For as long as she can remember, a love for fashion existed in StarCentral’s Fashionista of the Month for September 2016, Bibi Camilo. She describes “dressing up in my mother’s clothes and begging her to take me with her on all her shopping trips” as one of her favourite childhood memories and she shares that “that love and desire for dressing up, scrapbooking, flipping through magazines and experimenting with makeup stayed with me until adulthood.”
Entering college, Bibi reveals that she “had to really think about how I can turn my love and passion into career. I worked part time at a fashion photography studio and interned at a Fashion PR agency. I was hardly ever sleeping and a lot of hard work and sacrifices, but it was definitely well worth it!” Her efforts have seen her establish her own blog called ‘Biannette’ (Bibi’s full name) dedicated to beauty product reviews and fashion photoshoots. She has also been able to travel as part of her work as a stylist assistant for fashion magazines Harper’s Bazaar Kazakhstan and Elle Bulgaria. It was at Harper’s Bazaar that Bibi had one of the most memorable experiences of her career so far where she had the extraordinary opportunity of working on a fashion set alongside French art director and model, Julia Roitfeld, daughter of Vogue Paris’ former editor-in-chief, Carine Roitfeld of whom Bibi reveals that she is a “huge fan…and it was an honor to have worked with her daughter.”
But what is it about the fashion world that has captured the native New Yorker’s heart so completely? She says that “with style and fashion, you get to embrace your individuality and learn to take new risks.” That belief has fueled this Dominican-American style guru throughout her unconventional career, a career that, obviously, places a strong emphasis on the outward characteristics of an individual. Despite this, Bibi tells that she has learned “not to be afraid to be yourself. I know it sounds super cliché, but it just takes us too much energy pretending to be something you’re not. Put energy into your craft, being a good person, and accepting constructive criticism with a smile on your face.”
Though her father may still harbor a slim hope that Bibi will eventually choose a more traditional lifestyle, it has not stopped him from supporting his daughter 100%. In fact, it was his and his wife’s example that defined Bibi’s approach to her career. The 26-year old shares that “my mom and dad have sacrificed a lot for their kids. As a family, we have gone through many rough patches in our lives, but we stick through it. At the end of it all, I work so hard because I want to make them proud. Especially because they only ever taught me to follow my dreams and do what I love. And for that, I’ll always be thankful and continue to push through.”
This talented fashionista may already be enjoying no small amount of success but she has bigger plans for her future. She reveals that “eventually want to own my own agency/studio. It takes a lot of hard work and dedication, but I’ll get there!”
‘LIGHTNING FAST’ Round:
1. What is the one beauty product you can’t live without? My Kat Von D Eyeliner! It’s my most favorite product ever!
2. What is in your makeup bag when you travel? Literally everything! I am the over packer and it is NO exception when it comes to my beauty products. I need wipes, cleanser, masks, bb creams, ALL my eyeshadow palettes. It’s seriously so bad..
3. What is the one “flaw” you wouldn’t change about yourself? I wouldn’t change my big forehead! I hated it for so many years, but I’ve finally learned to just embrace it. I LOVE having bangs and my hair parted to the side. And with a small forehead, I wouldn’t look so good. So I’m happy for it.
4. Your best guilty pleasure… UGH! Reality TV…
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