the quality was so amazing and the prices were criminally low, so we’d fill our baskets with a decent amount of stuff. To go from those shopping trips to shooting this huge campaign in L.A. with all of these icons…my mom said, “I don’t know who’s more emotional, me or you. You’ve come so far.” I really have an origin story with Old Navy, and that makes it so much more special.

Speaking of family, Love Thy Nader shows such different sides of you and your sisters. Has filming together changed your relationship off camera?

I think it’s brought us a lot closer because you’re forcing yourself to be totally authentic and open. Sometimes feelings come up that you didn’t even know you had. It’s almost like family therapy filming this show. None of it is scripted. We promised ourselves we would put it all out there. Season 1 almost feels like a super teaser to us. The way we bring it in season 2 is a whole new level. You won’t even believe it. Even Hulu is like, “We’re changing the game with this season.” I can’t wait for everyone to see it. I’m obviously nervous because we didn’t hold back at all, but they’re good nerves. I think a lot of things are going to come to light that people don’t know about us.

After two seasons, have cameras just become part of everyday life?

Honestly, never am I like, “Leave me alone.” If anything, when we wrap, I’m like, “Wait, where are you guys? You’re supposed to be waking me up when I’m looking hideous in the morning.” Once filming wraps, life just moves on. Then the show comes out and you relive everything, and you’re like, “Oh my gosh.” I’m also a producer [on the show], and some producers want to watch cuts before the show comes out. I refuse. I don’t want to harp on anything or think, Oh, I don’t look good in that scene. I want it to feel 100 percent raw and authentic. Honestly, I’ll probably be watching it with everyone else thinking, “Oh shit, I forgot that happened.”

What’s one misconception about you that you hope season 2 changes?

I’m not the best at talking videos or posting on TikTok or Instagram. I’m always in the moment, and I’m always working and filming two TV shows at once, so I’m not a huge personality girl on social media. I think people are surprised when they watch Love Thy Nader. They’re like, “Oh my gosh, you actually have a sense of humor. You don’t take yourself seriously. You’re totally yourself. You’re goofy. You’re not all put together.”

When you only see someone online, you can think one thing about them. Then you meet them and you’re like, “Whoa, you’re so different.” I’m excited for people to see even more of that in season two—our personalities and how cuckoo-crazy we really are. We didn’t hold back. I think we were just finding our footing in season one. Now it’s established, and it goes down.

Speaking of surprises, Baywatch marks your first scripted role. How did stepping onto that set compare to everything else you’ve done?

It’s been completely different. It’s my first big scripted role, and I’ve had the time of my life filming both shows. Baywatch and Love Thy Nader are completely different experiences. The fun part is that we were actually able to film some behind-the-scenes footage with the Love Thy Nader crew while I was making Baywatch. I haven’t really seen that before—following someone who’s working on a scripted series while also filming reality TV. It’s really cool to see the prep and all the work that goes into it. I’m so excited for everyone to meet Celine Archer in January. (That’s my character in Baywatch.) She’s a force to be reckoned with, and I think the world is really going to get a kick out of her.

What surprised you most about stepping onto a scripted set?

I love film. I love movies. I love TV. Being part of it is so different from what you see in movies about how movies are made, if that makes sense. I love Babylon and those old Hollywood movies where you get an inside look at a movie set. But actually being on set is a totally different ballgame. It brings a whole new set of challenges that you don’t have with unscripted television. I’ve grown so much over the last few months filming Baywatch, and I’m so excited for hopefully many more seasons to come. Honestly, I just can’t wait for everyone to see it.

Was there a moment on set when you realized acting was something you wanted to keep doing?

My first day on set. They bring you up to the stage, all the directors, writers, producers—there are hundreds of people—and suddenly it’s, “Action.” I had two pages of monologue. My heart fell out of my chest. I was like, “Holy…this is like an essay, but crazier.” I couldn’t even feel my fingers or toes. I was like, “Am I dead? Is this a dream?” The good news is we were working with so many talented directors. Once you get into it, you find the scene, you feel it, and it becomes second nature. Being thrown into it for your first project is definitely jarring, but once I finished that first scene, I thought, “I can do this forever.” I’m obsessed with acting. I love this script. I love this team. Now I have the bug. I want to do way more.

The original Baywatch became such a cultural phenomenon. Did you think about that while filming, or were you focused on making this version your own?

I think this reboot does a great job of paying homage to the original series while carrying forward the things people loved into the next generation. I’ve always loved the ’90s supermodels and the muses of Baywatch—Pamela Anderson, Cindy Crawford. I’ve always had photos of those women on my mood boards and in decks when I’m pitching brands. It was a full-circle moment to step into those shoes in a way. There are little vibes, mood boards, and even denim looks those women wore off camera that make me think, “Oh, I want to recreate that.” It’s so much fun to bring new life to the original series.

Between Love Thy Nader and Baywatch, you’ve been juggling a lot. Have you picked up any new routines to keep up with it all?

I still love to party and go out—I could stay out until six in the morning—but filming both shows at the same time has turned me into such a grandma. The second my head hits the pillow, I’m asleep by 9 P.M., and then I’m up at 4 A.M. I think that’s been really good for my body and my health. When you’re doing something that’s physically demanding, like Baywatch—running on the beach, swimming—you naturally eat healthier, cleaner, and cut out alcohol. Now let me tell you, the second both of those wrap, I’m going to be Aperol Spritz-ing until I pass out. But that’s another story.

Your career has expanded in so many directions over the past few years. What makes you say yes to a project today?

Five years ago, I would’ve gone to the opening of an envelope. I said yes to everything—and honestly, I still say yes to a lot. Now, because of time constraints and filming two TV shows at once, I have to prioritize brands that I’m passionate about and truly align with. Being on reality TV, I also feel like I owe it to the audience to be authentic in everything I do, whether it’s ads or campaigns. That’s why when Old Navy reached out…let me establish one thing: I’ve been pitching myself to Old Navy for years because I’ve always aligned with the brand. There’s an origin story there, and I’ve always felt passionately about it. When this finally came about, my team and I had a little celebration because I’d been manifesting this one for a really long time.

What are you most excited for people to see from you next?

I’m very scarcity mentality, I always think about the next thing. I can say that, in the same world as Baywatch, you’ll be seeing me in some fun new scripted projects next year that haven’t been announced yet. I love a script.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.