A Miss Colombia titleholder and a Miss Universe finalist, beauty and brains Ariadna Gutiérrez shares her story about growing up in the pageant world, her mission as a mental health advocate and reveals her Lebanese roots.
Ariadna Gutiérrez wears Ali Younes, Hamda Al Fahim and Milla, with jewelry from Bijoux Burma.
Photographer & Filmmaker: Joy Strotz
Fashion Editor & Stylist: Victor Concepto
Hair and Makeup Artist: Javier Martinez
Location: Hotel Martinez, Cannes
AM: Please tell our readers about your background and career?
My career in fashion started when I was 15 years old while I was living in Colombia. I remember being a little girl and dreaming about fashion and modeling for many years but thinking it was impossible, until someone scouted me in my home city. That’s when it all started and I became a well-known model in my country. But my dreams were bigger and I had a huge desire to be a Miss Universe, so after two years of modeling I started to prepare for the moment that would change my life forever.
AM: You have mentioned that you have Lebanese roots, tell us more. And what do you like about the Lebanese culture?
I grew up knowing that I had Lebanese roots from my grandmother’s side. Unfortunately, she had passed away when I was still a child and was never able to share cultural moments with her. The one thing that stayed with me forever was the love for Lebanese cuisine. Until this day it is my number one and favorite food.
AM: Being an international pageant winner what would you say are some of the challenges of the field?
When I first started in the pageant world in my home country, I realized how difficult and brutal it can be on a young girl’s life. I was still a teenager and it was a huge shock for me. I remember my personality started changing a lot and my self-image and insecurities, that I never had before, were surfacing. I had no preparation for this and I remember it being a tough moment for me. I really didn’t know who I was, and being the focus of so many people was a big change in my life.
AM: So what advice would you give to girls who want to follow your footsteps?
The best advice I can give any person who wants to be part of this world and community is to ALWAYS listen to your Intuition, know who you are, and follow your real dreams no matter how hard they can be, or the number of people who try to discourage you. Be true to yourself and life will take you where you are meant to be.
AM: And what about your career as in influencer, how did you transition to that?
I believe anyone who has a social media platform becomes immediately a person of influence; whether you have 100 followers or 1 million. I take my job as a public figure very seriously, from everything that I do in my professional life, but more importantly in my private one. I have millions of young girls and boys following me and learning from all that I do so that’s why I should always lead by example.
AM: What would you say is the main message that you transmit to your followers via your social media platforms?
My message every time I have an opportunity to communicate with my audience is always about resilience and perseverance. Life is such an amazing journey but it is not meant to be easy. When it is easy, it isn’t fulfilling, and that’s why working hard and fighting for your dreams is the most important thing we can do in our lives. It is the reason we are here on this planet, to become what we are meant to be and make our deepest desires come true. Finding yourself and balance in your life is key as well. Being your own self is when the freedom starts.
AM: Are you able to disconnect from your phone, every now and then?
With years I had to learn about balance. I couldn’t understand before why I used to feel so tired all of the time, with no energy nor motivation in some moments of my life. So that’s when I realized I had no balance between my job and my personal life. I was actually turning all the aspects of my life into a job, and it was killing me. So with the passage of years, I’ve learned that the most significant thing you can do to your soul and mind is to disconnect from the world and have a safe space to rest for yourself. I find having my family, my horses and cat, my dear friends, and also the tranquility and silence of my home, the perfect balance when I need to recharge and find inspiration.
AM: Describe your relationship with fashion
I am a fashion enthusiast and it has been like that since day one. I have memories of being a little girl in Colombia with no money and I always had a sense for fashion, a special connection that had nothing to do with having the resources to buy expensive things, it was just in me. I also remember being able to pull out the best looks with the things I already had in the closet.
AM: Give us an insight to your beauty routine
When I was 12 years old, I bought my first beauty product, it was a sunscreen. It became an obsession for me to start taking care of my skin even though I had no idea why I was doing it. I started to read a lot about skincare and how to protect the skin to keep it healthy. My beauty routine has a lot of steps but it definitely starts with sleeping a minimum of eight hours. I know when it’s not possible for me to have this my skin immediately starts showing signs of dullness and my body feels different. Also, having a skincare routine is important for maintaining the quality of our skin and of course, the things we put in our body are key as well. Is important to do our own research, know that not everyone has the same concerns or even the same needs, find what works for our skin and body and be consistent. Our bodies are what keep us safe and healthy so we must protect them.
AM: We have seen you at film festivals, and though you’ve had some acting experiences, would you ever consider becoming a full-time actress?
Acting is one of my biggest passions and absolutely, doing it full time would be a dream for me!
AM: Finally, what are some of your upcoming projects?
The end of 2022, and the new year to come, holds a lot of acting projects for me.
Follow Ariadna Gutiérrez here.