“I like to spread body positivity and help people accept their flaws. Before I started this journey, I was an extremely insecure person. I was always feeling unhappy with my image, so I changed my attitude and started dealing with my insecurities. Through fitness, I found strength to love myself accept my remaining flaws and just be happy.”
I had the pleasure of interviewing — Patrizia Yanguela, Swiss Fitness model and the largest Influencer in Switzerland. Instagram: @patriziayanguela
Thank you so much for doing this with us! What is your “backstory”?
Hi, well I come from an international household. My mother is Latina and my father is Swiss.
I was born in Switzerland and my parents loved to travel, so I lived in the Dominican Republic for a few years. Traveling and living in different parts of the world taught me to appreciate and understand different people and their cultures. I speak 5 languages fluently due to my unconventional upbringing. I am very grateful I grew up like this because I find joy in traveling and getting to know new cultures. I consider myself a very open-minded person, us Swiss are known for our non-shocking attitude. They say if you can convince the Swiss you can convince the world. I guess I am a bit like that. Before I became an Influencer I was working in my office job as a project manager for an advertising company. I loved my time there and had good experiences but I knew it wasn’t forever. After my advertising job, I opened my own online shop. I worked independently for almost two years and then quit because I missed the human contact. I was always behind a computer fulfilling orders which became tiring, so I decided to pursue fitness. I never really dreamt of being a social media star nor a fitness gal when I started my fitness journey. I used to live a very different lifestyle, but now I am fascinated by it. I work out daily and watch what I eat. I am more conscious in how to live a healthy life and I am proud of it.
Can you share the funniest (or) most interesting story that happened to you in the course of your career?
I was hosting an event in Los Angeles and when they presented me they said, “Welcome the Swedish model Patrizia Yangüela”, it was a funny moment for me because a lot of people confuse Sweden with Switzerland, even though they are pretty different.
How have you used your success to bring goodness to the world?
I like to spread body positivity and help people accept their flaws. Before I started this journey, I was an extremely insecure person. I was always feeling unhappy with my image, so I changed my attitude and started dealing with my insecurities. Through fitness, I found strength to love myself accept my remaining flaws and just be happy. I want women to be proud of their assets and to feel sexy in their own skin. I promote this every single day and the response from women is amazing. Women have to be strong and strong is the new sexy.
Which person or which company do you most admire and why?
This might sound cliché, but Jennifer Lopez is my go to girl. She does so many different things and looks amazing doing it. She is the real deal and defines exactly what a strong women looks like. My attitude is similar to hers, I want to conquer the world just like she has and plus she’s also a Latina.
So what are the most exciting projects you are working on now?
I recently launched my first calendar and I’m so excited for the world to see. It’s sold on Amazon and on my website www.patriziayanguela.com
What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why.
- People will always criticize you
- People will envy you
- You will lose old friendships
- Be Strong
- It’s going to be the most exciting time of your life!
I have been blessed with the opportunity to interview and be in touch with some of the biggest names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment. Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might see this, or I might be able to introduce you.
I haven’t met a big shot of Hollywood (yet) but if I could have a lunch or breakfast (with a big name in Hollywood) it would be either with J-LO or Kim Kardashian. I find them both exciting and intelligent women. J-Lo for empowering women all over the world. Kim for her social media and business skills. It’s not always easy to share your entire life like she does. That Kardashian family is a wonder and a blessing. As a social media influencer I really admire how blunt and open they are.
Originally published at www.huffingtonpost.com on November 28, 2017.