The Nader sisters are embarking on their next adventure — and Us Weekly has the exclusive details.
Brooks Nader, 29, revealed exclusively to Us that her experience in the modeling world does not compete with the subzero temperatures she and her sisters will soon face on their polar expedition through the Arctic Circle.
“I’ve been on some freezing shoots but staying in a tent in the middle of the Arctic definitely takes the cake,” Brooks told Us. “Plus advocating for women’s health with my sisters? I would crawl to the Arctic for that.”
In partnership with the Space Prize Foundation, NYU Langone Health and the University of Arizona, Brooks, alongside her sisters, Mary Holland, 26, Grace Ann, 25, and Sarah Jane, 22, will embark on a week-long expedition to Svalbard, Norway in April.
“The study aims to explore how cold temperatures, isolation and disrupted light-dark cycles, which are conditions that mirror those found in space, affect women’s hormonal balance, menstrual cycles, sleep patterns and overall physiological adaptation,” a press release read.
“When you put four girls from South Louisiana in one of the coldest environments in the world … there’s going to be some drama,” Brooks joked. “Sleep will also be challenging. The sun doesn’t set this time of year, which sounds magical until your body has no idea what time it is. But that’s exactly what researchers are studying — how extreme environments affect our sleep cycles.”
She continued, “The research is being led by the University of Arizona’s sleep and circadian team, and what’s crazy is how closely this parallels the kind of work being done around Artemis missions, where scientists are also studying sleep, behavior and physiological responses in extreme environments. It will be so wild to experience that firsthand. We may be tired (and probably moody) but at least it’s for a good cause this time.”
Brooks admitted to Us that while she loves glam, it was important to her to strip that all away and use her platform for “the betterment of others.”
“I’ve been in too many rooms hearing women talk about issues that affect their bodies,” Brooks said. “These are things that impact our daily lives, and there are still so few real answers, or the answers feel outdated because no one has taken the time to truly study them. I felt like I needed to do something bold to help in getting people to pay attention. I’m so grateful to be doing this with my sisters and that we are a part of something that will actually help move women’s health research forward. If people see a tougher side of me, great. If not, I’ll feel good knowing I froze my butt off for science and making a difference.”
The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model told Us that the trip will be “very humbling” for her, in part because it will focus less on her body’s outward appearance and more on her physical ability.
“We’re pushing ourselves physically to help advance women’s health research, and that is empowering,” Brooks said.
Brooks said she hopes a “stronger” version of herself, mentally and physically, comes back from this expedition.
“I want to come back knowing my sisters and I did something challenging for a good cause. And ideally, I come back with all my toes and a very dramatic story to tell,” she joked.
The research initiative, Xtreme Research (eXtreme Environment and Reproductive Sleep and Circadian Health), is led by Dr. Sairam Parthasarathy of the University of Arizona’s Center for Sleep, Circadian and Neuroscience Research. Experts at NYU Langone Health, including Dr. Moriah Thomason and Dr. Katharina Schultebraucks, will contribute behavioral, neurological and stress-related analysis, developing advanced video and MRI tools to track how the body and brain respond to extreme conditions. Together, this work will form one of the most comprehensive datasets ever assembled on women’s health in polar environments.
Brooks shared that she thinks Grace Ann will “definitely thrive” on the expedition.
“She is known as GANIMAL for a reason… and it helps that she has a masters degree in public health,” Brooks said. “As for going home early… none of us. We might complain and fight, but we’re stubborn and we believe in what we’re doing here.”
