MULTIFACETED. MULTITALENTED.

Patricija Ivanauskaite may have grown up in Hinsdale, but she is destined to take her talent and smarts way beyond this small town. The 5’8”, Lithuanian, young stunner has a world of opportunities that await her—and she’s hoping to add even more accolades to her already decorated trophy case.

For starters, the Hinsdale Central alum hit a major accomplishment very few her age around the world can achieve. In 2019, Ivanauskaite represented the United States in rhythmic gymnastics as part of Team USA.

Her gymnastics career all began at the impressionable age of just three years old. Ivanauskaite twirled her way right into her mother’s footsteps. Soon, she found herself putting in the work of a professional athlete training six days a week for at least three hours a day. “I can remember after school, my mom would drive me an hour to practice and we stayed there until the gym closed,” Ivanauskaite says.

Her head coaches Natalia Klimouk and Margarita Mamzina trained Ivanauskaite at North Shore Rhythmic Gymnastics in Prospect Heights. In 2019, Ivanauskaite placed 8th in the country for the Junior National Team which is only awarded to 12 athletes every year. “This has been one of my goals ever since I was little and words can’t describe the feeling I felt that day when I found out,” she says. “That moment finally meant that all the hours spent driving to practice and the time I spent at practice with my blood, sweat, tears, and sacrifices finally paid off.”

For Ivanauskaite, gymnastics was a very disciplining sport that taught her a lot about time management and how to balance school, practice, and even how to prioritize her mental health. “One of the things I didn’t expect gymnastics would teach me was the importance of mental health,” she says.

Ivanauskaite realized her mental health was fragile when her training wasn’t translating into her performances. “I was at a loss and couldn’t comprehend it, which took a toll on me,” she says. But with the help of on-site sports psychologists at her gym, she was able to approach practices differently, while managing school life and gymnastics life all in a new light. “By the end of the year, I became part of the national team and I definitely would have not been able to be successful without their help,” she says. “They really helped me understand how crucial mental health is.” Now everything she’s learned on the mat including her mental-health management is part of her everyday life.

Being in this sport happened to unlock another door for Ivanauskaite: modeling. At 14 years old, she was approached by an agency through her gymnastics coach. “I grew up watching fashion shows and always wanted to be the girl walking down the runway covered head-to-toe in haute couture,” she says. So Ivanauskaite decided to walk through that door of opportunity and right down the catwalk. “But for me, it got tricky because I was so invested in gymnastics and I couldn’t fully commit to modeling,” she says. However, after finding some balance, she signed up with an agency just after a year.

“The hardest part of modeling is putting in the work,” she says. “There’s a lot that happens behind the scenes to get the perfect shot in or to get a good walk down.” It takes practice, patience, and a lot of hard work and determination. It’s not for the weak. “People think modeling is very glamorous and easy but it can be really stressful,” she says. “But once you get that final shot, it’s so rewarding because the hours you’ve put in behind the scenes are finally paying off,” she says.

What’s next for Ivanauskaite? Beyond being a physical force to be reckoned with, she is backed with brainpower and a heart of gold, too. After having graduated from high school just last year, she’s now on her way up the pre-nursing track at Loyola University in downtown Chicago.

“Before I started college, I sat down with my best friend’s aunt who has her doctorate in nursing and is a professor as well,” she says. “She explained to me the many different pathways an individual can take after getting their license in nursing and it was then and there I got inspired to pursue it.”

Ivanauskaite is focusing on getting her Bachelor’s degree at Loyola. “I would love to see where nursing takes me,” she says. “The beauty of nursing is that after I become a registered nurse, there are a ton of things I can go into and specialize in.” Currently, that specialty is in aesthetic medicine. “I love helping people and have a huge amount of respect for anyone that works in the healthcare field.”

Being in the city also allows her to focus on her modeling career. “This year I want to just see how far I can go,” she says.

With all her accomplishments and upcoming endeavors, Ivanauskaite stays true to herself. With so much going on, it can be hard for anyone to put themselves first. “You always have to put your physical and mental health above anything and one of the biggest things I’ve learned is that it’s okay to have bad days,” she says. “You have to have bad days so you can have good ones.” And this is just the beginning of her bright future.

@patricija_ivanauskaite