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MEET THE DESIGNER, MODEL & INFLUENCER MONICA MATARAZZO


The relationship of fashion brands with a trans influencer 


Fashion has been making history. It is omnipresent. So it is not surprising that it

constitutes a perfect platform for minorities to express themselves and find recognition -

despite the resistance of the fashion industry, which is old.

Fashion manifests itself in all sectors of society, be it for impulsive consumption, for a

costume, to seduce, to, despite everything, express. And, in the sex / gender universe it

contributes to individual and collective satisfaction. Clothing as a helper of desires that

will satisfy the goals of an individual and the community, creating other paths for

humanity, demarcating territories and creating directions for society.

In just one time, clothing is subject and object. Accessories and adornments that make

up the costume make up the subject, and as an object the meaning of the act of dressing.

Clothing in its various forms of presentation, when placed on the body, models itself to

it, thus adhering to its shape. In the trans identity there are individuals who adhere to

clothing as a way of presenting and exposing their gender through the act of dressing.

For some individuals, the experience of a gender, male or female, may be inconsistent

with gender, male or female, which becomes a question of identity, as in the case of

transvestites and transsexuals who are treated collectively as part of a group designated

as transgender. Transsexuality is an aspect of sexuality that intimates and instigates a

comprehensive advance of sexuality beyond the naturalization of binary models for sex

and gender.


The definition follows the line that: a transsexual is an individual who has a gender

identity different from natural biological sex and who changes their body configuration

through hormonal therapies and gender reconfiguration surgeries to live and be accepted

as belonging to sex opposite.

Transgenders and Drag Queens find in fashion and the arts, a space for expression, and

search for recognition and acceptance of their natural abilities and talents and, model

life, we know that it is not easy.

It takes dedication, hard work, food and emotional control, and so on. However, when it

comes to TRANS models, the path to success, unfortunately, is even more arduous.

Some pioneers have already managed to bring diversity to the catwalks, such as: Lea T.,

Andreja Pejic, Caroline Tula and Mônica Matarazzo, with varied ages and professions,

in addition to the art of modeling, of course.

For Mônica Matarazzo, 45, designer, model and influencer from Paraná, fashion was

important to build her body and make her identify herself as a woman. Born in

Londrina, accepted herself as a trans person, who felt inadequate in the male body and,

at the age of 17, realized that for her journey in life to have meaning and to be a full

person, she would have to face the biggest challenge of her life: taking the first step

towards physical and emotional change.

With only 19 years old, Mônica left Londrina, where she lived a good part of her life as

a child and adolescent, and went to the Old Continent, carrying dreams, conquests and



adaptation to her new being, with which she truly identified. She arrived in Europe in

‘93 and started working in concert halls, the old cabarets. Shortly afterwards, she sought

her regularization and obtained her documentation, settling in Italy, in Seriate, province

of Bergamo, 50km from Milan, capital of Luxury and Contemporary fashion.

Monica is a person who wears and can present clothes and accessories in a

wonderful way. I would like to show that body size, skin color or identity cannot be

an impediment to anyone's career as long as the person is passionate about what he

/ she does and wants to achieve something in this sector. "

For some years working professionally as a model and interior designer, self-taught, she

has in the curriculum brands known as 2 Rios Lingerie, for example, where the 2Rios

brand history began in the ‘90s, and a new concept of comfort and femininity for

lingerie was born. With its products being 100% Brazilian production, it annually

produces around 2.4 million pieces, marking its national presence in over a thousand

multi-brand stores and exporting to more than 20 countries, the brand bet on the

TRANS model to be one of its campaigns.


In addition to the 2 Rios Lingerie brand, Mônica's brands include: Charlô - Designer

glasses from Florianópolis’ Ótica Família Urso and Pimenta Glam Lingerie, a brand

from São Paulo. Brands and fashion giving this opportunity to a community that is not

very represented in the public eye is incredible and shows how far the world has come.

CREDITS

PHOTOGRAPHER : Victor Galvão / Italy / @victor_galvao_photografy

MODEL : Mônica Matarazzo / Bérgamo / Italy / @monicasantanamatarazzo

ADVISORY SERVICE : Marcio Demari / Brazil / @marciodemari

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