Influential Woman · Fashion Modeling
Valeria Tamayo
Commercial Specialist, Prada Mortgage Bankers
Miami, FL
Her Story
About Valeria
I've been a professional fashion model for 10 years, walking runways in Milan, Paris, New York, and Miami. My journey hasn't been easy - I survived four brain surgeries due to a brain tumor, and I live with hydrocephalus and a shunt. These challenges stopped my life for quite a bit, but I think I survived all this and passed all this for something. I ended up being a model and walking for huge runways, which is why I decided to write my book 'A Journey Back to You' and tell my story. My mom was my inspiration - she was a model too and an entrepreneur who owns our family company. I always wanted to be just like her, and she supports me 100% besides everything that happened. I think I am who I am because of her. Beyond modeling, I graduated with a bachelor's degree in business and finance from Florida International University, completed an entrepreneurship certification at MIT, and I'm currently pursuing a master's degree in digital marketing at FIU. Education is my number one priority - my mom always taught me that education is number one, and my goal is to keep my education at the top. I also work in our family business, Sumel Famel, which operates clinics based in ozone therapy and natural treatments, where I handle social media and work with brands. Right now, I'm in a phase in my life where I want to change my path. I don't want to be just a model - I want to be an author, a writer, the model who has a story behind that I can inspire people and help people. That's the message I want to give to people: nothing is impossible. If I could, you can.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Valeria
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to education. As I said, it's my number one. My mom always taught me that education is number one, and I've made it my priority throughout my life. That foundation has been critical to everything I've achieved.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I've received is that your attitude depends on your altitude. I heard that once and I just loved it. It means you are where you are because of your attitude. That really resonated with me and has guided how I approach my career and life.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Never give up. Never, never give up. Don't stop believing in yourself, besides if anything what happened to you. Don't stop believing in yourself. That's the message I want to give to people - nothing is impossible. If I could, you can. And that's what my book is about.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge right now is balancing keeping my education and my career together - that's been very hard. Launching my book has probably been the hardest thing. It's been very difficult to get people to know my story, to see me as not just a model. I have a story behind, I have something to say, I have a book to show. Getting people to understand that I'm not just a model has been a real challenge. In terms of AI, it actually scares me a lot, but I think we need to grow with AI and get used to it. I think AI is helping the industry at some point - I hope models aren't going to disappear - but AI helps all industries in general, fashion, health industry, most industries are being helped by AI.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Respect is the most important value to me, and I mean respect in all areas. Respect includes being on time, how you express yourself, how you talk to people, how you talk to a server, all of that. Respect tells a lot about you, about your education, about your background. That tells a lot about you as a person.
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