When I personally met Valentina for a color consulting session the other day, one of my friends whatsapped me instantly like: “Really!?!? You did a session with Valentina? I ADORE her!”
Well, I have to be honest: Valentina is one of the greatest enthusiastic professionals and individuals I have ever met.
Straight to the point she is no time waster.
Chosen by Italian and international big brands and an entrepreneur herself she is becoming a new symbol of awareness for All.
Enjoy this new interview and take notes!
Valentina, in a black and white shot smiling while looking at her right. She is weaaring a t-shirt with the word Inclusione and its meaning in Italian. she is on her wheelchair and you can see some of her tattoos on her left arm.
Valentina is a woman with clear ideas, she is a communication specialist, a social media manager and a content creator, but above all, she is a concrete activist about disabilty issues.
DISABILITY, BEAUTY AND STEREOTYPES: YOU ARE CHALLENGING THE STATUS QUO WITH LIGHTNESS AND IRONY IN TERMS OF FASHION, SEX, TATTOOS, SOCIAL LIFE, WORK. HAVE YOU EVER HAD "DARK MOMENTS" OR PARTICULAR ISSUES IN YOUR LIFE? AND WHAT WERE THE MOST COVETED GOALS YOU HAVE ACHIEVED?
I am certainly not a “conventional disabled person”, not as society accustoms us to pigeonholing a person with disabilities: dependent on others, without projects and personality. See, I’m none of that, I’m just a 38-year-old woman with all the add-ons and implications.
As in anyone’s life there are moments of light and moments of darkness. I don’t even know the recipe to encourage one and cancel the others, rather I’d say, to balance them. Surely the best moments were the steps that allowed me to acquire a professionalism: the various collaborations with big brands, the projects that have come true like the 2 books I wrote and the trips I could take to spread a new way of making tourism accessible.
FOR THOSE UNFAMILIAR WITH IT, CAN YOU DESCRIBE YOUR DISABILITY, WHAT IT ENTAILS AND WHAT OTHERS BELIEVE IT LIMITS YOU TO?
My disease is non-degenerative and is genetic: it is an accessory that I carry with me from birth. It is called diastrophic dysplasia, quite rare but not too rare, therefore out of any access of support as happens with degenerative diseases. I do not walk, I use an electronic wheelchair 24 hours a day, I have small measures and short limbs, but otherwise everything is working.
NO HEROES (HEROINES) BUT PEOPLE: WHY DO YOU THINK THIS IS NECESSARY TO POINT OUT?
Valentina, a white woman, little person, holding a microhone during her book presentation. She is wearing a yellow blouse with black and blule prints. Her book on the table in front of her.
Because we must get out of the usual stereotypes that picture every person with disabilities, as heroes because of the shortcomings they suffer. It can be, but not regardless and it cannot be the only perspective. Making people heroic just for their wrap, is an easy read; you need to get a deeper reasoning of knowing that person from the inside. We are just people with strengths and weaknesses to manage, each indiscriminately living a life of limits and bonuses, but it is certainly not the wheelchair to be considered our ballast.
THE POOL LIFT YOU USE IS PINK: HOW IMPORTANT IS COLOR IN YOUR LIFE AND HOW DO YOU USE IT?
I love pink in all its shades and I use it often; I like it, it makes me feel good and it seems to me that it is a color that enhances me. I have a real mania for fashion and I love taking care of my image: I like to play with clothing and accessories, but I always make sure I pinpoint on inclusive and accessibility issues in daily life. In clothing, for example, I look for brands that know how to enhance unconventional bodies (and for unconventional I mean those considered out of social standards).
YOU ARE A JOURNALIST AND A COMMUNICATION PROFESSIONAL: WHAT WAS THE FUNNIEST AND MOST IRREVERENT INTERVIEW YOU HAVE DONE OR ATTENDED?
Without a doubt the IGlive I did with Rocco Siffredi thanks to Layla Cosmetics, in which we talked about stereotypes including those about sexuality. It was a great interview because, Rocco and I have so much in common: we underwent the same discriminations caused by society bias about what we do, who we are or we are not. Rocco Siffredi is discriminated against: we only think about what he does and judge it, forgetting he still is a human being.
LET'S DISPEL ANOTHER MYTH … WHO ARE YOUR CLIENTS?
My clients and the people I work with may not match my life beliefs, but they for sure must have a contemporary and uncategorized concept of disability and approach.(far from the “special people”, heroes, pain and commiseration clichès). They must share my values of unconditional respect and innovation.
TAKING CARE OF YOURSELF: WHAT ARE THE TREATMENTS YOU PREFER AND WHICH ARE THE FASHION BRANDS THAT MAKE YOU FEEL GOOD AND ENHANCE YOUR BODY?
I have an unbridled passion for make-up rather than for treatments, even if the hair removal laser is my best friend. I appreciate and encourage brands that involve all people throughout the whole production chain. And then I love those brands that produce clothing with their own hands and know how to dress any body perfectly.
Let me recommend some very special swimwear: made by Alessandra, founder of By Alis with superior craftmanship, perfect fit, fashionable cut, and lovely prints. Her collections are unbeatable in quality and softness.
YOUR MESSAGE TO THE FASHION AND BEAUTY INDUSTRY
“Open your eyes and evolve, because there is a world out there with economic potential that cannot access your product due to your total myopia towards a physicality different from the standards.”
I want to fight stereotypes and standards that pigeonhole us all thus making “the other” invisible. There is no need to create special lines, but to be aware of different needs. Brands could for example start using zips with more manageable sliders.
PLANS FOR THE FUTURE?
I will go on writing accessible tourist guides: the one about Mantua and its province, for the Association for accessible tourism Pepitosa in carrozza, was just released.
This format can be replicated for all cities as a way to raise awareness and invite every body to travel and gain experiences around Italy, with no limits.
Valentina on the red carpet of the Diversity Media Awards. She is on her wheelchair, smiling, wearing a black lace dress and beaded hairband. Next to her a white man in tuxedo standing.