After more than a decade in international modeling, Sophia Lie knows firsthand how demanding life can be for a successful model. Constant travel, jet lag, irregular routines, and the pressure to always be camera-ready are realities familiar to many models working with top fashion brands and model agencies worldwide. It was during her years living in New York that Lie discovered full spectrum infrared sauna treatments—an experience that would later inspire her next chapter beyond the runway.
Sophia Lie has long been a prominent name in Scandinavian fashion. The 30-year-old model has appeared in leading Norwegian fashion magazines, worked internationally, and fronted campaigns for brands such as Match, Dermalogica, and ByTimo. While modeling brought success, it also pushed her body to its limits. Searching for ways to recharge between shoots and castings, she began exploring wellness solutions commonly embraced within the fashion industry.
According to Lie, maintaining peak performance as a model requires more than healthy eating and exercise. Modeling often involves last-minute bookings, little sleep, and constant readiness, especially when working with global model agencies. She explains that inflammation, facial puffiness, and physical exhaustion became ongoing challenges, forcing her to look for effective ways to recover quickly without sacrificing balance in her lifestyle.
Infrared sauna treatments became one of her most valuable tools. After just one session in New York, she noticed immediate results—from reduced puffiness to relief in her back and neck, along with a renewed sense of energy. At a time when she was close to burnout, these sessions felt transformative, helping her cope with the physical strain of long-term modeling work.
A turning point came when Lie sought medical detox treatment in Germany after years of intense travel and stress. Doctors warned her that without lifestyle changes, her health could deteriorate significantly. This wake-up call led her to relocate from New York to Stockholm, where she spent a full year focusing on recovery and long-term wellbeing—something many models postpone while chasing career opportunities.
Inspired by her personal experience, Lie noticed a gap in the Nordic wellness market. While infrared saunas were common in New York’s fashion and modeling circles, similar offerings were missing in Stockholm, Oslo, and much of Scandinavia. This realization sparked the idea for her own venture: Heat by Sophia Lie, a full spectrum infrared sauna salon located in the heart of Stockholm.
The launch has been met with overwhelming interest, confirming what Lie sensed from her years in modeling—that professionals working under constant pressure, including models, creatives, and entrepreneurs, are seeking accessible ways to restore energy and balance. While scientific opinions on detox effects remain divided, health experts acknowledge that heat treatments can support relaxation, relieve muscle tension, and improve quality of life.
Lie is transparent that Heat is built on her own experience rather than bold medical claims. As a model who understands the realities behind glamorous images, her goal is to share a wellness tool that helped her survive and thrive in a competitive industry shaped by tight schedules and high expectations.
Looking ahead, she plans to expand Heat beyond Sweden. Oslo is firmly on her radar, and she hopes to open there soon, bringing her concept back to Norway. For Sophia Lie, the journey from model to entrepreneur feels like a natural evolution—proof that life after modeling can be just as dynamic, purposeful, and impactful as a career on the runway.
