Daniela Lombardi Episode

In the latest episode of the Empowerography Podcast, my guest is Daniela Lombardi.Born and raised both Toronto and Rome (duel citizen) as my dad always loved bringing us back home (his home) She grew up in Richmond Hill before I got married at the tender age of 21. Growing up on the heavier size did build “character”. As in my day we didn’t have the body positive movement. Nor the Ashely Graham’s. I was teased relentlessly in school. (Mind you still face body bullying till this day, just cope with it differently than a ten year old me would have). Clothing was so hard to find so I would venture off to Panarama (for those who know, know) and try to find the best fitted men’s jeans or tops and try to alter them to be more feminine. Where I have to actually be thankful for as I think that’s where I got my fashion sense. In this episode we discuss being a curve model, modelling, self-love, body positivity, motherhood, bullying, a-ha moments, personal struggle and inner beauty.

Born and raised both Toronto and Rome (duel citizen) as my dad always loved bringing us back home (his home)  She grew up in Richmond Hill before I got married at the tender age of 21.  Growing up on the heavier size did build “character”. As in my day we didn’t have the body positive movement.  Nor the Ashely Graham’s.   I was teased relentlessly in school.  (Mind you still face body bullying till this day, just cope with it differently than a ten year old me would have).  Clothing was so hard to find so I would venture off to Panarama (for those who know, know) and try to find the best fitted men’s jeans or tops and try to alter them to be more feminine.  Where I have to actually be thankful for as I think that’s where I got my fashion sense.  You had be creative in the day. There was not much choice.  Either plus frumpy. Or plus old nonna.   But I survived.  As I mentioned I got married at the age of 21.  Had my twins at 24 (Joseph and Lauren) and then had my Ariana at 27.  In between my pregnancies, my husband and my best friend started an affair.   Instead of admitting it and moving forward, my ex treated me like a monster. I did nothing right. I was exhausted emotionally and mentally.  And would eat my troubles away.  I think that was my heaviest. I was pushing 350 pounds.  Sad and broken.  The year I turned 31 I made a choice.  I was no longer going to tolerate being blamed and hated for, for something my husband was trying to hide and I left my marriage.  And a side note he’s still with her which at least he didn’t ruin a family for nothing. 3 small kids.  No job. No education.   The only thing I had was my floral design which helped. But obviously not enough.  In 2013 I started to work with the family business as an office controller for plumbing and HVAC. And still dabbled in the florals.  I raised my children on my own and pushed forward as I had no other choice.   Never in a million years did I think when I hit the age of 40 that I would be approached to be a plus model.   I was fortunate enough to hit this industry when it just started to be high in Toronto.  Legit grew a platform over night.  The only thing was, to get in the industry it would be overly sexualized. That was the platform back then.  It has come along way and I love that women are using social media to be bold and confident, no matter size, age, etc.    I was a plus lingerie model for a while.  Modelled for a few Toronto boutiques and encountered 3 incredible women (Sarah Demelo, Catherine Field, Yolanda Largie) where we started @canadaincurvies where we celebrated women of all sizes, all ages and we stand on body positive, size inclusivity and self love.  We also love helping Toronto women runned business and try to promote their businesses as well.  My first aha moment was when I was asked by Lesley Hampton to walk the Toronto Fashion week in 2016. I legit felt like I did full circle.  Being teased all my life. Being hated because of my weight. Then walking  the TWFW.   The last four years have been crazy. It’s had its ups and downs.  It took a while however I started to look within and start healing years of bullying.   Start trying to reconditioned the way I was raised and beliefs.  And I really started to feel that I was a voice for many women.   Battling weight.  Growing up in a European household and having their values tie us down.  Being a single mom. Or most oddly dating again and being a single plus mom.  My dad was diagnosed in April 19 with small cell carcinoma.  I was in the room with him when his oncologist gave him his death sentence. That moment.  That instant. As I watched my dad absorb the info, my life flashed in front of my eyes.  Was I content?  Was I happy.  You wake up healthy one morning and in the next you are given a life sentence.   I went home that night and decided to make a few changes.  I’ve started to look at weight loss, school, what can I do. What do I have to give back.  And Dani have you lived?   My dad passed away December 25th. Which really had impacted me.  I loved that my dad lived and I wanted that.  But being a single mom.  No education, working for a family business that sucked the life out of me.... I walked out. Never looked back.  Started to write my book (which has been in the making for the last 5 years but finally made the first move....)  This was February.  In March I walked in to B & M models and was signed.  Another milestone for the 44 year old momma.  Then covid hit.  Another life changing curve ball.  So I decided to go back to school, I’m an ICF life and wellness coach candidate. Just in the process of doing my hours and hopefully write my exam in June of 21.  Started my reiki journey and maybe even dabble into teaching yoga.   And funny enough even though all these studies are to help others, I can honestly say it had healed me immensely. This new journey is part of my path.  Self healing self empowering so I can do my job or my mission to help women like me.   Especially when it comes to self love.   Ive mentioned on the phone that I was ridiculed for being 300 pounds. And I’ve lost over 100 pounds only to be ridiculed because I lost weight.   Being plus “regular” doesn’t change who I am   And little do people know, I was more confident at 300 pounds than I am at 180 today    A woman can never win and it’s frustrating. But in the end it doesn’t define who I am not my why.   I push forward.  And hopefully inspire other women and men to live for them.  And most importantly to be happy.  Life is too short.  Things on the go for me are my cook book, my life and wellness and of course my kids will always be my life mission. But mommy needs a back up plan when they leave the nest.  My twins are 19 in January, my little one turned 16 in November. They are my life’s work. My legacy.  And like my dad I want to show them that mommy can do anything. Mommy is plumber, a chef, electrician and a mechanic if need to.  Plus she’s a plus model.  And advocate.  A fighter. And she loves life. 

Website - https://www.bnmmodels.com/curvy/1589813/daniela-lombardi

IG - https://www.instagram.com/_danilombardi_

https://www.instagram.com/canadiancurvies