"I wanted to build up a little nest egg and go back to L.A. and choose roles that I wanted to do instead of roles that I had to do to pay the bills"
About this Quote
The key tension is in “wanted to do” versus “had to do.” That’s not just preference; it’s autonomy. Warren frames choice as something you buy back, which is the unglamorous truth behind an industry that sells fantasy. Modeling is often marketed as instant access to freedom, yet her goal is to earn enough to stop being “available” on the market’s terms. In that sense, the quote isn’t aspirational so much as transactional: security first, self-expression later.
“Go back to L.A.” does cultural work, too. L.A. isn’t just geography; it’s the capital of roles, auditions, and a particular kind of hustle where desperation is detectable and therefore costly. She’s describing a reset: returning not as someone chasing any job, but as someone insulated enough to refuse. The subtext is that “paying the bills” can distort your public persona, your resume, even your sense of taste. Warren’s intent is practical, but it lands as a critique of an industry that confuses ambition with vulnerability and calls it opportunity.
Quote Details
| Topic | Saving Money |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
| Cite |
Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
Warren, Estella. (2026, January 17). I wanted to build up a little nest egg and go back to L.A. and choose roles that I wanted to do instead of roles that I had to do to pay the bills. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/i-wanted-to-build-up-a-little-nest-egg-and-go-47930/
Chicago Style
Warren, Estella. "I wanted to build up a little nest egg and go back to L.A. and choose roles that I wanted to do instead of roles that I had to do to pay the bills." FixQuotes. January 17, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/i-wanted-to-build-up-a-little-nest-egg-and-go-47930/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"I wanted to build up a little nest egg and go back to L.A. and choose roles that I wanted to do instead of roles that I had to do to pay the bills." FixQuotes, 17 Jan. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/i-wanted-to-build-up-a-little-nest-egg-and-go-47930/. Accessed 27 Feb. 2026.


