Alessandra is one of my neighbours, and awesome person with a big smile. She's an example of how to turn the difficulties in life into a possibilities you've just dreamt of before. She was working in marketing (she still does), loved her job but the company closed few months ago. Instead of being sad and depressed, she started to travel as a coordinator of the groups of travelers all around the world. In the last few months she's travelled Bolivia, Peru, Laos, Cambodia... Something she couldn't imagine doing before. She's a real adventurer and likes to seize the opportunities and enjoy life. She's also passionate for tango, she dresses really nice and colorful and she makes a really good gelato! (she brought me one pot and it was gone in 5 min!) Thank you Alessandra!
What makes you feel beautiful?
I feel beautiful when I do something for the first time: travelling to a place I have never been, making a new recipe, talking to someone I hadn’t met before… I think this has something to do with surprise, self confidence, and energy. Can you imagine what a lot of energy is flowing through our body in such situations?
Doing what you feel the most complete?
Until now in my life, the thing that makes me feel most complete and fulfilled is travelling. When I travel, I really feel like I don’t need anything else than what I am experiencing; I am living just the “here and now”.
What do you think about the influence of the media/internet on self confidence and self image? How this influences/influenced your life?
During the internet’s early times, I hoped that such a democratic medium could help expressing the plurality of points of view, and impact positively the image of women which had been stereotyped by TV and magazines. Actually, I soon realized that the internet is just a medium, and although it can give voice to each of us, it cannot change so quickly what is rooted in our mind and has been in our culture for decades. As for myself, when I was a girl, I was very much influenced by the media, and also by my more fashionable girl friends; I did not feel ugly, but neither beautiful. Now that I am a woman, I feel comfortable with myself and my physical appearance, but of course for special occasions I like to dress up a bit, wear make-up etc; and I think that when my hair will turn grey, I will get it colored… so yes, I think I am still influenced by a few stereotypes.
What is your philosophy? How do you cope with the need of being "perfect" in these days?
I don’t want to be perfect, because as every form of art proves, beauty lies in imperfection, which means uniqueness. Moreover, when you are an adult, you realize that attractiveness is based more on the expression of yourself and your personality than on your physical beauty. In the end you discover that who you are matters more to people, than how good you look.
What do you recommend to other women?
It is something so obvious, but everyone looks beautiful when they are happy and fulfilled. Someone said, “a smile is the best make up any woman can wear” (and I would add also “any man” by the way). So my recommendation for myself and for others would be to try and find some reason to be happy and smile… there is almost always one!
I feel beautiful when I do something for the first time: travelling to a place I have never been, making a new recipe, talking to someone I hadn’t met before… I think this has something to do with surprise, self confidence, and energy. Can you imagine what a lot of energy is flowing through our body in such situations?
Doing what you feel the most complete?
Until now in my life, the thing that makes me feel most complete and fulfilled is travelling. When I travel, I really feel like I don’t need anything else than what I am experiencing; I am living just the “here and now”.
What do you think about the influence of the media/internet on self confidence and self image? How this influences/influenced your life?
During the internet’s early times, I hoped that such a democratic medium could help expressing the plurality of points of view, and impact positively the image of women which had been stereotyped by TV and magazines. Actually, I soon realized that the internet is just a medium, and although it can give voice to each of us, it cannot change so quickly what is rooted in our mind and has been in our culture for decades. As for myself, when I was a girl, I was very much influenced by the media, and also by my more fashionable girl friends; I did not feel ugly, but neither beautiful. Now that I am a woman, I feel comfortable with myself and my physical appearance, but of course for special occasions I like to dress up a bit, wear make-up etc; and I think that when my hair will turn grey, I will get it colored… so yes, I think I am still influenced by a few stereotypes.
What is your philosophy? How do you cope with the need of being "perfect" in these days?
I don’t want to be perfect, because as every form of art proves, beauty lies in imperfection, which means uniqueness. Moreover, when you are an adult, you realize that attractiveness is based more on the expression of yourself and your personality than on your physical beauty. In the end you discover that who you are matters more to people, than how good you look.
What do you recommend to other women?
It is something so obvious, but everyone looks beautiful when they are happy and fulfilled. Someone said, “a smile is the best make up any woman can wear” (and I would add also “any man” by the way). So my recommendation for myself and for others would be to try and find some reason to be happy and smile… there is almost always one!