Growing up in a village was not easy for a girl like me. But I can’t and don’t want to say if it was my doing or the village’s doing. Maybe growing up is not easy at all, and certainly not for artistic people.
Of course, there was a time when I blamed the village, Appenzell. Of course, there was a time when the girl who got beaten at school, mobbed and laughed about just wanted to leave the place of discomfort behind. I wanted to be a modern city girl, so I transformed into a version without a trace of countryside roots.
When I left Appenzell, I went far away. The same country was not enough, so I went to London, where I found more of myself than anywhere else. As the years passed, I learned to reconcile my story’s contradictions. This process also brought peace about my past; my feet touched Appenzell’s ground again.
I saw the place from a visitor’s point of view now: a village like one from a Disney story with cute, colourful houses, impressive craftsmanship that even visitors can easily experience, and the biggest surprise: amiable people who were interested in the weird pink girl and her wild world. I felt at peace and fell in love with this place. A forgotten corner of my heart was filled with light.
So I walked through the streets with my head high, did this Cruella-inspired photoshoot with dogs lent by two lovely ladies and thought: Damn, if the girl in me would see me, she would like to be exactly who I am now. Thank you, Appenzell; I will be back!
Photographer: Fabiana Nunes
Dogs: Kindly lent to me by two lovely ladies
Coat: CeliaB, Dress: Gianni
Bag: Fiorucci, Hat: Vintage, Necklace: Moschino (old)
Shoes: Dr. Martens
