Katarine Cardoso is an international model and has worked in Spain, China and the United Kingdom

Katarine Cardoso, 22 years old, was born and raised in Salvador, Bahia, between the neighborhoods of São Marcos, Pau da Lima and Cajazeiras. She currently resides in Milan and has been working as an international model for around two years. Before entering fashion, Katarine divided her time between studies and work, but it was through the Jovens Periféricos project that she began to become interested in this universe, hearing from friends and acquaintances that she had a profile for the catwalk. From this experience, she participated in contests such as Miss Bahia and Beleza Black, becoming familiar with the world of fashion and discovered Afro Fashion Day (AFD), an event that introduced her to the professional scene. “That was when my modeling career really began,” recalls Katarine.

His first participation in Afro Fashion Day was in the 2020 edition, when he was 18 years old, marking a turning point in his career. Despite insecurities and uncertainties, she was selected, a moment she describes as magical, shared with friends, family and fashion professionals. “When I was chosen, I was so, so happy. And also in disbelief, I think my penny only dropped when I saw the parade on television. I called my family and all my friends to watch it together. In the production, I met so many cool people, it was a dream I lived at that moment. After Afro, I said: ‘I want this for my life’”, he recalls.

See the complete mini-doc about Katarine Cardoso:

The following year, Katarine would once again be part of the casting for the fashion show and, this time, also for the edition’s campaign. “It was one of the best jobs I’ve ever done in my life. I have a lot of affection for him. To this day, when I go to a new country and they ask me about my work, I show them the photos and videos from Afro Fashion Day”, he reveals. After AFD, her career gained momentum, leading her to participate in campaigns for brands such as Jefferson Vila Nova and receiving an invitation from an international agency, which gave her her first season abroad, in South Korea. “It was an accomplishment of a dream, because, for people who come from where I come from, I know how difficult it is to get an opportunity to travel internationally”, says Katarine.

Currently in Milan, the model has participated in campaigns and fashion shows in Barcelona, ​​Shanghai, Shenzhen, Istanbul, Dubai, Egypt and London. Katarine has worked for brands such as Louis Vuitton, Gloria Jeans and Basquiat Brooklyn, and has modeled at Fashion Weeks in Shanghai and Dubai. In each country, he faced cultural and professional challenges, from adapting to the language to social norms, especially in more conservative regions. However, she highlights that experiences abroad were, above all, enriching, bringing learning and opportunities to share Brazilian culture.

Despite the challenges of her modeling career and her homesickness, Katarine maintains her focus and determination to move forward. She reveals that, even far away, one of her greatest supports remains Salvador’s family and friends: “It’s one of the greatest riches we can have. These are people who really know who we are,” he reflects.

“Fashion gave me experiences that, without it, would have been difficult to achieve”, he says, when recapping his career so far. In these four years, the predominant feeling for the model is gratitude: “I look back and see how worth it all was, even the setbacks. It made me a stronger woman and a more professional model. The realization of a dream is happiness that comes from the soul, something that money cannot pay for,” he concludes.

Mini docs Afro Fashion Day:

Media and Digital Strategy Editor: Jorge Gauthier

Reporting: 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