Thousands of people watch her ironic videos on Instagram everyday. They are pieces of Benedetta’s real life brought to the public using one of the most sublime forms of art.
Benedetta might not be a professional comedian but she does have the ability to make you think while you laugh.
Benedetta, in Italian, means, blessed: and I believe that if someone can reach the results she had, could not have been called any different. She is a force of nature, she discovered and embraced both her strenght points and her weak points, turning them into powerful tools to show others that: “If I can, you can”
No excuses to stop self achievement: be kind to yourself, be kind to others, be smart and everything will go into place.
Enjoy another inspiring interview to a woman I am looking forward to meeting in person very soon!
WHO IS BENEDETTA?
Benedetta was born in Salerno (Campania, Italy) in 1987, a girl like many others, but with a small factory defect: she was born with a rare disease called sacral agenesis. This condition led her to spend nearly twelve years in hospitals undergoing eighteen surgeries. All this suffering, however, helped her become the woman she is today.
She is a lawyer and founder of the inclusive fashion brand for disabled girls: “Italian Inclusive Fashion ®”, She is a popular organizer of events that include disabled models, an activist for disability rights and is also one of the first disabled fashion influencers in Italy.
IN FACT… HOW AND WHEN DID YOU BECOME YOUR OWN BRAND?
I started for fun on social medias and when I saw the results, I understood that what I was doing was actually bringing a strong message and, that I should probably turn it into my own career. I receive tons of daily messages of esteem and love from disabled and non-disabled girls: this is a continous boost to go on, sharing my story and raise awareness on disability issues. I make sure I do it with a great sense of optimism, as I really care that people approach diversity on a positive way.
Today I have almost 100,000 followers on Instagram interacting with me every day and I am so grateful for all their love and support.
DISABILITY, BEAUTY AND STEREOTYPES: YOU ARE CHALLENGING THE STATUS QUO. HAVE YOU EVER HAD “DARK MOMENTS” IN YOUR LIFE?
It is useless to hide behind a finger (as we say in Italian): disability involves many difficulties, from architectural barriers to mental ones. Surely the biggest personal challenge comes when I struggle from a hospital bed due to my kidney problems: every time, I am aware of the great risks I will not be able to make it. But my love for life always shows to be greater than everything else.
Alt Text: beautiful picture of Benedetta on her wheelchair with a background of an amusement park. Benedetta is a young white lady with long wavy blonde hair. She is wearing a black top, a black blazer with golden buttons, ripped jeans and black ankle boots. Red nail polish and a Gucci shoulder bag complete her powerful outfit.
THERE ARE MANY GIRLS AND WOMEN THAT DO NOT LOVE THEMSELVES AND DO NOT FEEL REPRESENTED BY THE FASHION INDUSTRY: WHERE DO YOU BUY CLOTHES AND WHICH BRANDS DO YOU FEEL BEST REPRESENT YOU, YOUR STYLE AND SATISFY YOUR FITTING NEEDS?
Unfortunately, when you think of a woman on a wheelchair, you often imagine her in overalls or pajamas, careless and sloppy, in short, way far from the ideal female beauty we all have in mind. This is because, at first the combination of fashion with disability can be difficult to approach, as fashion is in constant call for perfection. But fortunately, the new watchword in fashion, after sustainability, is INCLUSION, capable of bringing women of all ethnicities, of all sizes, gender and sexual orientation, abilities and age on any catwalks. Something that was “different” yesterday is embraced today. Last but not least: thanks to social medias, fashion has become an integral part of our lives, much more than ever before.
I don’t have any particular brands that I love, sometimes I dream of my dream dress and… I create it myself!
Alt text: Benedetta is pictured behind a ringlight holding her smartphone while it is shooting a picture of her smiling. Her blonde wavy hair, her perfect make up and red lipstick make her even more radiant.
YOU FOUNDED “ITALIAN INCLUSIVE FASHION” HOW DID THIS IDEA COME OUT AND WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR GREATEST SUCCESS?
“Italian inclusive Fashion” was born with the idea of creating a collection of elegant but practical clothes for women with a disability; made with fine fabrics they can be worn by wheelchair users or those with mobility issues by adapting them with specific variations that allow the dress to maintain its fitting. The idea came from my personal experience both on myself and during the fashion shows I organized: I wanted those ladies (and myself) to get dressed quickly and independently.
Unfortunately for now, the production has stopped but I presented three of my models during the Italian TV show “Detto Fatto”, and it was a truly great success.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE YOUR MESSAGE TO THE FASHION INDUSTRY?
My greatest dream is to be able to actively contribute to a motivated and real change in the world of fashion, in the world of mass media and within the beauty industry.
Learn more about Benedetta here:
Website: https://benedettadeluca.it/index2df1.html?c=3
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benedetta_deluca/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ableforfashion
YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1_Po6YMjl62h6nuQ0xwmUg
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benedetta-de-luca-246678161/