Meet Alessio Filippelli

We recently connected with Alessio Filippelli and have shared our conversation below.

Alessio , so good to have you with us today. We’ve got so much planned, so let’s jump right into it. We live in such a diverse world, and in many ways the world is getting better and more understanding but it’s far from perfect. There are so many times where folks find themselves in rooms or situations where they are the only ones that look like them – that might mean being the only woman of color in the room or the only person who grew up in a certain environment etc. Can you talk to us about how you’ve managed to thrive even in situations where you were the only one in the room?

Being the only one in the room has never been easy. Growing up, I didn’t really have someone who looked like me, lived like me, or loved like me to look up to, and that often made me feel isolated. For a long time, I thought my difference was something I had to hide or work around. But over time, I realized it was actually the thing that made me valuable in those rooms.

I learned to be effective by leaning into that difference instead of running from it. When you’re the only one, you see things others can’t — you bring a perspective that challenges comfort zones. I started treating that as my strength. I also worked really hard to make sure that when I walked into a space, I wasn’t just filling a seat — I was contributing ideas, energy, and creativity that couldn’t be ignored.

And honestly, it’s also about survival. There were times when the weight of being “the only one” felt heavy — when anxiety or rejection made me want to disappear. In those moments, I had to build boundaries, protect my energy, and surround myself with people who believed in me. The support of strong women in my life, mentors who saw me before I saw myself, reminded me that I wasn’t actually alone — even if it felt that way.

Now, I try to show up fully as myself, because if I’m silent or shrinking, then the room stays the same. By existing unapologetically, I make space for others to step in too. And that, to me, is the most successful outcome: not just being effective for myself, but helping shift what those rooms can look like for the next person who walks in.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

Alessio Filippelli
Fashion Consultant, PR Strategist, and International Figure of Multifaceted Inspiration

Alessio Filippelli is today an eclectic and influential presence: fashion consultant, PR strategist, creative manager, and international model. His work, spanning fashion, art, and entertainment, has established him as one of the most recognized personalities on the contemporary scene.

Born in 1999, Alessio left Italy at just 17 to pursue his dream of making a name for himself in Hollywood, immediately demonstrating an extraordinary determination. Since then, his collaborations with major players such as Disney, Nickelodeon, Halo, Star Wars, and Paramount Plus have accelerated his rise as a visionary creative.

Beyond his management talent, Alessio has become a sought-after name in the worlds of fashion and publishing. A constant front-row presence at Fashion Weeks worldwide and the subject of editorials such as his recent black-and-white feature for GQ, he positions himself as a visceral statement for queer visibility, blending aesthetics and activism with powerful emotional impact.

His recognition has extended to leading editorial platforms as well: in 2024, Forbes Italia named him a “New Face of Entertainment,” while Glamour Magazine honored him as the “Man of the Moment.”

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Looking back, I think the three qualities that shaped my journey the most were resilience, adaptability, and authenticity.

Resilience was essential because the entertainment and fashion industries are filled with rejection, uncertainty, and moments that can shake your confidence. Growing up, I often felt alone — like there wasn’t anyone in the room who truly represented me. That made me tougher. I learned to get back up, to turn a “no” into fuel, and to keep moving even when it felt like the world wasn’t ready for me.
Advice: Resilience doesn’t just appear — you build it by facing challenges head-on, by allowing yourself to fail, and by using every failure as data for your growth. Don’t avoid discomfort; it’s part of the training.

Adaptability became another strength. Leaving Italy at 17 and stepping into Hollywood forced me to learn quickly, to adjust, to be open. Every new environment, every project, every collaboration demanded a different version of me — but without losing my essence. Being flexible while staying grounded in your values is what helps you thrive in different spaces.
Advice: Put yourself in new situations often. Travel if you can, say yes to projects that scare you, and learn to listen before you speak. Adaptability grows when you stay curious instead of defensive.

Authenticity is the one I hold closest. For a long time, I thought I had to blend in, to be who others expected me to be. But the moment I started showing up fully as myself — queer, creative, emotional, ambitious — things shifted. People connect with truth. They remember energy that’s real.
Advice: The best way to strengthen authenticity is by knowing yourself. Journal, reflect, ask hard questions. Then, practice showing small pieces of that truth in safe spaces, until you’re strong enough to bring it everywhere you go.

For anyone starting out, I’d say this: you don’t need to have it all figured out, but if you focus on these three — resilience, adaptability, and authenticity — they’ll carry you through the unknown and allow you to build a career that’s not just successful, but deeply yours.

Do you think it’s better to go all in on our strengths or to try to be more well-rounded by investing effort on improving areas you aren’t as strong in?

I’ve thought about this a lot, because when I was starting out, I felt like I had to be everything at once — good at every skill, perfect in every room, able to prove myself in ways that didn’t even play to my natural strengths. That pressure almost burned me out.

What I’ve learned is this: your strengths are your power — that’s where your magic lives. Go all in on them, because that’s what sets you apart. That’s what makes people remember you. But — and this is important — you can’t ignore your weaknesses completely. You don’t need to master them, but you need to understand them well enough that they don’t block you.

For example, when I left Italy at 17, I had creativity and vision — those were my strengths. I could see stories, aesthetics, and emotions in a way that was very instinctive. That’s what got me in the room. But once I was in Hollywood, I realized I lacked some of the technical and strategic skills. I wasn’t as polished in the business side of things, and that could have held me back. Instead of trying to become a full-time strategist overnight, I surrounded myself with people who had that knowledge and let myself learn from them. I kept pouring into my creative energy — my strength — while slowly developing just enough of those other skills to move confidently.

So, my philosophy is: lead with your strengths, invest deeply in them, and let them open doors for you. Then, treat your weaker areas like tools — you don’t have to love them, but you do need them sharp enough to not trip you.

The story I always come back to is my first major campaign. I was thrown into a room where everyone had years of technical experience I didn’t have. Instead of pretending, I leaned into what I did have — my eye for detail, my ability to tell a story visually, my instinct for human connection. That’s what made people notice me. Later, I learned the technical language to back it up. But if I had waited until I was “well rounded,” I might never have stepped into that room at all.

So to anyone listening: don’t waste too much time sanding down your edges just to fit in. Those edges are what make you unforgettable.

Photography: Manuel Perugini
Styling Antonio Capobianco
Location: Twenty One Suites Santorini

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/alessiofilippelli
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ale_ssiofilippelli/

Image Credits

Photography: Manuel Perugini
Styling Antonio Capobianco
Location: Twenty One Suites Santorini