Cluj turned their swans into flamingos. I had to. 

Lo Spaccio dress – Elisabetta Franchi heels from Lala Boutique – Tria Alfa earrings 

Photos by Emil Costrut 

Be a Flamingo in a Flock of Pigeons

This saying may get a YES, if we think of it as an advice for ladies being awesome and outstanding no matter what their shape and size looks like. Yes, I agree. I know women who do not have a supermodel figure and a girl next door face, but their vibe, appearance, sense of style and attitude is THA’ BOMB. So yes, I’m fascinated and yes, the Flamingo in a flock of pigeons works.

However, trying too hard when it’s in your nature to be more of a white dove than a flamingo can be one big faux-pas (did I write this correctly? I’m suck at French). I know from personal experience. There was a time in my life a few years ago, when I moved to Bucharest, when I really wanted to blend in. To be part of the crowd, to be accepted. So I tried so dress normcore, to wear my hair long, to smile and wave. It didn’t work. I was fake and so not true to myself. So I stopped. And I started to behave normally. Well, my kind of normal. And guess what? People reacted. Some of them raised an eyebrow, but most of them were seduced by authenticity. 

I’ve heard this ‘Be Authentic, Be Real” phrase a lot this year. Especially preaching at Digital Divas this year. And although it may be oblivious and quite a cliche, you know what? I think it’s true. Because at the end of the day, when you are at home, by yourself, you find yourself thinking: That’s so cool, I succeeded in staying true to who I am and making things work. And people responded to that. And this means I may not be as bad, ugly, fat – or whatever things run through our minds in our moments of self-deprecation –  as I thought I was. 

Bene Brown said that authenticity is the daily practice of letting go of who we think we’re supposed to be and embracing who we are. 

So if you’re a flamingo, BE ONE. And if you’re a white dove. BE ONE. Some of the people I love and respect the most in this life are White Doves. And guess what? They get along really well with the flamingo and vice versa.