Gabriel Pitta paraded for the first time at AFD in 2016, beginning a successful career in fashion

Gabriel Pitta made his fashion debut on the catwalk at Afro Fashion Day in 2016. It was the second edition of the show, at Praça da Cruz Caída, on a day of heavy rain that almost postponed the event, if it weren’t for the huge audience, which remained in place. Before stepping onto the catwalk, the young man from Engenho Velho da Federa- ção had never thought about being a model: “I studied, took some computer and cell phone assembly courses and helped my mother at home to make snacks. I never thought about being a model, because, like, black people like that weren’t praised, at school we were always the ugliest, so, like, I never thought about it, right?”, he recalls.

The fashion show was the push Pitta needed to boost his confidence and launch him into the market, scheduling new work and returning for another edition of AFD in 2017. A passion that remains to this day: “I saw a talent in myself and I became much more trusting. If I have the opportunity, I would love to be part of Afro again and again”, he jokes. Gabriel says that, with the support of his family, his One Models agency, friends and his newly acquired visibility, a unique opportunity came his way: being part of an editorial for Vogue Brasil.

See the complete mini-doc about Gabriel Pitta:

At the time, he and fellow model and former AFD member Marcelo Lima were encouraged to try their hand at São Paulo. From that moment on, the race was on to raise the funds to cover the trip. “I started looking for work, saving money. At the competitions and events in Salvador, Marcelo and I sold snacks, water, everything”, he recalls. Both debuted at SPFW that year, and Gabriel moved definitively to São Paulo at just 17 years old. Problems, difficulties and rush marked the first months , but with the arrival of more jobs and the construction of a support network, things started to get easier. Six years later, the model accumulates appearances on catwalks — his favorite activity in fashion — and campaigns for significant brands in the national market, such as GQ, Marie Claire, Natura, Forum, Osklen, Riachuelo, Renner, Nubank and Hering.

“I’m very relaxed, I managed and I think I managed to do well”, says Gabriel. The Bahian believes that, during these years in fashion, his biggest difficulty was being away from his family. However, he managed to balance a good relationship between work and personal life, especially with the group of friends he formed in São Paulo. “Thank God I ride a tram from Salvador. We help each other. I came with Marcelo and many times I needed money, a conversation, support, and I could count on him. Just like my friends have also needed it and I helped. This has created a community and it’s general helping each other. Fashion is really a fierce environment, but we are strong because there is no competition between us”, says Gabriel. He also adds that, today, his biggest inspirations are in models who had a similar life experience to his: “Marcelo, Antonio and Elder were raised in Engenho Velho da Federación, in the same neighborhood as me, models who are now traveling and working for big brands. If you Google my neighborhood, death, this and that appear. We are one of many who were given an opportunity and managed to win.”

Interspersed with work in São Paulo, Gabriel Pitta has experienced successful international seasons since 2022, with his first trip to Germany. His debut was remarkable, winning a Hugo Boss campaign photographed in Austria: “I felt very happy and fulfilled”, he says. Since then, the model has visited several European countries, including Portugal, France and England. In Paris, Pitta participated in the Balmain jewelry campaign, an intense three-day experience, and in London, he further consolidated himself on the international scene. Upon returning to Brazil, another opportunity arose in Milan, where he worked for Emporio Armani, reinforcing his presence among major global brands: “It all happened very quickly; Hugo Boss, Armani and Balmain. These three works were the ones that people started to see more of me”, he highlights.

Despite the grandeur of these projects, the model also recognizes the value of smaller works in Brazil, which, although with less impact, provided invaluable personal and professional growth. Throughout his career, Gabriel faced challenges, such as the language barrier, especially in countries like Germany and France, where English is not widely spoken on a daily basis. He recalls difficult moments, such as poor communication at airports and isolation when traveling. “I went through so much trouble, my God, I cried so much… I’ve cried at the airport, almost missing my flight because I didn’t understand what the woman was saying.” For him, a career in fashion is a constant overcoming of limits, whether facing extreme climates or adverse cultural situations, always with determination and passion for the profession.

“Afro Fashion Day arrived at the right time. I see that 10 editions have planted a seed in the minds of young people, showing that we can achieve great things. I didn’t have many expectations in life, I thought about taking a course there, opening an internet cafe and, after I entered the world of fashion, when I showed at Afro Fashion Day, I saw that it wasn’t just that. Today, in Salvador, there are many models who want to come to São Paulo, travel the world, and I think you can feel that taste in Afro, gain that strength. It’s the biggest black beauty parade in Brazil”, he advises.

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