Sarah
“I feel like sometimes when loads of women feel really lonely, and they want to be loved by people, I think the best thing is to first love yourself.”
Sarah is a surfer, skater and model with remarkable drive. She is drawn to nature, and is her happiest in the sea or on the open road - exploring the beautiful island she calls home. Sarah has overcome a toxic relationship where she was constantly told she wasn’t enough. When it ended, she was determined to show not only him, but herself, that she is more than enough. He told her she couldn’t, and she proved she could. Now she’s a successful influencer (@laotratuvera), who has not only made a name for herself as a model, but also as an athlete. She’s a hard worker who doesn’t give up in pursuit of her goals. She’s an advocate for loving yourself first. Meet Sarah. This is her story.
P: Please introduce yourself!
S: I’m Sarah. I was born in England but grew up in the Canary Islands - I’m based in Fuerteventura. I’m the type of person that likes being away from the city - I like being in my van and surrounded by nature.
I love waking up every day and taking in the landscapes of this beautiful island.
P: Describe or define yourself in your own words.
S: I fight for what I believe in. If I want something, I’m determined to get it. I motivate myself a lot and have worked really hard to get to where I am.
I’m really social - I love meeting new people, learning new things everyday.
I love being in the ocean…a lot.
It makes me happy when my emotions play a role in what I’m doing - like when I’m surfing, it just makes me really happy or when I’m just chilling in the van and I’m really calm.
P: Tell us a story. Have you had an experience that has defined you or made you stronger?
S: I think so.
I was once in a really bad relationship - the narcissist kind, where I was always being put down. Always telling me you can’t get this, you can’t do that, you’re not good enough for this, you’re not good enough for that. It became so intense that I started believing it.
Then when it ended, I just got up and was like, I’m going to show him that I am worth it. I remember he said, “You are not a model. You will never be an influencer on Instagram.” So I worked really hard - I woke up every day at 7am and did a lot of collaborations and finally got to 10,000 followers and started working with loads of big companies. But it wasn’t even about proving him anymore, it was proving myself.
He also said that I couldn’t surf. So I worked really hard. Everyday I was in the water pushing myself to learn new things and just getting better at it, understanding it more. With skating it was the same.
I see this happen to a lot of girls on the island, sometimes the island takes their self esteem away. It’s hard because it’s so small, and you hear things, and sometimes you hear that you’re not worthy. But so many girls came out of it just focusing on themselves, and doing what they actually love 100%.
I feel like sometimes when loads of women feel really lonely, and they want to be loved by people, I think the best thing is to first love yourself. That’s what attracts someone loving you. That’s how I met my partner Julien.
P: What is your favourite thing about yourself?
S: I think the fighting part - showing myself that I can do it, and motivating myself.
You know when you touch rock bottom, and some just stay there? I say to myself in my head, “You can do this. You can do this. You’ve got this.” Eventually the day comes and you’re there.
P: What is one piece of advice you’d give your younger self?
S: Don’t believe in other people’s opinion, believe in yourself - your own opinions.
P: Who is one woman that inspires you? What would you say to her if she were here now?
S: Bethany Hamilton. She’s a really good surfer. She inspired me because she’s a fighter, she never gave up, especially on herself. Everyone was just saying that she couldn’t surf with one arm, but she proved everyone wrong, not just for them but for herself. And I saw how happy she was after this. I want to get there, and be happy with myself and how I achieve things.
I would say thank you for inspiring me to fight when I needed to, and giving me that motivation to just get up, over and over again.