The Proverbial Mr. Universe (37 page)

“Maybe my dad had been right all along about you.”

“Maybe he was,” he said softly. “I never meant to hurt you.”

“Go to hell, Montgomery!” She couldn’t look at him any longer.

She turned and walked out. When she reached the street, her eyes began to water. Now she knew what it felt like to crash and burn.

O
livia slammed the door. It might as well have been a door slam to his heart. The noise was deafening, swift, and quick, and just like that it was all over. He wondered how long it would take for it all to sink in, for what he had done to the both of them. It was the most difficult thing he had to do. He had to muster all the strength not to go after her, because he knew he was doing the right thing. When you loved someone, you shouldn’t hold them back. You have to set them free.

So, he let her go. In the words of the Lucio Dalla song “Canto”:
being away from her, cannot live, to be without her, kills me.
And Nick let it kill him.

Press print

Interview Vivre magazine/ May 2016

By Giovanna Oddi, translated by Bianca Jones

Why should you know her?

Olivia Montiano is a 24-year-old beauty from Montreal, who works behind the scenes as a stylist for magazines such as W. Moda Italia and L Magazine. She has become an overnight sensation thanks to street style and social media, which made her the go-to girl for fashion. Whatever this girl shows up wearing, it automatically flies off the shelves. Her style is photographed and copied all over the world. She is an asset and in demand, a hot commodity for designers and fashion magazines. After playing phone tag for weeks, she finally agreed to meet me for an interview at a café nearby where she worked for W. Moda Italia. I have seen the pictures online and now seeing her in person I can see what the buzz is all about. She said she never modeled, but she is stunning to look at. She reminds me of Sophia Lauren with a modern edge. Miss Montiano is wearing a gray, fitted sweatshirt that has a print of a cowboy with the text: Billy the Kid. Underneath that she wears a crisp white shirt, a pair light faded blue jeans, coupled with Manalo black pumps. I’m sure as soon as this article is published, all these items will be hot sellers.

What do you think when people dub you a style icon?

“It’s surreal.” She laughs. “I’ve been an assistant designer in Montreal, and now to get so much attention on what I wear … it’s just funny the irony of how things happen in life. But no, I don’t consider myself a style icon. I’m just passionate about clothing and love to create looks. I guess, to me, it comes naturally. I want to create a beautiful image, and if I get people to react to it, then I think that’s great. Then, I’ve done my job.”

How would you describe your style?

“My style was much different from when I first arrived in Milan nearly a year ago. I do adore the Milanese style, so sophisticated, more than you’d normally see back home. I am not a fan of minimalism; more color, more jewelry the better. I believe great accessories complete an outfit. I love to mix pieces that you wouldn’t normally think go together, but somehow it works.”

What does fashion mean to you?

“Fashion is a form of art, a way to express yourself through clothing. It should be fun, and you should never take yourself too seriously. Fashion is a way you can always reinvent yourself. In some way, fashion determines who we are … doesn’t it?

Who influences your style?

“Oh, I have so many designers I love dearly that inspire. Even those who are not in the fashion industry … like my dear friend, who’s an artist back at home in Montreal. He wears these lame graphic T-shirts, but he remains true to his style, and I guess in retrospect, he influenced me. Dress the way that makes you feel comfortable and dress to please yourself. You shouldn’t have to change for anyone. So yeah, he’s been a great influence on my style. Now, I put on one of those lame graphic tees and pair it with an overly beaded pencil skirt and some heels, step out, and it will be all over the internet by tomorrow morning. He would be so proud.” She laughs.

What does your boyfriend think of your new found fame?

“No. No boyfriend. Who has time for a boyfriend? During fashion week I sometimes work twenty hours a day. Believe me, I do not stop. My job is my life and doesn’t leave room for anything else.”

When are you going to design your line?

“Ah, it’s funny, people keep asking me that. Like I said, I had worked as an assistant designer, so I don’t know, maybe I will get back into it. It’s something I’ve been thinking about somewhere down the line. Right now I am so busy, but, yeah, it’s never too far from my mind.”

Where do you see yourself in a year from now?

“Who knows? I might stay here in Milan or go back home to Montréal. But one thing is for sure: working for W. Moda has been a dream come true. I will be forever grateful for Celina Toridini for giving me the opportunity to work for her magazine. It certainly has opened some doors for me and taken my career on a new path. My phone is ringing nonstop. I’m humbled by the attention that I’ve been getting. I’m finally living out my dream.”

O
livia arrived at Trudeau Airport with a carry-on bag and a small suitcase. She had flown in from Milan to visit her family for a few weeks. Her job was very demanding. When fashion season began it was nonstop, running from one show to another. And when the season was over, she was busy planning the next photoshoot for the magazine. Working for the W. Moda Italia had opened many doors for her. The exposure to Italian fashion gave her a better outlook on style, better than the garment industry in Montreal could ever do. Her contract was coming up for renewal and Celina wanted her to stay, but this newfound fame had opened up all kinds of opportunities. She wasn’t sure what she wanted to do next. She needed time to think, so it was a vacation well deserved. It had been a while since she saw her family, and she missed them dearly. She had Skype time with her sister and mother often enough, but it wasn’t the same. Olivia had enough distractions, pouring herself into her work, to make her forget how homesick she was. And then there was Nick. A small part of her was afraid to come back. Nick was never far from her mind. After they went their separate ways, she never attempted to reach out to him. Olivia didn’t see the point in chasing someone who didn’t want her in his life. She had begun to wonder if he even loved her at all.

Once she got to Milan, things got better … actually great. She was finally living her dream, and the experience alone was priceless. After her apartment was sold, Paul and Peter managed to place the rest of her belongings in her parents’ basement. She came back to Montreal for a couple of days for the signing of the sale, which was the last time she saw or heard from Dario. After her father’s sixty-sixth birthday party, things went downhill for Dario. It was finally revealed that he was doing illegal things through her father’s company, so he was immediately canned. Once her father officially retired, Paul was made chairman of the board. And now baby Christina was almost a year, and with his wife, Elise, Paul’s life was finally falling into place.

The charges against her father were dropped. The media’s coverage of her father’s case ceased to exist, but James Montiano’s condition just worsened with time. According to her mom, these days he liked to sit in front of the TV and not interact much with anyone around him. It had been hard for her mother to watch him transform, and a big part of Olivia felt sorry for leaving.

One of the very last things her father told her before going was, “It seems I’ve made the wrong choice for the right reasons, you understand? If only I had open my eyes, I would have known what Dario was really like. I would have never allowed him to hurt you.”

“I know, Daddy. It’s not your fault. How could you have known? I kept it from you because I didn’t want to disappoint you. I wanted you to be proud of me.” Olivia’s eyes teared up.