February 2022

“Hey Viviana, thank you for taking for the time to do this interview” “You’re welcome. Thank you for having me” Tell me how you got started in the busi- ness?? When I was 14 I got a casting to go model for one of the biggest fashion show events in Colombia, my country and I went to go try it. It went very well, I started get- ting recognition, made a lot of contacts, and from there I did a lot of modeling, castings and signed with an important modeling agency in Colombia. I was able to model through school, but after I grad- uated high school, I decided to pursue a career in journalism and while studying I received a call to do a TV casting and became a host for a TV magazine. After doing that for a bit, I participated in the Colombian beauty pageant. I went and won third place which gave me even more exposure which helped with the next part of my career. I was called to Caracol TV which is the biggest broadcasting TV net- work in Colombia and started working for them as a TV host. I was with them for 5 years where I worked on the enter- tainment side, also did world news for them. I stopped modeling a little bit to focus on TV hosting because it took too much of my time, and then I decided to come to the USA and try to bring those skills here to continue my career... Did you always want to be a presenter or once you tried it, did you realize you en- joy it?? I actually neverwanted todo that. It wasn’t in my plans. I wanted to write chronicles, that was my dream. But this opportunity knocked on my door, I decided to try it, and apparently people liked it. Thank- fully I’ve had many opportunities to con- tinue to do that. It takes a little time to get used to being in front of a camera, but now I truly enjoyed that part of it... What goals do you have in the USA?? I want to have an agency of communi- cations, so that clients can market their products in an effective way. I’ve always been passionate about the story telling and how its important we express effec- tively what we want, and who we are. I already have a few clients I’m working with and I’m very happy about that. Also, I want to be certified in yoga... Still want to be on TV?? Of course. I’d love to be a host on shows, do interviews, and keep doing what I’m really passionate about which is story telling for example, doing a video blog of every day people and write their stories. I think we all have a story to tell, so I have many ideas of things I want pursue... What are some difference you’ve noticed of living here and Colombia?? Life is really fast here, but also, you can create your own balance. I work a lot, but I make time for my friends, for yoga, for surfing, and for myself. Obviously you get paid more here and living in NYC I don’t need a vehicle. You can also get to know people from all over the world and learn their culture. This country has freedom of speech and its respected and I appreci- ate that. In Colombia, they don’t pay per hour, its just a monthly salary basically, Viviana Interview by Chuy 21