Valentine Alvarez was photographed exclusively for MODELS.com by Viviane Black, with hair & makeup by Agata Helena @ Imaj Artists. Clothing by Zepherina. Thanks to Fred.

interview

Name:
Valentine Alvarez

Agency:
VISION Los Angeles

Age:
23

Height:
5’11.5″`

Place of Origin:
Los Angeles, California

Ethnic Origin:
My parents came to LA from Mexico. I am a first-generation!

Birthsign:
The stubborn bull: Taurus.

Instagram:
@b1tchiest

How discovered:
One day after shooting a commercial with my friend they asked to take my digitals for me. I sat with them for about a day before I decided to take the chance to submit them to random agencies! Vision found me and hooked me up with Heroes and the rest is really history.

Best modeling experience so far?
DEFINITELY doing Savage x Fenty. Shooting the show and being part of the live event was honestly life-changing. Being exposed to so much beauty and talent and being on stage as Daddy Yankee performs is so surreal. I remember my mom coming home from his concert in 2008 with a t-shirt for me and now I’m posing on stage with him on Amazon Prime. For Rihanna. Definitely going to be hard to beat.

Currently you’re obsessed with/about:
All things spooky! I’ve been binge-watching horror movies and gearing up for Halloween. My house is fully decorated and decked out. I planned my costumes months in advance. Nothing else on my mind around this time of year. Just the spooky season.

How do you want to make an impact in the world?
I think it’s really important for other Gender Nonconforming Brown people to have someone who represents them. I know that people who have faces like mine and my skin color aren’t always awarded the same opportunities as their white peers. That’s why I seize them at every chance I get. I want to show people of color and trans people everywhere that we are seen and heard and we can be on magazine covers too. We can walk for shows in fashion week. Luxury brands want you. We can be seen and heard and respected and beautiful.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
I like to say that none of me is original, instead, I am a collection of wise words from everyone I’ve ever met. Recently I think the best advice someone gave me was during show season. I was anxious about going to the runway and zoning out. Forgetting where I’m supposed to go and what I should be doing. They told me that instead of just staring at the back of someone’s head or straight ahead of me at nothing. To look for a camera. Give face to the camera. I think I will literally remember that for the rest of my life.