Today we’d like to introduce you to Valeria “Valery” Serra.
Hi Valeria “Valery”, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My name is Valeria, people call me Valery! I think… Music and art has been a part of me since I was a child, hearing stories from my Nonna (grandma) when she used to sing at our church back home in Caracas, looking at my mom dancing, admiring my dad playing the guitar and singing… Music ran through my veins in a very natural way that I started writing, even if the story was absurd? (Laughs), singing even if I did not have the technique back then and then… leading me to sign up for my Theatre Club in School, when I was 8 years old
Did so many projects and had so much fun, learned acting and how to embrace a different personality than yours! Time went by and at 12 years old I found out this Magical instrument: The violin…. It was very funny this discovery: I was in a wedding with my parents, and a beautiful violinist was there playing along with a string quartet, and while everyone was amazed looking at how beautiful the bride was… I was looking all the way to the back, falling in love with the beautiful sound of that “weird” instrument… that’s when I knew I wanted to play it… and at 13 years old I started music conservatory
I loved to sing since I was little (did I mention it right?) but growing up I became insecure about my voice, to the point I developed “Stage Fright” … Talking about those experiences singing in front of a crowd and feeling the worst singer in the world still haunts me… But! God had another plan… It all started in my music conservatory where I was learning violin, and my teacher discovered that I have potential to sing! He put me as a choir soloist at the Conservatory’s Choir (while having stage fright oh heck no!) But in those moments I knew, I wanted to sing too … so! It took me a while but… I started singing professionally at 18 years old! Learning the correct techniques this time! And now well let’s say… I not only sing as a living, participate in Musical projects, but I am training to become a Professional Soprano! Yes! Opera! … Little Valery would laugh if I told her this
But hold on there’s more! I started modeling at 23… I was trying to get myself a name as an artist to get more people know at what I can offer for their experience! And I discovered modeling when A modeling competition offered me to join them! And me with no modeling experience (I did walk on a School runway for a brand when I was 7-8 but that’s it) … I said yes! And guess what! I got First Runner Up lol ! Like I didn’t get the final prize but back then as a model amateur… First runner up was a great deal so I thought maybe I can add this to my portfolio!
That’s when I started going to castings, applying to projects and making a name in this industry
So you see… I can say I am an artist that enjoys to do art and make people smile through my work and personality
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
If I tell you yes I will be lying to you! And to be brutally honest. There has been many many days that felt like hell to me.
In this industry you have to be strong minded and to keep the discipline to saying to yourself that you are talented and pretty no matter what others may say
Because out there, you will feel judged, you will feel like photographers are always telling you that you’re ugly, producers will look at you and say mean things, some designers may not choose you… but believe me its part of this industry life and there will be more photographers, producers, designers that will love to work with you, that’s where you should look and be.
But if course we are human, there are days where I cry, other days where I wanted to give up… even darkers days where I thought things that I rather not mention here… But what makes me feel better is, doing what I love and dedicate it to God, I start singing worships, start praying, and that’s when God tells me that he gave me this talent for a purpose, He put me in this industry to succeed no matter the difficulties… so DO NOT give the enemy the chance to destroy my dreams!
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I love to express the beauty of art through its many ways
I like to interpret what the artist was thinking while composing a violin piece
How the composer felt while writing the lyrics of a song
And how the designer wants to express while walking and posing for its pieces and artworks
I don’t want to be just a violinist, singer or model… I want to embrace all of them and create an experience, something that people can enjoy, relate and feel connected
At the end, people like to hear and wear what they feel connected to them!
I want to believe that way of thinking is that sets me apart from others, when they pick me for a project, I want them to see that they choose an artist to work with, and I will do my best in how can we work to get your project out so consumers can connect and buy your extension of your artwork
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
You may not believe it but … I am a very introverted person, I can be extroverted too, but if you know me, I enjoy small coffee talks, go to the mall and just walk, staying home and read while listening music… I only go out with my close friends and partner, I enjoy being around my family…. Whenever I meet new people I am somehow shy even if I don’t look shy at all …. If I tell you, when I was little and if my family would go out, whenever my mom told me “Can you ask the sweet lady if we can get napkins for the table?” Or “Can you ask this person if they have this shoe size?” I would PANICK
I think that was my risk taking experience, getting out of my comfort zone and being extroverted in order to go to castings, getting hired to work, meeting people, asking to apply for gigs, oh well I sometimes get impressed of how much I grew up
I consider myself a very medium risk taker lol… Like I like to take risk but not taking big risk that may put me in a difficult position?? Lol I always say “Before throwing yourself to the pool, make sure you know at least how to swim a little”
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heyimvalery?igsh=M2tiZzkyMG5xMGk%3D&utm_source=qr
- Youtube: http://youtube.com/channel/UCeWFfijLDmdnQACRSUGj0bg
Image Credits
Photographer: Eddy Fernandez
Instagram: @eddyfphoto
Academy: Foto Pose Plus @fotoposeplus
