Today we’d like to introduce you to Sabrina Alvarez.
Hi Sabrina, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was always an outgoing girl, even when I was just 10 years old. I danced, took acting classes, singing classes, drawing classes, and more. Yet being a fashion model had always piqued my interest. It made me feel happy, motivated and at that age, I felt on top of the world. During my elementary years, I started being bullied, both physically and mentally. At such a young age I never really understood why other kids would target me. My behavior started changing from outgoing and always smiling to introverted and depressed. My family noticed this and immediately took me to seek help. Bullying made me quit dance and all my other hobbies, so I was mainly at home. After progressing with my mental state my mother helped me get back into doing what I loved most and that was when I joined DAMA School, a place to learn how to become a model. It was a rough road but success isn’t always linear. My mentor helped me come out of my shell and I made new friends at the studio. We would have runway classes, posing classes, and speech classes. I listened to all the girls’ stories and realized how inspirational it was to be confident, happy, to overcome any problem you come across in life. To live freely. That was when my life started turning around. I went from event-to-event meeting new people in the fashion world. Each person I met had opened new doors for me. I got to meet so many people who shared the same goals and dreams as me. I also met aspiring models who were also victims of bullying. Since I had went through the same situation, I realized I can help other victims overcome that dark place they were going through. To help them see the light and live their lives stress-free without worrying about other people’s opinions. I had also started helping myself and kept attending more and more fashion events. The more I modeled the happier I felt and my insecurities started to decrease. With every passing year as a model, I realized everyone is unique and beautiful. Humans are one of a kind with unique features you don’t find on another human being. That everyone should be loving themselves for who they are and embrace that. Living life by other people’s opinions will only restrict you and keep you from living your full life. After successfully maintaining my confidence, I got booked for so many events that boosted me in my career. I currently work as a traveling fashion model that has been booked in LA, NYC, Miami, and Panama I work in backgrounds for movies, I get featured in commercials, photoshoots, magazines, music videos, runway shows, catalogs, and more. This was all possible by my family supporting me every step of the way and helping me become happy and confident again.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It was definitely hard achieving the current mindset I have today. Yes, modeling events had helped me overcome many insecurities yet as a model most of your work is on social media. As a human being it’s normal to have insecurities but what matters is how you let it control you. Social media tends to promote a lot of unrealistic body standards and a young audience is more prone to developing insecurities as: “Why don’t I look like that?”. So, from time to time, it affects me but I try not to let it control me. It motivates me more to keep doing what I’m doing to reach a bigger audience on my platform and share my story. That way they get inspired and motivated to become whoever they want to be in life. Another struggle that has hit me really rough is my height. Every day the fashion industry gets more and more inclusive and diverse but being a 5’5 model is extremely difficult. There’s a lot of rejection, criticism, and negativity from a lot of people. I was told I’d never make it as a model because I’m so short. Every year I ended up proving them wrong. I set up a list of goals I want to accomplish each year and thanks to my mindset, hard work, and supporting family, I was able to accomplish all of them. I walked in Miami Swim Week every year, LA Fashion Week, I was crowned Teen Universe Cuba, got published on my first cover of GMARO, walked for my dream designers, aired on TV, and more. I want to share this with whoever is reading my article not to “show off” what I’ve done, but to INSPIRE YOU to check off that goal you want to accomplish. To wake up tomorrow filled with motivation and say to yourself, “I am successful and happy”. To show you how so many people told me I would never do what I already accomplished. Always remember you are your biggest enemy.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I work as a fashion model, beauty queen, and influencer. I originally started as a fashion model and slowly started growing into more branches in the arts industry. I’m definitely most proud of two goals I achieved this year, working with The Black Tape Project and getting my first cover of the magazine Gmaro. Most of my audience knows me as Teen Universe Cuba and it was definitely one of my highlights in my modeling career. I got to make so many friends around the world and represent my beautiful country. My personality definitely makes me stand out from other models and current mindset is what got me to where I am now and will proceed bringing me far into my future. I was able to achieve my mindset by reading books such as: Think and Grow Rich, Rich Dad Poor Dad, Start With Why, and more.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
There will definitely be a big shift in my career in the next 5-10 years. By then I will have a huge platform with an audience full of people who seek motivation and advice. I’ll be more involved in the acting industry working in big movies/shows and will definitely accomplish one of my biggest goals: Walking with my idol Yasmin Wijnaldum. Every day when I practice my runway walks, I always get inspiration from her. She shows she is such a confident and empowering woman and I aspire to be like her.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sabrinaalvarezofficial
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sabrinaalvarezofficial
- Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/sabrinaalvarezofficial
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8mQdQKbHYoRKJWDjHgCA2A
Image Credits
Arun Nevader
Avonte Boykins
TeshFineArt
Dwaine Byrd
Adrian The Photographer
