Grace Barrejon is a beautiful Chilean model, who lives between Ibiza and Miami, proud to show off an enviable figure at 42, businesswoman, entrepreneur, influencer and ambassador for the 4qui brand. Grace has selected on this occasion a collection of exquisite, elegant, fresh and varied garments to wear at every moment of the day. As always, enjoying the sun and sea air in freedom. We had the opportunity to interview her for this new edition of our magazine, to learn a little more about her life and projects.
Thank you so much for doing this with us dear Grace!
Thank you for having me in your magazine.
Our readers would love to get to know you a bit better. Can you share with us the backstory of how you came upon this career path and to where you are today?
I’m 42. I was born in Santiago de Chile. I’m living between Miami and Ibiza. I’ve been involved in modeling Since I Was 18.
But after being mom three times it wasn’t so easy to return modeling. It wasn’t about being overwhelmed or unsupported during the transition from motherhood to working mother, it was about the fashion Industry. Unfortunately, 35+ models are not welcomed. Very few agencies recruit models this age. It is not so easy to have opportunities in the fashion industry.
So I started my own Instagram account sharing photos and my thoughts on Instagram 7 years ago. Posting photos daily of me in different outfits and promoting brands distributed by my husband’s company.
Once I grew my audience by being genuine and consistent, many brands take notice and started direct messaging me to wear their clothes. Then I start charging to wear their clothes, being in their events, driving their cars, using their perfumes. And when you get paid for doing what you love you can invest in having the best team around you. That’s how I get the followers I have today… great team, lot of engagement with the audience and being authentic.
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?
I love this quote “Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.” –William Arthur Ward.
I feel gratitude for many people, no only for those who helped me directly, and maybe they don’t know they did. I always remember some years ago that a Spanish perfume maker named Daniel Josier encouraged me to take up my career professionally in a conversation when I wasn’t present. It was a turning point for me. Since then I have focused on being a model again, this time more focused on digital channels.
I try to always show gratitude to the people Exhibiting patience, even if I’m in a hurry, and the people that Remember little things can make a big difference! Gratitude to all who has been anytime, anywhere part of my team But if you are asking specifically for people helping me I have had many. One in particular my husband JJ Barrejon. I meet him 14 years ago when I was divorced, a single mother. He was an angel. He got me on a plane to Paris and I traveled around Spain with him for a few weeks. Years after that we got married in Bora Bora.
Can you share a story with us about the most humorous mistake you made when you were first starting? What lesson or take-away did you learn from that?
I have made MANY mistakes as everyone I think does, most of them are sad. Funny situations, mmm … there are many. When the photoshoot takes many hours more tan expected is when everything happens. Hilarious Fails where everyone on the set can’t hold their laughter, or recording the promotion of a drink I called it as the competition brand, not forgetting the unexpected and suddenly appearing surface waves at bikini photoshoots, appearing suddenly and without warning BTW most of the time it’s not so fun taking pictures of swimsuits outdoors with freezing temperatures.
As an influencer, you have been blessed with great success in a career path that many have attempted, but eventually gave up on. In fact perhaps most people who tried to follow a career path like yours did not succeed. Do you have any words of advice for others who may want to embark on this career path but know that their dreams might be dashed?
Something that I have learned and I consider is important for all those who start their digital is to have clear concepts. It is something I have learned working side by side with my husband on our Digital Platform. Of course, all the “ must-do “ that everyone knows today are important such as having a powerful personal brand, consistency, team, do not give up, etc …. But I insist that there are two other concepts that are confused and prevent growth.
I am a BRAND AMBASSADOR, I am not an influencer. Is not about what it’s best or worst is about that you need to decide what do you want to become. BRAND AMBASSADORS promote brands by word of mouth by talking to others about their product, influencers promote their brand by example (showing others how they use the product). Brand relationships with Influencers are usually short-term, but relationships with BRAND AMBASSADORS are long-term. Influencers only promote brands once or twice, while ambassadors promote brands repeatedly. Most of the brand ambassadors agree to maintain an ongoing relationship with companies and will continue to promote it repeatedly on social media, trade shows, events, and personal networks. Instead of using a script, brand ambassadors like to talk to others organically and one-on-one, as if they were having a conversation with a friend (although they may sometimes have to follow a list of guidelines that the company provides ).
