Jupiter

“When others shut you down and it seems impossible to get to where you wanna be, don’t sit, don’t pout. Get up and create that path for yourself! ”

— Jupiter Valentin

Jupiter is an audacious trailblazer, driven entrepreneur, and fearless leader. Her versatility has made her successful in multiple spheres, including creating content on social media, running her own spiritual shop, and working as a freelance model. Her work in modeling has helped to spotlight and amplify the beauty of her Mexican roots, especially the physical features that she used to often shy away from embracing. Her willingness to utilize her heritage as a tool of mobility and empowerment has allowed other Mexican Americans to feel seen, heard, and represented in this industry. Meet Jupiter. This is her story.

K: Please introduce yourself!

J: Hello, I am Jupiter Valentin and I currently reside in Littleton, Colorado. I’m from Oceanside, California born and raised. I am an entrepreneur, I work from home as a full time content creator (tiktok:Jupitervalentin) while also running a full time spiritual shop thehighestkingdom.com, providing intuitive tarot readings for others. I’m a freelance model who aspires to make her name well known and leave a mark in the industry.

K: Describe yourself in your own words

J: I’m a very kind, outgoing individual. I’ve always been such a risk taker, I never wanted to be like everyone else. I always enjoyed being different and standing out. It got me into many arguments with my parents and other family members growing up but I like who I’ve become and turned out to be. A go-getter, I'm a young adult who is proud to say she’s done what she’s wanted. Followed her true calling.

K: What is your favorite thing about yourself?

J: That I’ve overcome everything that I thought was impossible even in my teen years! It’s incredible seeing my own growth and how many times I was shut down and still turned the other cheek. How hard I go on a project or plan I have that I want to bring to life. If someone would've came up to 17 year old me and been like “Hey Jupe, you know you are going to own your own business when you grow up? A tarot business at that. You know you’re going to pursue modeling? You know you are going to create a platform for yourself with a decent amount of following?” I would’ve NEVER believed them! Especially being that shy-ish girl who would be nervous read tarot cards to others in school and cared about what others thought. I’ve come soo far and I’m extremely proud of myself and accomplishments.

K: Tell us a story. Have you had an experience that has defined you or made you stronger?

J: I have a few but I'll share two that were important to me.

Getting into the modeling industry was somewhat hard and sometimes discouraged me. I had no one to direct me or to tell me the slightest information that could’ve helped me.

Once I went to audition here in Denver. I looked around the room and told myself “You’re literally the only Mexican here, why would they pick you? Everyone loves a skinny, blonde hair, blue eyed girl. I’m brown with dark hair and brown eyes with some weight on and tattoos. They’ll never pick me.” I auditioned with the thought of “I already failed.” There’s a moment where the model scouts would pull the models aside and ask them questions. It was finally my turn.

“Why do you want to be a model?”

My response was: “You don’t see many Mexican models out there. I want to be that model that other kids, boys and girls can look up to. Someone that looks just like them. I have tattoos as you can tell. You hardly see models with tattoos. I want to be that person that changes the look of models. It’s hard to stay motivated when every other model looks nothing like you.”

He agreed with me and applauded me for bringing something new to the industry.

“You know the industry has changed so much and is a little more relaxed now. As for the tattoos, some agencies like that. You know there are so many kinds of models out there. I see where you are headed with this. I think you’d be great. It was a pleasure speaking with you”.

They ended up picking me. I was left in shock, I was caught so off guard that I went home crying out of happiness. A moment that I was so prepared to feel defeated in, ended up turning into a victory.

This is personally my most recent/favorite story out of my journey. When I was in high school, I was getting ready to go on a double date with one of my friends. While getting ready I slicked my hair back into a low ponytail.

“AHA oh my goood, don’t put your hair back like that, you look too Mexican!”

In reality she used a disrespectful Spanish word that you call Mexicans, but in translation it is defined as “too Mexican.” I remember looking into the mirror, my eyes got big and I felt so embarrassed. As if my heart sank to my stomach. You know that weird feeling after finding out some terrible news? Just like that. Immediately took off the ponytail and brushed my hair, took out some bangs and put my hair up into a high ponytail and proceeded to look at her and ask,“Is this okay? Does this look better?”

Since then, I never wore my hair up out of embarrassment for looking “too Mexican”. Fast forward to now, I’ve spent many days staring at myself in the mirror, accepting my looks and my face for who I am. I decided to do an empowerment photoshoot. I found an amazing photographer who understood the concept deeply but also could relate to my story. I thought to myself “I’ll go full out since I look ‘super Mexican.’” I went to my mother’s home who had so many authentic hand made clothes, jewelry from Mexico. She helped style me and pick the jewelry, it was a nice bonding moment. The clothes I would never wear in the past out of embarrassment were the clothes I finally learned to love and embrace (I now wear all my Mexican shirts proudly). All my mother ever wanted was to see me wear these clothes and she finally got to see it; now she has pictures, a long lasting memory.

I took an insecurity and turned it into an empowering moment for others and myself. I’ve received so many messages from people who are Mexican American sharing their stories that are similar to mine, thanking me for being the one to publicly speak out about this issue we face, and how I’ve gotten them to embrace their natural features that they tried to hide for years! I’ve received messages from Mexican mothers hoping their sons and daughters grow proud be like me to be a proud Mexican American.

K: What is one piece of advice you’d give to your younger self?

J: That when others shut you down and it seems impossible to get to where you wanna be, don't sit, don't pout. Get up and create that path for yourself! That the world isn’t responsible for saving you, you gotta save yourself. If you really have goals and ambitions go for it! Nothing is truly impossible, that's a way of thinking. The way you think really shapes your reality. To not let anyone influence you or make you make decisions you do not want to make or feel passion for. Everyone else had the chance to live their life, this is your life. People will try to tell you what to do or say, be selfish.

K: What does being a woman mean to you?

J: Being a woman means having to be strong mentally and physically. Knowing how and when to channel your masculinity and feminine energy. Being a woman means being a Goddess. Being aware of the power you hold, that they could never take your power from you.

K: Who is one woman that inspires you? What would you say to her if she were here now?

J: Karen Vega, she is a Mexican-Indigenous model from Mexico. She blew up last year when she landed the cover of vogue. I aspire to be like her. I would tell her she has no idea how many people felt proud to be from Oaxaca knowing a Mexican model from Oaxaca landed the cover (my mother is from Oaxaca). Nobody could stop talking about you! Many of us showed your pictures to our parents and grandparents — they all couldn’t believe their eyes.

Aina

Bonnie