100% ITALIAN:
Conversations On Being Mixed-Ethnicity In Italy

In the spring of 2024, shortly after moving to Italy, I was commissioned to photograph five Italians for an @italysegreta feature — written by Gesu Antonio Baez (@zingarello1988) — about Italians of mixed race. The interviews explore the perspective of ‘Mixed Italians’ (both mixed race and Italians of foreign descent) and what it means to be Italian, from a different setting.

True to the romance that Italy Segreta provides to its readers, this piece explores the romance of being Italian with a splash of something else. Namely, describing their experiences, highs and lows of everyday life, the struggles mixed Italians face (racism and prejudice) — but also the absolute joy they feel in being Italian (with a few food recommendations of course!)

Each person was photographed in the backdrop of their city, in a place that holds meaning for them. The purpose of the shots is to evoke a new face of Italy. One that was always there but was hidden. I was so grateful to meet Gesù, Amir, Francesca, Désirée and Karem in cities all over Italy. Thank you Marina and Anna for trusting me with capturing the photography for this beautiful piece, and thank you Mario at COLLA Milano for bringing them to life.

READ HERE

Man wearing a black cap with a white logo, gray sweater, and white shirt, outdoors with colorful buildings in the background.
Two elderly women sitting on plastic chairs near boats with a rocky background and public water sign.

Gesu Antonio Baez
Political Advisor, International Relations Expert
Genova

Man standing in a narrow alley with colorful buildings and shutters, wearing a black cap, white shirt, gray sweater, and beige pants.
Colorful hillside buildings under a bright blue sky with clouds.
Smiling person with pink braided hair, wearing a green sweater seated outdoors.
Person sitting at an outdoor table near a sign for Osteria Regisole, with a glass door labeled 'Tirare' nearby.

Desiree Ezane
Former Optometrist, Christian Faith Influencer
Pavia

A person with braided hair sitting in a field of clover flowers, wearing a yellow sweater and smiling with a building and dome in the background under a blue sky.
Colorful houses along a river with boats, trees, and a clear sky
A man with dark hair and facial hair wearing a burgundy shirt and a denim jacket stands outdoors in front of a building with archways and trees.
Crowd of people at an ancient Roman arch with religious statues and a dome in the background.

Amir Mohammed
Program Leader, Teach for Italy
Roma

Man standing outdoors with trees and a wall in the background, wearing a denim shirt and burgundy t-shirt.
Aerial view of Piazza del Popolo in Rome, featuring an ancient Egyptian obelisk at the center and a distant view of St. Peter's Basilica in the background.
Woman in white blazer standing outdoors with ancient ruins in background.
Park with umbrella pine trees and grassy field

Francesca Conway
OBGYN
Roma

A woman in a white blazer stands in front of an ancient Roman aqueduct with arches, surrounded by grass and a path.
People walking and relaxing on a grassy path in a park with trees and ancient arches in the background.
Man with glasses and a beard in a light shirt outdoors during the day.
Two people browsing a vintage bookstall under a stone archway on a sunny street. The stall displays various books, posters, and magazines. A folding chair with a cloth draped over it stands nearby, and a pigeon is on the pavement.

Karem Rohana
Doctor, Human Rights Activist
Firenze

Man in white shirt and dark pants standing with arms crossed in front of an ornate doorway with columns and arch.
Old European buildings with shutters and hanging flags