KARINA BOTTENE & BRUNA BIONDO

Models: Karina Bottene @kariphoria Bruna Biondo @bruna.biondo Photographer: Greta Gágen @greta.g.foto MUAH: Oriana Giménez @makeup_origimenez Anna Yakov @anechka_yakov Stylists: Gemma Solsona & Carla Hoyos @mammamarmalade

Fashion has long valorized youth. But the churn of “new faces”, as rookie models are known, has become relentless. There is, of course, no shortage of people keen to pursue it as a career, and the agency has several ways to find new faces. Models have long-faced unpredictable working conditions. Trends of the modeling industry today look almost nothing like they did a decade ago.

Today we will talk about the pros and cons of modeling, for example, two Italian-Brazilian models living in Barcelona – Bruna Biondo and Karina Bottene.

Girls show by their example how to build a successful modeling career in Europe and their own lives. In addition to talking about the way to achieve heights in the working area, getting on the covers of the most famous magazines all around the world, they share their own story of obtaining Italian citizenship.

Ladies, the first question is for you both! When and why did you choose to pursue a career as a model? When did you meet each other, and how did this rendezvous turn into friendship?

Bruna Biondo was discovered by Dilson Stein in 2010 at the age of 12. “I come from Crissiumal. That is a small town located 35 kilometers from another small town in the countryside of South Brazil – Horizontina. Model Manager Gisele Bundchen, who discovered the uber model and other fashion names such as Alessandra Ambrosio, Caroline Trentini, comes from Crissiumal”. Bruna remembers herself visiting her cousin Raquel in Horizontina, where Dilson invited both girls and their parents to come to his office, which was well-known at that time. A part of Dilson Stein New Models Agency work was giving training weekends to models, and Bruna managed to take part in her first convention at the age of 14. Bruna’s participation in her first convention was sufficient to get her approved with signed contracts of 8 major agencies out of 15, mostly from São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. Being 16 years old, Bruna accomplished her first official photo book with one of the agencies she was approved back to the convention – in São Paulo. At age 18, Bruna moved to the São Paulo model's apartment through the same agency she had her photo book from. In 2006, Bruna met Karina Bottene – age 23. Karina was at that time, also living in the same model’s apartment, approved by the same agency in São Paulo. That’s how they met. Bruna was 18, Karina – 23, in the tiny model's apartment in São Paulo for the first agency out of south Brazil. Karina comes from Joinville, also in the south of Brazil, coincidently started her career at age 12. There was only one new We have to deal with face model agency in her town that introduced her to the same major agency many frustrations in São Paulo where Bruna was. and disapproval, which are related Let’s talk about your family. How did your to appearance parents react when you wanted to become pro-

fessional models?

From the beginning, parents play the main roles for both models. Bruna’s family didn’t measure efforts to support her career, financially and emotionally. “My father used to have two jobs to be able to cover my costs: dental brackets, trips, photographic books, rental fees, and all the other initial steps I had to take. My mother also gave me priority about where to invest most of our resources”.

So you started your career in quite competitive times. What difficulties did you encounter at the beginning?

The difficulties are mostly related to the model careers requirements, and the environment is demanding with standards of beauty and behavior. From the start until now, we can say that they are the same: we have to deal with many frustrations and disapproval, which are related to appearance, and for the fashion market, the measures are even more narrow.

What has become your trump card in the modeling business?

Karina sees as her highlights: a 2nd place crowning in Miss Tourism Planet, as Miss Brazil Tourism 2020. Also, her collaboration with Hair Brazil Events in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. Plus, a modeling job that made her quite known: was being an exclusive model for a lottery company from south Brazil for a couple of years, being part of their TV show recorded live every Sunday morning.

In Brazil, everyone originally comes from somewhere else, the diversity is common here

Did you have the idol you wanted to be like?

Both of us were always idolizing Gisele Bundchen. She is the only uber model as a fashion icon in the world. We also love the sustainable and healthy lifestyle she writes about in her book and shows the public, and fans are really glad when she shares more.

You both have roots from Veneto. Do you feel the influence of Italian blood?

Karina Bottene always knew about her origins in Veneto from her father’s family side. Bruna Biondo also had heard about her father's side of the family from Italy, but she had just recently discovered that they were from Veneto. “In Brazil, everyone originally comes from somewhere else, the diversity is common here”. We feel such influence for sure. In the south of Brazil, where our families live, the Italian traditions are maintained until today. Our grandparents still use an old Italian dialect that they carry from their parents, the immigrants. And as in the Italian pre-unification period, we still eat a lot of polenta with chicken.

How did you decide to get dual citizenship, and whether this process was hard for you?

On Instagram 4 years ago, Karina found Italian relatives who were separated 150 years ago. At first, this was also the main reason for starting the process. She says, “I felt a lot of conviction from the Italian roots. I was very proud to bring this connection back. The photos of my relatives on Instagram looked a lot like my father. Being from the same family was undeniable. She recommends a professional advisor that lasts from 3 to 6 months. Many can do it by themselves, but it is not indicated because it is a very bureaucratic process. Bruna did her card through the same advisor that Karina recommended. “This is my first time in Europe, and thanks to my friend's support, I was able to start my citizenship too. Having citizenship is an indescribable feeling – it breaks borders”. That's how her friends discovered so many similarities: Karina is from Padova and Bruna from Treviso, almost neighboring the cities of Veneto. “We have more coincidences: we are both Gemini (from zodiac sign), we were having goosebumps when we discovered we had the same roots also in Italy, later on, our friendship this year”.

Bruna, tell us, how did you start collaborating with Vogue?

The first time was in 2018, exactly in Rio de Janeiro-RJ. It was a collaboration with Brazilian brands, through the lenses of Selmy Yasuda, at the Veste Rio event - Pernambucana Da Gema brand and Ellecinq. My photos were published by Vogue Brazil and could be seen on your Instagram. My participation in other magazines like Claudia Online and Vogue Brazil make my trump Cards in the digital fashion market.

How do you spend your free time?

Karina's hobbies are yoga, piano, and acrobatic dancing. Also, she likes to read and has just graduated from business in Barcelona. On the other hand, Bruna loves to practice physical activities. She uses her free time taking care of her body and face, doing such duties as a skincare routine and fitness training. They appreciate spending time with family and friends a lot.

What are your plans for the future?

Bruna wants to close contracts with international agencies and intends to continue investing in her modeling career. Karina wants to start putting her academic knowledge into practice with creative and innovative ideas, but she intends to continue modeling in her spare time.