Los Angeles model comes home to Clovis to open new Pilates studio.

Clovis native Sarah Mollica Rafferty spent a decade living in Los Angeles, where she worked as a model for big names including Skims and Harper’s Bazaar. Now, she is set to open a Pilates studio in the Clovis Commons shopping center on July 18.

Valdera Pilates is named after the Italian region of Valdera. Elements of the studio were designed in collaboration with an architect based in Valdera. “The vision is very Europe-inspired,” Rafferty said.

The business is a partnership with Rafferty’s husband and her sister Emily, who has been a fitness instructor for seven years. All three are from Clovis. “We just want to invest in the community that has raised us,” Rafferty said.

The studio has truly been a family effort. Family members who are contractors, electricians, and plumbers contributed their skills. Rafferty and her husband hand-painted and limewashed the studio themselves while her mother babysat their young son.

Rafferty and her husband were inspired to return to Clovis after their son was born, marking her career’s pivot from fashion to fitness. “Modeling has always been strictly work for me. I loved what I did for many, many years, but I feel like working out and fitness has always been my outlet,” she said.

Valdera Pilates will feature mat Pilates classes and sculpt classes. There will be heated and non-heated classes available.

“We are open to everyone, every shape, size, color... I want everyone to feel vulnerable coming there. There’s no judgement,” Rafferty said.

This story was originally published July 6, 2026 at 5:12 AM with the headline "Los Angeles model comes home to Clovis to open new Pilates studio.."