Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Nina Valdez. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Nina , appreciate you joining us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

I have known I wanted to Act since I was 7 years old. I have always been an extremely logic driven person with a lazer focus on my goals, even back then. I remember saying I wanted to be a doctor when I grew up because I wanted to help people. Math and science have never been my strong suits though and I was discouraged because I found out that, that is pretty much what being a doctor is about. But one day I was watching TV and Duggie Howser or something like that came on… and that was that. Something clicked in my head that day that I could not only be a doctor, but anything else in the world I ever wanted to be, all in one job. It wasn’t until much later that I figured out that I could also use that to help people. With modeling, It was a bit different, I always just thought it would be fun/ a stepping stone if anything to more acting gigs. I did a couple of gigs here and there but I have always been plus size, and the industry was not open to that (still just barely is) until about the last 10-15 years. It was then that I met some of the movers and shakers in the St. Louis fashion scene. Dangerous Curves was the first group I signed with. They gave me the boost and the connections to network my way into working with everything from local boutiques to traveling to Runways in Chicago and Atlanta. I never expected it to become my main source of income, but it did for several years.

Nina , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am everyone’s quiet “hype girl.” If I love you/ your platform/ your business, I will promote you, network for you, and facilitate your advance in any way I can. I do all that for free. But if you hire me on, whether as an Inclusivity consultant/ Model/ Actress/ Admin/ etc… You better believe I will be worth every penny. Because I will work tirelessly for you for years to come, even after the money runs out and we’ve parted ways. Any room I am in, I bring everyone I love in there with me. Every opportunity I get, If it is relevant to you and your business in any way, I am speaking your name. You could say my artistic expression is Love. If I am hair modeling for Healthy Hair Solutions or A salon that I’m working with… I am LOVING the products/ the potential customers/ my stylist/ the owners. If I am working the runway or in front of the camera for Honeys Child Boutique or any of the other designers/boutiques I work with. I AM LOVING!!!!!! The clothes/ the coaches/ the other models/ the attendees/ the people sending hearts on Instagram… All Of It! And All of Them! I offer my services as a fit model to so many companies who are struggling to rebrand and become more inclusive. An actress for their commercials/ movies. And so much more, not only to make money or get “famous” for myself, but because I genuinely Love the brand and want them to thrive, and also because I have so much Love for all those women and children out there who may be seeing themselves for the first time with options in clothing/ life/ and love through my presence in that production.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

The plus size experience in the body positivity movement could be a whole study in unlearning. Women of color started the whole thing by refusing the white supremacist programing of the fashion/ entertainment industry. I credit my life… and I mean that literally, because there were so many times I didn’t want to go on living because my dreams felt so out of reach… to women like Queen Latifa, Monique, Jackiee Harry, and so many more women of color who refused to be portrayed as just the stereotypical “funny fat friend” They were the ones who showed me that thick curvy women could be loved/ desired/ and even act and model. I would not wish these two industries on my worst enemy, because your entire job, day in and day out is to be told that you are not enough. Or too much. Or that they love your audition, but they just can’t find a role for you…. ad nausium. The entire job is rejection, with just a touch of acceptance here and there. So, to answer your question, I have had to unlearn everything that these industries have taught me. I am enough. I am worth love. I am beautiful with curves/ rolls/ stretch marks/ a skin condition/ mobility issues/ acne/ and so much more. Nothing about me needs to be covered up. Nothing about me needs to be filtered or photo shopped. It is not outside of the willing suspension of disbelief that I could be anything I want to be, have the prince fall in love with me, solve mysteries, have adventures…. And all I want you to know, is that you are worth all of that too.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

Hire people with other-ed abilities. Hire people of color. Hire plus size people. Look around you. On your movie set/ in your office/ in your showroom/ on your runway/ etc… how many thin, able bodied white people do you see? We love them, they are great. But can we mix it up a bit? If it isn’t an autobiographical movie where the actor needs to actually look like the person they are portraying, or something stunt heavy where you will need a person with a particular level of training… than you have no excuse to not equally consider the Native girl who tried out, or the girl in with the mobility aids, or the plus size guy for the role as you would any thin able bodied white person. Might you have to change a few words in the script? Maybe. Most of the time that’s not even necessary. Might you have to change blocking or add an accommodation or two? Maybe so, but for all the kids growing up out there wondering if anyone will ever love them because their bodies doesn’t look like “everyone elses” or If they will ever get to do that job they are dreaming about because their body doesn’t work the same way as their friends do… You will be changing their entire world. And that, is worth any amount of extra work or money you may have to put into it. What I’m not saying is to throw out a token or two as “diversity clout” but actually take the time to look at your customer base and potential customer base and see who is being left out. You might find out that it’s actually the majority. For example, over 60% of women in the U.S. are over a size 16. That means if you are only selling small/ medium/ and large.. or even XL, than you are shooting yourself in the foot. If not for compassion and love of other humans who would love to be included in things. Maybe just consider your own bottom line.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @ninavaldeznina
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/ninavaldeznina1
• Linkedin: Nina Valdez
• Twitter: @ninavaldeznina
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCELXODt-UTKVNtvyM-HEG3A

Image Credits
Maurice Young/ Corri Biesemeyer/ Lilly Notez