HER MOMENT

Isabella Ruas on elegance, individuality, and the quiet confidence behind unforgettable style.

AURA MAGAZINE · NEW YORK

THE ART OF BEING YOURSELF
Moda, identidade e a força de permanecer autêntica em um mundo de imagens.

1. Fashion has always reflected the transformations of society. In your view, what does today’s fashion reveal about the generation we are living in?

I believe today’s fashion reveals a generation that feels much freer to experiment and express itself. There is less pressure to follow a single aesthetic or a specific standard. People move between different references, mix styles, and use their image as an extension of their personality. At the same time, we live in a very fast-paced era, where everything changes quickly, so I also see a growing search for authenticity. Ultimately, I believe true sophistication today lies much more in knowing who you are than simply following trends.

2. Sustainability and conscious consumption are becoming increasingly present in the fashion world. Does this influence your personal choices when it comes to clothing and brands?

Yes, increasingly so. Over time, I have come to value the quality of my choices much more than quantity. I love fashion and naturally appreciate beautiful pieces, but today I think much more about quality, durability, and the possibility of wearing an item in different ways over time. I have been choosing more consciously rather than consuming something simply because it is trending at that moment. To me, conscious consumption also means understanding more about what we are buying and valuing what truly makes sense within our personal style.

3. With social media, models are no longer just the faces of campaigns; they are also building their own personal brands. How do you deal with this exposure and with the responsibility of influencing other people?

I see social media as a very interesting opportunity to show that there is a real person beyond the image. At the same time, exposure comes with responsibility, because what we share can influence other people’s perceptions and even their choices. I try to stay true to who I am and avoid creating a persona simply to meet the expectations of social media. To me, building a personal brand does not mean showing everything; it means consciously choosing what truly represents who you are and the values you want to communicate.

4. Diversity, representation, and different standards of beauty have gained more space in fashion in recent years. Do you believe this change is already consistent, or does the industry still have a long way to go?

I believe there has been significant progress, especially because today there is much more space for different body types, ages, backgrounds, and expressions of beauty. However, I also believe there is still a long way to go before diversity stops being merely a trend or a communication strategy and becomes something truly natural within the industry. Beauty should never be limited to a single standard. The more fashion represents real people who are different from one another, the more interesting and relevant it becomes.

5. Artificial intelligence is beginning to transform campaigns, photography, and even the creation of virtual models. How do you see this technology within a profession that is so closely connected to the human image?

I see artificial intelligence as an extremely powerful tool and one that will inevitably play an important role in the future of fashion. It can expand creative possibilities and transform the way campaigns and images are produced. However, I believe there is something technology cannot completely replace: human presence, interpretation, personality, and the emotion a person conveys in front of a camera. To me, the most interesting path is not to see technology and people as competitors, but to understand how they can coexist without losing what makes an image genuinely human.

6. In an era when trends appear and disappear so quickly, especially on social media, how do you define your own style without losing your identity?

I enjoy observing trends, but I never feel that I need to adopt them simply because they are popular. My style is based much more on what makes me feel comfortable, elegant, and confident. Over time, you learn to recognize what truly matches your personality and what is simply a passing trend. To me, that is exactly what style means: being able to absorb different influences without allowing them to erase your identity.

7. The pressure surrounding appearance and the pursuit of the perfect image are still very present in the fashion world. What do you believe needs to change in order to make the industry healthier for future generations?

I believe we need to increasingly normalize a less artificial idea of perfection. Especially for younger generations, it is important to understand that many of the images we consume involve lighting, production, editing, and countless other resources. Taking care of your appearance can be something positive when it comes from a personal choice, but it becomes harmful when it comes from the feeling that you are never good enough. The industry can make an important contribution by valuing health, individuality, and authentic beauty rather than creating impossible standards to achieve.

8. Beyond beauty and image, what message, cause, or value would you like people to associate with your name and your journey?

I would like people to associate my name primarily with determination, independence, and authenticity. I strongly believe in building a journey that is not limited to a single characteristic or profession. Beauty and image are part of my world, but they do not define everything I am. I want to be remembered as a woman who had the courage to explore different paths, study, work, reinvent herself, and continue pursuing growth without giving up her true essence. To me, image may open a door, but it is your values, your choices, and the way you build your story that determine what truly lasts.