All the important life lessons we’ve learned from Bianca Balti

Until just a few months ago, the first thing I thought of when I heard Bianca Balti’s name was her face gracing the pages of fashion magazines like Vogue Italia, in advertisements and on billboards—whether captured in the blue waters of Portofino with Light Blue perfume or surrounded by lemon gardens evoking Sicily in Dolce & Gabbana campaigns. Then came Sanremo 2025. Just months after announcing her diagnosis of ovarian cancer, Bianca took the stage bald and without a wig, with her sparkling blue eyes, wide smile, and a grace that concealed an irresistible tenderness. It was a moment of admiration that permanently imprints itself in memory—you never forget the time and place it caught you.

However, the lesson of embracing one’s true authenticity was not the first in the series when it comes to Bianca. Over her two-decade career in modeling, she has shattered prejudices and redefined common notions about women, motherhood, and labels—always through the lens of unrestrained honesty, like a true Italian. Her answers leave no room for equivocation or hidden meanings; the message is clear and direct, yet thought-provoking. Below, we highlight all the lessons taught to us by Vogue Adria’s May cover girl, Bianca Balti.

Strength and optimism in the fight against a cruel disease

“I will beat it” were Bianca’s first words when she addressed her audience on social media, sharing the news that she had been diagnosed with stage three ovarian cancer. “A long journey awaits me, but I know I will overcome it. For myself, for my loved ones (my daughters are at the top of that list), and for all of you who need strength—feel free to borrow it from me, because I have plenty to give.” She added, “Life brings all sorts of things—so far, cancer has given me the chance to find beauty even in obstacles.” Her positive and strong outlook faced mixed reactions, as many considered it overly optimistic given such a serious topic. However, Bianca’s fear is the fear of all who go through similar experiences. Speaking openly and publicly about it can be a great help, especially when done with apparent ease, a message of hope, and faith in a positive outcome. This doesn’t mean trivializing the illness but refusing to be defeated by it. It also doesn’t mean suppressing facts but opening awareness to the power we have in shaping our own reality—simply by changing our thoughts and focus. “I don’t want to talk about pain. I’m not coming here as a patient suffering from cancer,” she said at a press conference before Sanremo. “I could have stayed in bed and felt sorry for myself, but instead, tonight I want to celebrate life.”

Photo: Getty Images

Rejecting labels

When asked what she does for a living, Bianca sometimes wishes she could say anything other than modeling. The blame lies with prejudices that have often made her feel less worthy. So, when she is called the most successful Italian model, Bianca says she would like to be seen as the most empathetic—above all because in this profession, any kind of emotion can often be overlooked. She also tells us how, at different stages of her life, she was a different, even contradictory version of what she would become, and vice versa. As a child, she was extroverted; in her teenage years, she was withdrawn into her own world, still playing with dolls. She was an excellent student before falling in love and becoming a “bad girl” who loved danger. Bianca Balti was many things before she became who she is today. And she embraces and nurtures all those versions of herself equally.

Big dreams

She was born in the small town of Lodi, Italy, though she now lives in California — and among her most vivid memories are scooter rides through the fields of the Po Valley. In the province, she felt as if she was in a space too narrow for her dreams — dreams bigger than herself. After finishing high school, she enrolled in college in Milan, where she occasionally worked as a supermarket hostess. Even then, she was encouraged to find an agent and start a modeling career, with her mother being her greatest supporter. After ten days of attending various castings, she landed her first lookbook for Valentino, her first magazine cover, and then an exclusive runway show for Dolce & Gabbana’s Spring/Summer 2005 collection, for which she remained a muse for the next two decades. In the same season, she also posed for their campaign shot by the famous Steven Meisel. For the girl inside her, who had posters of Gisele Bündchen on her wall, it all felt like a dream come true overnight.

Photo: Getty Images

Motherhood

When Bianca moved to New York to pursue international success, she had her first daughter, Matilde, with photographer Christian Lucidi. Despite motherhood, her career didn’t stop — she returned to the runway just three months later. In interviews, she clearly emphasizes not wanting to fit into predefined molds. In 2022, she openly explained why it’s important for women to take control of their reproductive future and freeze their eggs “so they don’t limit the possibility of becoming a mother again only to the presence of a man or a relationship.” Later, she revealed her wish to gift this option to her daughter Matilde when she turns 21. “So she doesn’t have to worry about it, she can live her life and, when she wants to get pregnant, she already has everything she needs,” she said, adding: “In life, we have to think about what matters to us. For me, this is an act of freedom — not staying in a relationship tomorrow just out of fear that I won’t be able to have a third child. It’s an investment in myself.” With this stance, she sparked a discussion about access to reproductive technologies and women’s right to make decisions about their own bodies.

From vulnerability to authenticity

In a world where imperfections are retouched and weaknesses hidden behind filters, Bianca Balti chooses truth. Her appearance at Sanremo 2025 in a silver Roberto Cavalli look (just the first of many) sparked a standing ovation, with the iconic dress featuring a cutout that revealed her stomach and surgery scars. For Bianca, this was a statement of confidence, self-respect, and a rebellion against stigma: many of the brands she had previously worked with have not reached out to her since her diagnosis. “I want to show the world the strength of my current appearance,” she said. “I’ve unlocked the potential of a new version of myself and I feel worthy again.” Balti shows us that beauty exists even in the most challenging and difficult phases of life—if only we choose to see it. Moreover, she reminds everyone whose body has been changed by illness that they are still worthy of wearing a formal dress and celebrating. She continued in the same spirit at other glamorous events: at the 2025 Oscars after-party, she appeared in a Fendi Couture creation without a wig, just as she did at the Valentino Fall/Winter 2025 show in Paris. For Bianca, self-love is no longer just a personal matter: it is political. So let’s turn vulnerability into authenticity and fearlessness, and fight against all imposed limitations.

Photo: Getty Images