We recently had the chance to connect with Valentina Calderon and have shared our conversation below.
Valentina, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Lately, what’s bringing me joy outside of work is decorating my apartment. I moved to Miami about a year and a half ago, and I finally feel like my place is becoming a real home. I’ve been enjoying filling it with little details that bring calm, coziness, and reflect who we are. It’s been so fun to spend time there, especially playing with my dogs. I’ve always loved decorating as a hobby, I actually see it as very similar to styling clothes, just another way of creating harmony and expressing personality through aesthetics.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi, my name is Valentina Calderon, but everyone calls me Vale. I’m an Image Consultant, Personal Shopper, and Content Creator based in Miami. My work revolves around helping people connect with their authentic style so they can feel confident and empowered in their everyday lives.
What makes my approach unique is that I don’t just focus on clothes, I focus on the person behind them. My methodology combines self-knowledge, authenticity, and self-confidence, so instead of chasing trends, my clients build a style that feels true to who they are.
Alongside my consulting services, I’m also working on launching my fashion brand, VALKA, which will feature timeless basics designed to enhance every body type and serve as the foundation of a versatile wardrobe.
Whether it’s through my one-on-one sessions, my social platforms, or my upcoming collections, my goal is the same: to inspire women to see style not just as fashion, but as a powerful tool of self-expression and empowerment.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
Before the world told me who I had to be, I was a creative. I could spend hours in my room painting, drawing, writing songs, playing guitar, designing clothes, reading, or simply getting lost in movies. Creativity was always my safe space, and I dreamed of one day being able to live from it.
But when it came time to choose a career, I studied economics because I was told it would guarantee stability and a secure job. Ironically, I never worked as an economist. At 27, I decided to come back to my true self and pursue fashion. Today, I work as an image consultant, stylist, and content creator.
I get to live from my creativity, just as I always wanted. I manage my own time, I create space during the week to read, paint, playing guitar and decorate my home, and little by little my life looks a lot like the one I dreamed of as a child.
What fear has held you back the most in your life?
The fear that has held me back the most in life has been the fear of not being good enough. For a long time, I fell into comparison, the need to please everyone, and the search for external validation. It kept me small and doubting myself.
Now I’ve learned that being my true self is enough. The right people will connect with me precisely because of my authenticity, because of my content, my vulnerabilities, and my strengths. And that realization has become my greatest power.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What important truth do very few people agree with you on?
An important truth I believe in, and not everyone agrees with me on, is that style is not about following trends or dressing only to ‘flatter’ your body. I see style as a tool for self-expression and self-connection. Clothes should reflect who you are on the inside, not just how society thinks you should look on the outside.
When you dress from a place of authenticity, confidence follows naturally—and that’s far more powerful than any fashion rule.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope people will say that I inspired them to embrace who they truly are. That I showed them style and image aren’t about fitting into boxes but about self-expression, self-love, and confidence.
I’d love for my story to be remembered as one of courage, a woman who dared to walk away from the ‘safe’ path, built a life from her creativity, and helped others feel beautiful and powerful in their own skin. More than anything, I hope they’ll remember the warmth, generosity, and authenticity I tried to bring into every space I entered.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://valentinacalderont.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/valencalderont?igsh=MWRzMXhpM3piZWRtNg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1FraHU99Wv/?mibextid=wwXIfr
