Bianca Balti (1984)

BIANCA BALTI’S DAZZLING SUCCESS

Bianca Balti was born on the 19th of March 1984 in Lodi under the sign of Pisces.

She attended the classic high school Pietro Verri in Lodi.

Ice-coloured cat eyes, diaphanous skin, dark hair, high cheekbones, and full lips are the elements of her dazzling beauty.

THE DEBUT

Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana noticed Bianca and in 2005 she began her modeling career with a contract for the international advertising campaign of Dolce & Gabbana.

Given her magnificent presence, other brands soon noticed her, and she was chosen for several advertising campaigns: Armani Jeans, Missoni, Roberto Cavalli, Christian Dior Make-Up, Guerlain, Pollini, La Perla, DKNY, Rolex, Revlon, Guess? and others.

Major magazines chose Bianca for their campaigns, such as Vogue Japan and a catalog for Victoria’s Secret.

In 2006, Balt’s angelic face was selected for the cover of the first issue of Velvet, the fashion monthly of La Repubblica, published in November.

In 2007 she debuted in cinema: she starred alongside William Dafoe, Bob Hoskins, Matthew Modine, Asia Argento, and Stefania Rocca in the movie Go Go Tales of the director Abel Ferrara.

In 2007 she became the testimonial of Paco Rabanne’s Black XS perfume and appeared on the cover of Marie Claire Italy, Vogue Spain, and Harper’s Bazaar UK.

THE SUCCESS

Balti was included among the best-paid next-generation Italian supermodels along with Eva Riccobono and Mariacarla Boscono.

She moved to the United States, to New York, continuing with her modeling career and becoming the testimonial of Cesare Paciotti’s advertising campaign.

In 2008 she was the testimonial of Guerlain Make-Up. The following year, in February, she walked the catwalk exclusively for the Diesel brand.

In March she appeared on the cover of Elle Italia and in June/July on that of Playboy France. Subsequently, she became a sponsor of the American brand Elie Tahari, for Ermanno Scervino‘s Spring-Summer campaign, for Bulgari Eyewear, and for Victoria’s Secret swimwear.

Moreover, in September she became the face of the advertising campaign for the new fragrance from Blumarine Bellissima.

Wurth‘s 2009 calendar selected her, along with two other supermodels Selita Ebanks and Marisa Miller.

In 2010 she became the testimonial of Intimissimi for Spring-Summer, replacing Irina Shayk, and the protagonist of a commercial by John Freida.

The following year she became the face of Tim’s TV commercial, once she returned to Italy and settled in Milan. She is also the international testimonial of L’oreal.

In 2012, she appeared on the cover of Vogue Japan, in an editorial inspired by Spain and Southern Italy.

In the summer of the same year, in Rome, an exhibition was organized in her honor: Bianca Balti: Immagini di una favola della Moda, curated by Stefano Dominella.

THE CONSECRATION AS AN ICON

In 2013, instead, she became the testimonial of the perfume Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue on the occasion of Valentine’s Day. She was also the new face of the fast fashion brand H&M.

The following year she sponsored the advertising campaign Dolce & Gabbana together with her daughter Matilde, while the following year she became the testimonial of Alessandro Angelozzi’s wedding dresses.

During the Milan Fashion Week, she walked the catwalk seven months pregnant.

From 2014 to 2018 she was the face of OVS and in September 2018 she launched her maternity fashion line during the Milan Fashion Week: Bianca Balti Maternity, then renamed Bianca Balti Collection.

In 2017 she had already become a designer proposing a collection of retro costumes, inspired by the 60s, for the platform Yook Net-À-Porter-Group.

PRIVATE LIFE

In June 2006 she married Italian photographer Christian Lucidi. From this union, Bianca’s first daughter, Matilde, was born in 2007.

The marriage lasted four years, and the two divorced in 2010.

In 2017 she married the American creative Matthew MC McRae, whom she met in 2014. The two settled in California, in Los Angeles.

In April 2015 Bianca’s second child, Mia, was born. However, the marriage lasted only a few months and the two ended up divorcing.

In 2016, Bianca offered an auction with many of her assets, including clothing, jewelry, and accessories. The proceeds were € 30,000 and were donated to Lifeline Jordan, a UNHCR project that helps Syrian refugees in Jordan.

Bianca lives alone with her daughter Mia.

On her private Instagram profile, Bianca often posts photos with her daughters, especially when Matilde comes to visit her in California from Paris, the city where she lives with her father.

Bianca often uses her social channels to raise awareness on issues such as voting, the importance of the vaccine in times of COVID-19, and inclusivity.

In 2022 she launched an interview format on YouTube A letto con Bianca. As described by Bianca herself, this is a format to celebrate sisterhood. In fact, she interviews various contemporary female icons, such as Anna Dello Russo, Gilda Ambrosio, Giorgia Tordini, and Nima Benati, in a comfortable environment. In fact, she and the guests are sitting on a bed, well dressed, and start their conversation, recalling the atmosphere of pajama parties.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

In 2017 she debuted in the annual magazine Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. She won the prize Rookie of the Year both in 2017 and in the following year.