There are multi-hyphenates, and then there are those who are truly multi-talented. Nikki Reed is the latter. The American actress first rose to fame for her role in Thirteen, which she co-wrote at age 14, before starring in The Twilight Saga, among other blockbusters. But her off-screen roles—photographer, animal rights activist, and jewelry designer, to name just a few—are, in many ways, her true passions. One might even say they feed her soul. And they all converge in the great outdoors.
“To me, there is nothing more peaceful than a walk in nature with my camera in hand,” Reed says. “Photography forces us to be present in the moment, which is a luxury in a time when we are constantly being told to speed up, to move faster.”
In 2023, Reed became the first woman to direct and produce a global campaign for Leica. She used the opportunity to highlight another cause she holds near and dear: Return to Freedom, a nonprofit committed to the protection of America’s wild horses. It was a pivotal accomplishment that led to another meaningful connection—a new friendship with Barb Phillips, owner of The Lodge at Blue Sky, Auberge Resorts Collection, and founder of the Saving Gracie Equine Healing Foundation. “Meeting Barb at The Lodge at Blue Sky was like reconnecting with an old friend—the kind of friend that you can spend hours talking to before realizing that you haven’t even stopped for a sip of water,” Reed recalls. “We shared story after story about horse rescue, and I have endless admiration for how devoted she is to this way of life.”
Reed wears BaYou with Love’s Diamond Ocean Tide Cigar Band and Diamond Turquoise Water Ring.
“From the rugged landscapes and the reclaimed wood to the feeling of stepping into a cold plunge in the middle of nature after doing breathwork in the most beautiful tent, The Lodge at Blue Sky feels like the kind of place you never want to leave,” says Reed (shown here at the resort’s Edge Spa). “Add in some horses and a mountain, and I can’t think of a better way to spend a sunset.”
Reed was equally captivated by The Lodge at Blue Sky itself, and she found herself connecting just as deeply with the rugged landscapes, horses and mountains, and jaw-dropping sunsets. Those experiences made such a lasting impression that she returned to the property this year to launch The Western Collection for her sustainable fine jewelry brand, BaYou with Love. Inspired by her many loves—horses, heritage jewelry, and the spirit of the American West—the new collection, “in many ways, feels similar to The Lodge at Blue Sky in its rustic beauty with a traditional essence,” she says.
On a recent visit, Reed captured The Lodge at Blue Sky with a photo essay that portrays how this special place unites all her passions and pursuits.
“Connecting BaYou with Love with The Lodge at Blue Sky felt like a no-brainer,” Reed says. “The synergy was there from the moment we all met.” The new Western Collection echoes the spirit of the American West through traditional hand-engraving, pattern work, and silversmithing.
The Western Collection—including the Turquoise Beaded Ring and Flower Turquoise Large Cuff—mixes recycled 14K yellow gold with sterling silver set with diamonds “to weave together rugged elegance with refined craftsmanship.”