Championing Diversity: Fernanda’s Journey

Born in the Latin American country of the Dominican Republic where she was first introduced to the world of sports and dance at age three, Fernanda embraced every opportunity to express herself physically and emotionally. 

Between the ages of three and 12 years old, Fernanda explored a range of sports, one of which included Taekwondo, a physically demanding and competitive sport. During that time, she realized that this sport wasn’t for her due to the amount of contact she was subjected to. As a result, Fernanda found interest and comfort in sports such as swimming and dancing. In particular, what felt like an 'ultra-feminine vibe' of ballet really resonated with Fernanda, allowing her to embrace her womanhood while honing her athletic prowess.

Reflecting on her most formative years, Fernanda attributes much of her passion for movement to her mother as she instilled in her the value of an active lifestyle. 

“I’m grateful that my mother pushed me to be very active from a young age. She reminded me that doing this was good for me and definitely worth it when you consider I’ve been doing it my whole life,” reflects Fernanda. 

Also inspired by trailblazers like Dominican swimmer, Marcos Diaz, and American Ballet Theatre dancer, Misty Copeland, Fernanda found solace and inspiration in their journeys as they navigated the complexities of their identities in their respective fields. “When I felt like stopping, Misty was a huge inspiration to just keep going and keep dancing,” recalls Fernanda.

As a Black student, Fernanda has had to confront the lack of diversity and representation within the dance world, and most specifically, the ballet community. She reflects on the historical absence of Black women in ballet, including the lack of black pointe shoes and the standardization of light pink ones that are more commonly worn. 

She references Misty Copeland and her advocacy for more inclusive practices in ballet dancing. “Even with Misty, I remember she was a huge advocate because us ballerinas, we didn’t have dark pointe shoes as they’re typically very light pink. Seeing the market for pointe shoes now, as well as the tights, you can notice how there is more and more representation in the world every single time you go and see a ballet show,” says Fernanda.

Fernanda also recalls having to alter her ballet costumes from a young age by painting her leotard the same shade of colour as her skin with the help of Foundation, a commonly used makeup product. She also mentions dyeing the elastics of her pointe shoes and the ribbons that she would use in her routines. 

“I remember being asked to turn it the same colour as my skin and hated ruining them because as you know, pointe shoes can be quite expensive. Every two weeks, a new pair is needed and I wouldn’t be able to wash them either. But when I started slowly seeing them on the market, I got super emotional because I was like, ‘Oh my god, this is so huge, you know?’ Having more options now means a lot to me,” recalls Fernanda. 

This tedious process and her realization of the mismatch between her skin colour and the shade of her costume truly emphasizes the systemic issues of limited options for Black dancers in the dance community.

Fernanda’s commitment to fostering cultural appreciation extends beyond her athletic pursuits. At TMU, she has been an integral part of various creative and cultural events. As the Events and Outreach Director of the Organization of Latin American Students, she has had the opportunity to assemble dynamic teams and craft memorable experiences that deeply resonate with the Latin student community. 

When questioned about her need to support others, she reflects on her admiration for collaborating with diverse groups and offering assistance wherever she can be of help. “I really enjoy working with people. It can be exhausting from time to time. I can’t be ignorant about that, but it’s so worth it when you think about all the different people you can meet and learn from,” responds Fernanda. 

This can be acknowledged when considering Fernanda’s involvement in TMU’s Athletics and Recreation Department. Serving as the Events Lead for the Equity and Outreach Team, she has shown remarkable leadership skills and dedication to cultivating an inclusive environment for all students. 

She has had the ability to unite students from diverse backgrounds by organizing events during orientation week. Some of these included Glow in the Dark Yoga, REC Day, and Women’s Only Volleyball.

“I got the pleasure to work alongside my managers and organize a bunch of activities that I was really proud of. It was definitely a big deal to me, especially when you’re doing something like this for the school,” reflects Fernanda.

As a third-year student with a major in Psychology and a minor in Sociology at Toronto Metropolitan University, Fernanda expresses her profound desire to integrate her passion for dance with her aspiration to help others, particularly performers and athletes like herself. 

She envisions a career path that will allow her to provide support systems for individuals undergoing the grueling stress and conditions of their respective sports.

“I know as someone who has had to go through it, it can get very tough mentally and physically. I was challenged a lot of the time and it can definitely take a toll on you when you don’t have the right support systems. You can get so alone in your head and I wouldn’t want other people to have to go through that,” reflects Fernanda.

Her advocacy for mental health shows her commitment to empowering others and is deeply rooted in her journey of self-discovery, where she dealt with the stigma surrounding mental health from a very young age.

“It’s very important to me. From my cultural background, mental health wasn’t really discussed growing up. It’s not something that many people can understand. They’ll tell you to get back up and call it a day but I don’t agree with that,” states Fernanda.  

Fernanda’s journey epitomizes the transformative power of dance, resilience, and advocacy. She continues to inspire change, challenge stereotypes, and help amplify voices that have been marginalized. Her story teaches us that together, we can continue celebrating diversity and dance toward a future where every individual is equally seen and heard.