Ariel Sullivan + Olivia Ponton: Beneath

Moderating this discussion is model, creator, and advocate Olivia Ponton. This event will be hosted at Andaz 5th Avenue located at 485 5th Ave, New York, NY 10017.

Can’t make the event?

ACCESSIBILITY:

Strand Book Store is an ADA compliant venue. The event space is accessible via elevator.

ASL interpretation is available for this event by request only. Please reach out to our events team at [email protected] by Mar. 10 to request.

Please ask a Strand employee upon arrival for directions to accessible seating if preferred.

For further information on accessibility in this space, or to make a request, please contact [email protected]

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Hundreds of years before the Illum ruled supreme, humanity risked everything to rebuild after a devastating war in this explosive dystopian romance and prequel to Conform.

Twenty-three-year-old Sasha Cadell knows time is running out in the underground city, filled with survivors of the nuclear fallout six years ago. She works in tunnel expansion, trying to escape the memories of those she lost. Her bleak existence is upended when Tristian Hayes, a stunningly handsome, frustratingly determined commander of the Force, recruits her to join him and his elite team of soldiers as they embark on a secret mission to the surface.

Sasha is thrust into a brutal training with stakes far beyond mere survival. The fate of remaining humankind depends on their success—or failure. As she confronts her own demons, Sasha finds both allies and foes in the training program, as well as a sizzling attraction between her and Tristian that threatens the walls she's built around her heart.
But under the surface, secrets and deception run as rampant as illnesses. And not everyone will survive the rise of a power more terrifying than anything they’ve ever known.

Photo credit: Meg Miller Photography

Ariel Sullivan is the author of Conform. She lives in Connecticut with her husband, two sons, and their two French bulldogs. Growing up a military brat, she moved every two years. As a perpetual new kid, she often observed from the outskirts, where a deep love of reading was born. When she isn’t writing, she loves to read everything from poetry to psychology, bake with her sons, listen to live music, and travel.

is a model, creator, and advocate with a combined following of over 12 million across TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and Snapchat, where she is among the platform’s most highly engaged creators. Known for her authenticity, relatability, and positive outlook, Olivia uses her platforms to connect deeply with her community – openly sharing her journey with health and wellness, mental health, self-love, and empowerment – while also speaking out on cultural and political issues that matter most to her generation. Olivia is also the host of Booked and Busy—a book-club-meets-hangout where she explores her favorite reads, interviews authors, and chats with friends and creators. Blending curiosity, warmth, and escapist fun, the show marks a new chapter for Olivia as she continues building her presence in fashion, culture, and now, the literary space. Based full-time in New York City, Olivia continues to expand her influence across modeling, content creation, design collaborations, and advocacy – solidifying herself as one of today’s most dynamic and multifaceted young talents.
Since emerging as a digital talent, Olivia has become a sought-after face in the fashion and beauty industries. She has fronted multi-season campaigns with Victoria’s Secret PINK, including serving as red carpet host for the 2024 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, and has been a contracted ambassador for Tommy Hilfiger, Maybelline and Coach. She has also collaborated directly on design projects, including the REEF x Olivia Ponton and the American Eagle x Olivia Ponton Pride collections. A front-row fixture at New York Fashion Week with strong ties to Marc Jacobs, Tory Burch, Michael Kors, she also maintains close relationships with European fashion houses including Fendi, Burberry, and Dolce & Gabbana. In 2024, she was invited to sit front row at the Vogue World fashion show in Paris. Her impact has been recognized by the industry, including her feature in Variety’s Power of Young Hollywood Impact Report (Class of 2023).
Most recently, Olivia launchedBooked and Busy where she deep dives into beloved books – from Rebecca Yarros’sFourth Wing to Kiera Cass’sThe Selection– and even explored movie adaptations like Frieda McFadden’sThe Housemaid. The podcast has welcomed bestselling authors like and most recently as special guests, where they unpack world-building, fan theories, and reader questions that linger long after the last page. Olivia’s warmth, curiosity, and knack for asking the lingering questions real readers crave have quickly made Booked and Busy a destination for fans and authors alike, turning busy schedules into thoughtful escapes through storytelling.
Beyond fashion and beauty, Olivia is passionate about advocacy and giving back. She works closely with Pride Live and the Stonewall Inn on LGBTQIA+ initiatives, appearing with MAC Cosmetics in the 2025 NYC Pride Parade. Since coming out in Teen Vogue in 2021, she has proudly embraced her role within the community, using her visibility to empower others to live authentically. She is also committed to sustainability and ocean conservation, a passion rooted in her Florida upbringing, and has partnered with organizations such as 4Ocean and Coral Gardeners.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

Get App

Host or Publisher The Strand Book Store