Namita Nayyar:
What is a typical day of food like for you? Are there specific foods or eating habits that help you maintain your energy levels and that “sculpture” presence for which you are known?
Valentina Bìssoli:
I just eat what I want, including carbohydrates: I love pasta and pizza, I really eat everything. I am very lucky in this and here too I have to thank my genetics. Fortunately I am very tall, so I assimilate everything I eat in a fair and balanced way. I’ve never been on restrictive diets and I’ve never tried to be something I’m not; I think this was my greatest luck.
It is an aspect that has also been appreciated by those who select models for different projects: you never choose a model just looking at the physique. Or rather, among so many beautiful girls you would risk passing as one of many, if it weren’t for the messages you transmit. I think I’ve always been very balanced in this.
Namita Nayyar:
What does “well-being” really mean to you beyond the physical: how do you nourish your mind and spirit together with your body?
Valentina Bìssoli:
Mind and body are part of the same person, so it’s important to train both. It is essential to also take care of your emotional and mental sphere, because it is the one that allows you to overcome difficult moments. To build a solid career you have to be able to resist in shaky moments: when things go well it’s easy, but it’s in difficulties, or when the phone doesn’t ring, that the true personality emerges.
I think I have learned over time to accept bad moments; it is only by embracing one’s own weaknesses that one can get back up. I’ve had many ups and downs, but so far I’ve always found the strength to overcome them, and this is the biggest victory for me. I am passionate about psychology, I follow Jung and many authors of personal growth: surely this has also helped me.
Namita Nayyar:
Your Mediterranean beauty – deep expressive eyes, rich dark hair, radiant skin – is often celebrated as timeless. How is your daily skin and hair care routine and what beauty philosophy guides your choices?
Valentina Bìssoli:
I choose natural products, good creams and I use the gua sha stone, which for me is optimal, without upsetting my nature. Fortunately I have good genetics and I just try to indulge it, without interfering or invading what I already am. This is fundamental for me.
Unfortunately I can’t give advice on practices I don’t do: I just give an opinion on my habits. Also for the hair and the skin I try to take care of them as much as possible with the right products, but always without upsetting anything. For now, let’s say that I can maintain a good level with excellent results.
Namita Nayyar:
You pointed out that beauty is basically an inner concept, rooted in self-esteem. What practices help you cultivate that inner beauty and confidence that shines through in your work?
As I said before, you have to be the first fan of yourself: this is the first thing to do. There are no shortcuts; there are no tricks, there is only this. From here then everything moves, because if you love yourself unconditionally and love your body for what it gives you and offers you, a virtuous circle is automatically activated; otherwise, this cannot happen. It’s essential. It seems like a cliché, but it’s the real rule for getting great results.
Namita Nayyar:
You are not only a model, but also a passionate entrepreneur and lawyer. You co-founded Law4Model to protect and empower the next generation of models. What inspired you to take on this role and what are the most critical problems that young models face today that you hope to face?
Valentina Bìssoli:
This foundation was born during the Covid period, when the models were at home and could not work, and it continued thanks to two very good lawyers, my support and that of my blog. It was a great satisfaction, because at that time I was able to do some very interesting webinars and compare myself with the greats of fashion; for me it was definitely a new experience that enriched me a lot.
I owe so much to this project and this idea, and I hope it can be an inspiration for the models: I hope they know that they can rely on these two professionals, who know the rights of fashion and models in depth and who can certainly help them.
Today there is a problem related to work, because most of the activities have moved to social media. Fashion has become much more accessible to many more people: if before you had to be selected through an agency, today you can do everything through an Instagram profile. The market has changed a lot and customers sometimes contact models directly.
This represents an existential problem for the sector, because today the model’s work is different: first of all, she has to be the one to act as PR and as an agent to herself. All this has taken away a lot of space from the models of the agencies; for this reason there is a lot of confusion and there is much less work than ten years ago, when I started.
Namita Nayyar:
Through your personal blog and advocacy work, you have built a platform that extends far beyond fashion. What message would you like young women, especially those who are thinking of modeling, to hear more?
Valentina Bìssoli:
My advice is not to give up on the first no, because it happens to all models. There is no model who has never received a rejection, so you have to learn to live with judgment and no’s. This is the hardest part, and that’s why many people give up; the person who manages to reach a certain goal, on the other hand, is the one who persists and never gives up. Sooner or later an opportunity comes for everyone, whether small or large – which is also dictated by luck – but when it comes you have to know how to welcome it, sense it and have the right strength to give your best in that single opportunity, maybe that of life, that presents itself to you.
Namita Nayyar:
You said you wanted to open an association for animals in distress and possibly explore a film career. What’s next for Valentina Bìssoli: what dreams are you actively working towards today?
Valentina Bìssoli:
Honestly, today I don’t know where fate will take me. I am working on different ideas and projects; the one related to animals is definitely a cause that I have also supported in the past through other associations and that I intend to carry out today. Although I have also worked on film projects, however, I do not think that cinema is in my near future. I really like sports and fitness, so I believe that my tomorrow will be directed precisely towards this sphere.
Disclaimer
The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
