Valentina Blanco, the only Colombian model to participate in Saudi Arabia’s first swimsuit fashion show, opened up exclusively to ColombiaOne about her experience at the historic event. She shared her perspective on the fashion industry in Colombia and the Middle East throughout her successful international career.
Valentina’s modeling journey began at the age of 12 when her parents noticed potential in her 180 cm height and involved her in Colombian agencies. Despite working with the renowned agency StockModels in Bogota, Valentina explains, “Modeling in Colombia was always a hobby for me, as I was in school or university and put it aside.”
After graduating from the Sergio Arboleda University, Valentina decided to travel to Dubai, “A completely different market than what a model dreams of.” Blanco, who has been in Dubai for two years now, explains, “It has been spectacular, I have no words. I’ve worked with brands I never imagined, like Louis Vuitton, Carolina Herrera, Tiffany & Co. It has been a dream come true.”
Colombian model Valentina Blanco at Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Fashion Week
Blanco is a professional model who has worked with different agencies, as a freelancer, without exclusive contracts. After the opportunity to participate in the Red Sea Fashion Week in Saudi Arabia arose, Blanco explained, “I did the casting, received the proposal, and said yes immediately, then a month later we traveled to a resort in the middle of the Red Sea, I had no idea how everything would be.”
The Red Sea Fashion Week opened on May 16, 2024, and ran for seven days with seven designers showcasing their collections. Blanco added: “They told us: you are going to make history. They explained to us that on the third day, we would have a swimsuit fashion show. We thought they were swimsuits completely covering the body but no, we would be the first to parade bikinis in one and two pieces in Saudi Arabia.”
Despite the various restrictions on women in Saudi Arabia, Blanco explains that the historic event: “Was very well received, both by the guests and the media, everyone applauded. It was never criticized or judged. Also because this was approved by the Prince of Saudi Arabia.”
Blanco highlights that Saudi Arabia is opening up to international tourism and telling the world, “We respect your beliefs, we respect your customs. That’s also basically what Dubai does today.”
Valentina Blanco at the forefront of fashion in the Middle East
In Colombia, the model explains that the fashion industry, specifically in the High Fashion sector, was very demanding as it sought women with smaller sizes. In contrast, she explains that in the Middle East, she has found the industry more “flexible” and that she has fit in better. Additionally, Blanco explains, “here it is much easier to reach luxury brands and important designers, either because of the location or the type of market.”
Asked about her perspective on the international presence of Colombian fashion Blanco explained: “Today, I was working at the Dubai Mall, the largest shopping mall in the world and I found two Colombian brands. I said ‘Wow, Colombia is breaking it.’ Fashion in Colombia is admirable, there is a lot of potential and creativity.”
During the exclusive interview, the model expressed her deep appreciation for local production, emphasizing, “I always showcase the best of my country: the brands, the fashion, the designers. I always proudly declare, ‘I am from Colombia.'”