What does thriving actually look like for a late-diagnosed autistic adult?
Alexis Kruel gives a pretty specific answer from a life of contradictions.
Alexis is a commercial model and actor who was diagnosed autistic at 53 and ADHD shortly after. But this isn't really a diagnosis story. It's a story about what happens when your whole life suddenly plays back differently, and every awkward moment, every friendship that went cold, every dinner party you wanted to escape, finally makes sense.
She's built a life that genuinely fits her brain. In this conversation she talks about how she did it — and what she'd tell anyone who's still figuring that out.
In this episode:
The video that stopped her cold and started everything
Sensory life in the 70s — polyester, crinolines, a doomed trip to Stride Rite
Why she was simultaneously popular yet seen as “different”
How the fear of being seen inspired her to become a model
How two autistic people built a marriage that works — and why she thinks that's not an accident
Her advice for finding your comfort after late diagnosis
Find Alexis:
Instagram & TikTok: @alexiskruel_official
YouTube & Facebook: Alexis Kruel
Alexis Kruel website
Resources mentioned:
@whileyouwonderau
theartofautism.com
Prosper Health — telehealth autism assessments for adults
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June 24-28, 2026 In Rewilding Together