We heard about Molly through a friend of ours and the first thing they told us is: My friend Molly is crazy and shoots rad photos and she’s a babe. Ask her about hopping trains and how many times she’s been arrested. Say no more, we were in. And here she is.

WHAT YOUTH: What’s your full name?

MOLLY: Molly Caitlin Steele

Do you have any nicknames?

Haha…I have a few and love them all. “Mo,” “Morris,” “Plum,” and “Babylegs.”

Where did you come from?

I came from a weird unincorporated swampy puddle in North Florida.

Photo: Brandon Harman

What do you love about that place?

I love that nature reigns there. It is imposing, turbulent, lush, so beautiful, and the queen bee of all things.

Least favorite thing about that place?

Close-mindedness, poisonous everything, and limited in cultural diversity.

Have you ever been arrested?

Yes, first at 15, then again at 26.

Would you send us a selfie?

:)

What do you wonder about?

What it is that makes people care enough to make real changes, and if this life I’m living is really the life I dream of, or not.

What’s the best show you’ve ever been to?

I love everything that FolkYeah puts on, especially the weekend-long shows in isolated venues like Fernwood in Big Sur, or Bandit Town in North Fork. Also — Os Mutantes, Sleep, Explosions in the Sky, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Vetiver. Charles Bradley, forever.

What’s the last thing you created?

A scrambled egg.

What do you like to hear instead of silence?

Rain.

Photo: Curtis Buchanan

Will you tell us about train hopping?

Most elevated excitement and suspense of my life so far. Would/will do it again and again.

What would you say is the closest thing you have to a routine?

I read before bed, go to sleep around 11, up at 7, and do ballet almost daily.

What’s been your biggest mistake?

Being born as a Scorpio from Florida.

What skills do you wish you possessed?

Painting, running, jumping, flying, musical improvisation, and intuitive cooking.

Photo: Dirk Knibbe

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?

Something about doing something so long as it makes you happy. Also, archive your negatives starting day one.

Tell us about your best friend.

My best friend is actually the best. Her name is Lauren. She’s been my best friend since I was a weird and bad 15 year old and mothered me in many ways. She is way more chill than me, is a goddess of a mother to my god-daughter, is immeasurably self-motivated and creative, has shiny hair, and is a mean cook. But 12 years ago we were both crazy and that was fun, too.

If we took you out to lunch, where would you want to go and what are we having?

We’re going to the Tomales Bay Oyster Farm and we’re eating oysters. Like, a lot of them.

Photo: Nate Walton

Photo: Ryan Kenny

Photo: AJ Wilson

Photo: Kevin Russ

Photo: Kevin Russ

Check out Molly’s Photo Credit here featuring her amazing photography, and follow her on Instagram @moristeele