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Challenging Male Beauty Stereotypes: Meet Ady Del Valle

When I saw Ady’s profile for the first time on Instagram, I was fascinated.
When Ady replied with interest, for this following interview, I was thrilled.
Learn more about how he is redifining beauty up to also becoming an official “Beauty Provider” for Pinterest inspirational moodboards!

Rural atmosphere, green grass and trees. Ady, the big, plus, latinx model is sitting on a stool with his left hand on one knee and right arm rested on the other. His is looking confidently at the camera, has bold head and black short and full beard He is wearing a black shirt with silver stars and dark denim. Behind him stands a white drape.

WHO IS ADY DEL VALLE?

Ady is a big, tall, plus, Latinx/Puerto Rican model. – he says.
I’ve been modeling for over 5 years and was born and raised in Boston. I am persistent, ambitious and definitely a hard worker.
I want to make a difference in the industry by breaking beauty standards and stereotypes.

YOU ARE A FAMOUS QUEER MODEL: HOW AND WHEN DID YOU BECOME YOUR OWN BRAND?

I started modeling a little over 5 years ago, I was discovered by a small independent new big and tall clothing brand that was having a showcase at NYFW: the owner messaged me on Instagram letting me know he loved my look and style, and if I would walk for his show.

I walked for the show and ever since, I’ve slowly been making an impact by having opportunities that have never usually been given to plus size men that are especially visibly fat.
Doing that, I think I gave people and the industry a perspective that big men can be models too but also plus size models as well. I’ve probably blown up in the last 2 years more than before and making my presence known in fashion spaces and opportunities.

Being booked by amazing artists and designers willing to representing bodies like mine, is helping me build my brand and image both as a visibly fat model and as a latino lgbtq+ model.

MALE BEAUTY STEREOTYPES: WHAT IS YOUR POINT OF VIEW AND HOW ARE YOU CHALLENGING THE STATUS QUO?

Male beauty comes in so many forms, as a man, a queer man, I’ve learned to embrace my natural beauty but also generate beauty in the arts such as makeup. I’ve always challenged that in what I do and who I am. I love playing around with makeup but also love to balance out my natural self to show the world we are beautiful in any way we choose to celebrate that. Even with our bodies as men, there are so many stereotypes and toxic masculinity stereotypes: a lot of men are afraid to embrace themselves fully without thinking they’ll be judged or seem too soft for doing so. Actually it’s completely the opposite: it makes us stronger to be vulnerable and love ourselves as men, aware that male beauty comes in many shapes & sizes. There’s no wrong way to love yourself.

THERE ARE MANY MEN THAT DO NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE IN THEIR OWN SKIN AND CLOTHES: WHERE DO YOU LIKE SHOPPING AND HOW DO YOU CREATE OUTFITS THAT FULLY REPRESENT WHO YOU ARE?

 I love fashion and clothing. My top favorite places to shop currently are:

ASOS; Target; Ralph Lauren; Old Navy (Women’s plus); ELOQUII; Brandon Kyle Collection

I also have a feminine and masculine mix to my looks at times: I love adding feminine wear to my looks. Some days I feel more masculine than others or feminine than other days. I love and embrace both sides of me.

WHAT ARE THE BEST PROJECTS YOU’VE BEEN INVOLVED IN AND WHAT EXCITING ROLES ARE YOU COVERING NOW?

I’ve done a few projects that I’ve loved and have some major set for this year and 2021 as well.
This year I started off doing NYCPRIDE campaign 2020 which was released in June.
I also did a campaign with Patrick Church for his Spring 2020 collection campaign in February having the honor of modeling with some of my favorite plus size Models like Denise Bidot and Mina Gerges.
I also did a partnership with Pinterest: my images populate it officially now so people like me, creating moodboards can see themselves represented and get ideas on style and beauty. This is a big deal for me and so many: being a part of the change not only on the inside of the industry but the outside.

Right now I’m super excited as I booked my first Plus male campaign for a plus male denim brand: I will be representing men of a particular size and help the customers see themselves. I also have another project focused on fashion for fat bodies, showing we (people like me) are capable: it involves filming and shooting while telling my story.

Ady is standing against a net wall, with his both arms lifted, right more stretched up than the other. He is wearing a black turtleneck jumper and a silver suspenders connected by a silver belt across his bust.

FUTURE PLANS?

I have a lot of plans in the near future, new major projects that involve television, I can’t say much as recently have turned into probably 2 major production projects. I am always willing to do more fashion projects, campaigns and shows. I’m excited for the future because those that have overlooked me, will probably be knocking at my door one day soon.

WHAT IS YOUR MESSAGE TO THE FASHION INDUSTRY?

My message to the fashion industry is to not wait to be fully inclusive: we have made strides to improve but we can do more, especially for men’s plus fashion.
We don’t have real fashion for plus men.
We also don’t have much representation of larger men in men’s fashion campaigns and shows. My message is, and always have been, to give us space and representation by allowing us to show that we can do it too.

We are proving we can.
I am proving we can.

Ady is sitting on a white stool, against a beige wall wearing a mint t-shirt and white loose pants. His belly is partially uncovered. His left arm is bent on his hip and his right arm is relaxed along his body. He is sitting with his legs open. He is wearing white socks and light pink trainers.
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