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MINI DOCS AFRO FASHION DAY
Confidence and fun that has the name of Santti
Bahian model shares her fashion journey, highlighting the importance of Afro Fashion Day in her career
Published on October 24, 2024 at 09:00

Confidence and fun that has the name of Santti Credit: CORREIO/Gabriel Cerqueira
“’You’re in Afro, you’re approved, something happened to a model and they chose you, out of who knows how many models who tried’. I didn’t know whether to answer my booker, whether to talk to my mother, whether to cry or scream. To this day, when I remember it, it gives me a lot of joy, because it was a unique moment”, recalls Adilson Santana. Initially failed in the agency selection process and in the neighborhood selection process via TikTok, the model had a third chance and was part of Afro Fashion Day 2020, a Fashion Film edition with the Palm Palm theme. An experience that still moves him today and gave him the confidence to become the bold Santti model.
Until he was 16, Adilson describes his life in Salvador as common to a young peripheral person: he studied and worked to help his family, without much time for art or leisure. He was a bricklayer’s assistant and sold cakes with his mother. Fashion crossed his path when he started following his younger sister, who liked to take photos. One day, he decided to try getting in front of the cameras. “I posted it on Instagram and liked what I saw. I started receiving a lot of compliments and they called me a role model.” While posting photos, Adilson began to consider his career. The idea took months to mature until he said he was looking for his Way Models agency.
“Ever since I researched fashion, I discovered Afro Fashion Day. When you look for fashion in Salvador, this is what appears”, he reveals. Joining Afro was always a plan, and he has great affection for the project: “Afro Fashion Day was the reaffirmation of what I wanted. I felt stronger and empowered to face the world of fashion. Without Afro, I really don’t think I would be here.”
After Afro, Adilson changed one job into another and took on the challenge of participating in São Paulo Fashion Week 2021. It wasn’t easy, especially due to financial issues. He alternated his work as a model with that of a construction worker, but with the help of a virtual crowdfunding, he managed to debut on the most famous catwalk in Brazil, in the fashion shows of Bahian designers Meninos Reis and Isaac Silva. Participating in Fashion Week marked a definitive change, both in zip code and persona: “I already changed my name, I became Santti, which was a name I already used on social media. And then I became more fun, later on, Santti, who is now a model in São Paulo, who is not afraid of anything. And this ‘cheerfulness’ made me win over many clients”, he jokes.
Work in magazines such as GQ and Vogue, campaigns for Riachuelo, Renner and Fila, as well as fashion shows and editorials, marked her career. One of the most special works was the cover for L’Officiel magazine, where she appears with Gabriel Pitta, also from Bahia. “We are cover, two black guys from the favela, who fought hard to be here and who today are a reference”, he recalls.
In 2023, with a solid base of national work, Santti held his first international season in South Korea. “A surreal experience. I learned to speak English, worked a lot and lived with people from different cultures. I wanted to stay longer, but I had work here. I would come back at any time,” he says.
He recognizes that starting a career is not easy, especially in São Paulo, where competition is fierce. The advice he gives to those just starting out is clear: don’t give up. “If that’s what you want, you’re going to have to give 200% effort,” he says. Furthermore, it recommends looking for a reliable agency to avoid scams. Santti also highlights the challenges of dealing with people in the industry and the impact of the ego of some industry figures. “Dealing with people is the hardest part… there are certain people who speak in a way that hurts. If you don’t have your head straight, you end up giving up”, he shares. Despite this, today he feels fulfilled: “I am very happy with my profession. Being able to help my family in a way I never imagined was God’s project. That’s the best part for me.”
See the complete mini-doc about Santti:
Mini docs Afro Fashion Day:
Media and Digital Strategy Editor: Jorge Gauthier
Culture intern: Luiza Gonçalves
Media team: Eduardo Bastos, Arthur Leal and Gabriel Cerqueira
Afro Fashion Day is a project by the newspaper Correio with sponsorship from Avon and Bracell, support from CAIXA, Shopping Barra, Salvador Bahia Airport and Wilson Sons and institutional support from Sebrae
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