Decide what do you want to be, an influencer? , a content generator? , I decided to be Brand Ambassador, and I focused on it, thinking always about the ROI of my clients, not about my ego. Being always honest with the audience. This is the best advice I can share. I believe success is doing what you love so for me is very important to be the brand ambassador only for companies that agrees with my maxim: Life, Play, Work & Enjoy all you can.
Can you share with our readers some of your strategies you’ve used to build an engaged, loyal, and large online community?
The best strategies to build an audience and monetize it PLEASE NOT DIY (do-it-yourself) and hire a Pro. It is easy to look for instructions and tutorials to play having a strategy for your digital project, but having the patience, knowledge, experience, and skills to complete it is another thing. That is why for building and monetize business projects it is better to leave professionals.
You are a busy person with a demanding schedule, can you share with our readers two self care routines, practices or treatments that help your body thrive?
NO pasta NO sugar hehe. Obviously a healthy diet, healthy life, healthy workout, and healthy sex. Routines? Play, swim, run with your kids all you can. They have unlimited energy. And live as close to the sea as you can. Salty water and ocean breeze regenerates you.
Can you share with us two routines that you use to help your mind or heart to thrive?
I wake up early every day with a positive morning ritual it makes me feel energized for a productive and successful day. Walk and meditate, trying to do my initial breathing exercises on the Beach if is possible . Next is to wear always the best make up ever: a SMILE.
Can you share 3 ideas that anyone can use “to feel beautiful”?
42 years old and I still feeling SEXY. We all deserve to feel sexy. Strut your Sexy stuff every time you can. Moms deserve to feel sexy more than anyone. Champagne is wonderful, no matter the time of day. Chocolate….always. Lipstick is magic. Sexy and sensual are to be CELEBRATED.
Find something to admire in yourself, for example In the last years I realized that in many countries like Turkey they only followed me because of my long hair and I didn’t use to admire it in myself. We all have personal, physical, mental, or spiritual aspects for which we can be admired. Love yourself. Smile inside and out, say thanks, and wear colors.
Is there a particular resource, a practitioner, expert, book, or podcast that made a significant impact on you and helped you to thrive? Can you share a story about that with us?
With my husband, we always have been very fortunate to be surrounded by great teams. Each of those who have collaborated with me at some point has been able to teach me and make me grow. Many of them have worked with big stars and successful entrepreneurs. I assiduously listen and read people like Naval Ravikant, Sahil Lavingia, Suhail, Joe Rogan, Justin Kan, Kunal Shah, Jason Calacanis, and of course my husband Barrejón hehe.
Do you have a story about the strangest, most bizarre or funniest wellness treatment that you’ve ever experienced?
Yes !! Formentera Island mud baths. Mud baths are known for their properties on the skin, you only need to apply it over the body and let it dry for a while under the sunlight. In Formentera, there is the liquid mud where you can immerse yourself in it and don’t need to scrub your skin. It smells disgusting !!! Since last year it’s closed permanently And bee sting acupuncture, treatment with insects, eliminates stress and pain, as well as improves your health conditions. Scary !!! Now in Spain, the experts are warning that the practice can turn deadly.
As an influencer, you are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be?
You never know what your idea can trigger. Any kind of movement against drug addiction. I feel bad knowing about there are free people outside luring innocent kids into drug abuse. I don’t know how to solve it but I would love to collaborate with movements trying to solve it.
We are very blessed that some of the biggest names in Fashion, Business, Luxury life style, ports, and Entertainment read our magazine. Is there a person in the world with whom you’d like to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this.
Michelle Obama, I think she is one of the few intelligent women today with whom I could talk about how outdated international immigration laws are. Families today can be made up of parents from two different countries with children from several countries. Families today can have habitual residence in two or three countries at the same time working remotely in all of them at the same time. The world has changed. It would be a pleasure to have breakfast with her.
What is the best way our readers can follow you on social media?
They can follow me on Insta, Face and other social media platforms at @gracebarrejon
Thank you for these fantastic insights. We wish you only continued success in your great work!
Thank you so much guys . I love to be on your Magazine . You are doing a amazing job .