I am a big believer that beauty comes in all sizes, shapes and colors, but it wasn't always my belief. I was born and raised in Brazil. By growing in between those skinny pretty girls, I learned very well the meaning of social pressure to lose weight.
Before I was 18, I had already tried Atkins’ diet, fruit diet, moon
diet, Dunkan’s diet, weight watchers, nutritional help, psychological
help, medications to reduce appetite, medications for depression… You
name it, I probably tried. I also became bulimic (I
actually tried to be anorexic, but I was too hungry to stick with the
plan), first, I would induce vomit and then, I just had no control. In
the beginning, I lost very little weight, and later, I lost no weight at
all. I guess bulimia wasn’t the solution.
In 2005, I left Brazil and moved to Canada. My goal
then had nothing to do with fashion, in fact I had no clue on how to get
dressed. Long story short, I met a great man, got married and never
left Canada.
In 2008, I started working as a plus size model. That it is when I started to learn how to choose properly my clothes, my perfect fit, my colors...
The big change in my life came with my bulimia treatment.
I started a program at Douglas Hospital for eating disorders. The
journey was really long and torturous. But, for the first time, I was
not getting treated to lose weight instead the goal was learning to
love, respect, and accept myself. It was a difficult and interesting
program. Eventually, I got discharged from the program with all the
tools that I needed to change my life for the better. And I did.
By then I understood that I didn’t have to lose an ounce to look
stunning, all I had to do was love myself and learn a few tricks. Soon I was able to dress myself as I deserved. I decided that I had to do something for others like me. I went to New York, did an Image consultant certificate at IRC with Dominique Isbecque and I am also taking it at FIT.
When I felt ready began helping people around me. First my family, then my
friends, friends of friends and now I want to help you!