You are YOU.

During my high school years, my parents enrolled me in a boarding school in Rome, Italy to encourage me to learn how to be self-sufficient. It was a transformative experience, and the friendships I forged there are still precious to me. My best friend, who was my roommate when I was 11, has been a steadfast support throughout my life.

As a teenager, my sense of self-worth was heavily influenced by my surroundings. I admired the girls at school whom I thought were more beautiful and confident than I was. This insecurity led me to pursue modeling, thinking it would make me feel validated. I took runway classes with Alicia Salazar, a former model from Venezuela. My parents would sometimes accompany me, but often it was my half-brother, Nené, who would unwillingly drive me to and from classes.

However, once the popular girls learned about my modeling aspirations, they mocked me relentlessly. Their taunts, like calling out “the model is coming!” when I walked by, made me realize that I was seeking validation for the wrong reasons. I often compared myself to my mother, a former beauty queen and actress who was as charismatic as she was stunning. I felt inadequate in comparison, focusing on my perceived flaws.

I spent countless hours scrutinizing myself in the mirror and experimenting with beauty treatments, hoping to change what I saw as imperfections. Despite my roommate’s eye-rolling, I persisted in my quest for beauty.

Fast forward 30 years, and I’ve become a champion for self-worth and self-acceptance. Many of us struggle with negative self-talk and feelings of inadequacy. I’ve learned to embrace who I am, recognizing that I don’t need to look like Gisele or anyone else. I am unique, filled with gratitude, love, joy, and creativity.

As Andre De Shields wisely said, “There is no one like you. There has never been anyone like you. There will never be anyone like you. Therefore… be yourself.”