“Traveling is the best thing to expand the mind, thoughts, and visions…” From London to Italy, from the United States to a stop in Monaco for our photo shoot. Monte Carlo, with its vibrant and sophisticated atmosphere, is the perfect setting to capture the essence of a model who embodies the energy and elegance of this destination. The sophisticated streets, luxurious yachts anchored in the port, and stunning architecture provide an ideal backdrop for a photographic production that celebrates style and glamour. Each click of photographer Yaro’s camera, known for photographing celebrities in Monaco, reveals not only the model’s beauty but also the charming soul of this city.
Born in the state of Paraná, in southern Brazil, Gabi had her modeling career encouraged from an early age by her parents, who already saw her potential. They took her to competitions where she always shone and won. With each triumph, her confidence blossomed. In a decisive moment, her parents took her to a competition of the renowned Elite Model agency, where, surprisingly, she didn’t need to compete – her destiny was already written. There, she took the first step towards a successful career. Just one month after signing with the agency, Gabi was already preparing for her first international trip, ready to present herself to the world and make her mark in the fashion industry.
We are talking about a period when fashion was vibrating with an eclectic mix of trends, the emergence of new talents, and the consolidation of big names in the industry. Dominated by a strong influence of minimalism, with designers like Phoebe Philo at Celine leading the movement with her clean and sophisticated lines. At the same time, there was a fascination with maximalism and drama, exemplified by the exuberant collections of Alexander McQueen, whose tragic death deeply shook the fashion world. The supermodel scene was also in full transformation. Established names like Gisele Bündchen, Kate Moss, and Naomi Campbell continued to reign, but a new generation of models was beginning to gain prominence. Besides Celine and McQueen, houses like Balmain, led by Christophe Decarnin, and Balenciaga, under the direction of Nicolas Ghesquière, were at the peak of their popularity. Marc Jacobs at Louis Vuitton and Miuccia Prada at Prada also continued to be dominant forces, influencing global trends with their innovative collections. In short, a period of transition and innovation.
It was in this dynamic setting that Gabi, still very young, took her first steps in the fashion industry. She began her journey bringing with her an authenticity and humility that would soon set her apart. As trends evolved and new stars emerged, Gabi stood out not only for her beauty and talent but also for her genuine personality.
“It’s very, very, very interesting to get to know other cultures, see how people live, how they lead their lives; how they face life’s problems differently from how other people in other parts of the world would face the same problem, so it’s really cool.”
Traveling the world and meeting people from different cultures is a transformative experience. As we talked, she recalled one of the most challenging situations she experienced, right at the beginning of her career. “When I made my first trip to Milan, leaving the summer heat of Brazil, I went straight to the winter of Milan, a winter I had never seen before. I traveled without speaking English, Italian, or any other language. And the airline lost my luggage. I arrived in Milan in that intense cold, left the airport and it was snowing. I didn’t have any warm clothes with me, everything was in my luggage: my hat, gloves, sweater, boots, socks, even the hairdryer. I went to the model apartment without being able to communicate in English or any other language.”
In the competitive world of fashion, the ability to speak multiple languages can be the differential that sets a model apart, allowing her to communicate with different cultures confidently, establishing a strong presence in any global market. And Gabi knew this. Today, she is fluent in five languages. “I’ve been studying Russian for two years, and it’s the hardest, really, I wouldn’t have learned anything if I hadn’t studied a lot, every day, two hours a day, and now I’m starting to get it. It’s very, very difficult.”
Each encounter with new traditions, languages, and ways of life enriches the soul and broadens our horizons. Gabi had made a trip to Japan shortly before our conversation and told me about the culture, “Everything is very traditional, they are very perfectionist, very honest, and I think that is very beautiful to see.” I took the opportunity to ask, among so many trips, which culture had most caught her attention. “The culture that most impacted me, I think, was the Asian culture. They live a very different life from ours. And things are very different. Even in Thailand, in Japan, things are, like, another world, you know? And that’s very cool, very interesting, to see how things are not like what we see every day.”
For the photo shoot, Gabi wears a red dress by Mew Mews and a set by Chanel. When I asked about the jewelry, she told me, “Actually, they were designed by me. It was a dream since I was little. I always wanted to make jewelry.” This longstanding passion for creating unique and sophisticated pieces reflects her entrepreneurial side, which has been gaining prominence as Gabi expands her horizons beyond the runways and photo shoots. “When I started modeling in São Paulo, before I traveled internationally, I took a handmade jewelry creation course. This was something that accompanied me my whole life, I was always doing something with my own hands, creating accessories… I always liked decorating, decorating myself, decorating things, decorating people, making accessories that made me feel more powerful or more beautiful, more confident.”
Three years ago, Gabi began frequenting a jewelry store where she ordered earrings and necklaces based on her own creations. She drew her ideas on paper and asked the craftsmen to create the pieces until one day the store owners approached her with a proposal. Impressed by her designs, they asked if she would like to collaborate with them, designing an entire jewelry line that would be sold in partnership. Gabi immediately accepted, starting her first jewelry collection with the Fiori brand, a high jewelry brand from Dubai. “I really loved doing it, it was very cool, very rewarding.” The result was so good that it led to the creation of a second collection, which was also very well received. Motivated by this passion and the success of the collaborations, Gabi decided to launch her own jewelry brand, with plans to debut in December this year.
“I think fashion has a lot to do with identity, a form of expression. I feel that I change the way I dress depending on the places I’m in. Like, if I’m in London, I dress one way. If I go somewhere else, I dress another way, I like to be very eclectic and adapt to situations. I like to feel, I think fashion makes you feel included in the space. Depending on how you adapt to the space, you feel included, you feel part of it, that’s very cool.”
This contrast between the glamour of fashion and Gabi’s humility and authenticity illustrates how she has become a unique presence in the industry, able to navigate the frenetic world of fashion while keeping her essence intact. “I try to be kind to myself and my body. But, of course, with this job, you feel very insecure because you’re being judged all the time. I think as long as you read good books, meditate, and do things that help your self-esteem, I think there’s no mistake.”
And when we’re not having a good day? “When I’m feeling a little down, I like to take a shower, wash my hair, put on some cream, feel clean, with a clean face, without makeup. Put on very comfortable clothes and stay close to the people I love. I think the best way to improve people’s mental health is always to teach them to love themselves, to respect themselves, to take care of themselves, not to compare themselves with others. I think that’s very important. And always believe in your potential.”
“For new models, I would say my advice is to study things you like, at the same time as you work as a model, because sometimes the career may not deliver everything we want, it may bring some frustration, it may bring some kind of frustration. It even brings anxiety, so I think the most important thing for those who want to start modeling is never to leave aside the hobbies they have. Never stop liking other things, because this will help you a lot when you’re anxious, waiting for a job response, or unsure about the future. These other parallel things you study will give you a sense of purpose in life, you know? So, I think that’s the most important thing: never stop studying and also never distance yourself from your family, always have very good contact with your family. Love, a conversation, a caress, because the family is your support, they will help you from start to finish.”
After that, Gabi will embark on a new journey to the North Pole, where a new story begins.
Gabi wears Mew Mews (dress) and Chanel (set)
Photo by Yaro
