Patricia Velásquez

Creativity goes beyond films, canvas and photos. It is also an engine for philanthropy, charity and activism. Patricia Velasquez is an award-winning supermodel and actress with a long history. She is also a staunch philanthropist. Author activist, author, and loving mom. No matter what, she achieves major strides by drawing on instinct and consciously paving her own route. "I look at my career as a long staircase," she says. "I did every step to the top. It was amazing to do so, since there was a long-term effect. I simply put my head downand moving one step at a pace, and didn't stop." The metaphor is an evocation of the first experience of forming. The author was born in Venezuela but growing up in France and Mexico and then moved to Venezuela after just a few years. Her parents, who were employed as teachers in South America, moved her family into a cramped home that was without water and elevators. Patricia often carried heavy buckets of water up 15 steps to provide water. Between her dance and engineering training, Patricia did her best to assist the family by any means she could. The promise she made to her family members, which was the key to her rise to the top in the fashion industry, saw her sought-after to model in Milan. She recalls being invited to visit Italy to model for the fashion industry. "If I could send thirty dollars per month back to Venezuela, it would be worthwhile because it will pay for all the water that is in the building." Patricia's success was an important moment in fashion when she first brought the attention of fashion's industry to South America. In the wake of becoming "the first Karl Lagerfeld model ever photographed" She went on to feature in editorial spreads as well as front ads for Chanel and Dolce & Gabbana. Her appearances in Oprah's Supermodel of the World contest and Ford Models’ "Supermodel of the World” contest resonated all over the world. She was also featured on the front covers of Marie Claire, Bazaar and Vogue.