michelle alves: content creator
some people you meet and immediately understand. not because they explain themselves clearly, but because something in how they move through the world is already familiar.
michelle alves is one of those people. a full-time content creator from southern brazil, she built her following not through performance, but through honesty. sharing what it actually looks like to leave the place you're from and learn to belong somewhere else. then somewhere else again.
this is a closer look at michele. how she moves, how she travels, and what keeps her going.
TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF
my name is michelle alves, and instead of immediately telling you my age and profession, I prefer to tell you that I am passionate about visiting museums, meeting my friends for a pilates class followed by brunch, and cuddling my cats whenever possible. even though I love traveling, I also love having a balanced routine with exercise, nourishing food, and a time to go to sleep and wake up. I am 32 years old and I believe the best phase of my life began after 30. I have a degree in advertising, and I completed a master’s in digital marketing in berlin, germany. see? this part isn’t as exciting as the others.
SO… WHERE DID YOUR JOURNEY BEGIN?
my mother says that since I was little I have dreamed of traveling the world. I remember watching documentaries on TV, and dreaming that one day I would visit them. even though I grew up visiting cities and beaches in my state, and only a few cities outside of it, it was only at 20 that I took my first international trip. It wasn’t just a trip, but a period living in the U.S. as an au pair, and that experience opened up a worldview I had never imagined having. after that, I began creating content about travel and exchange programs, focused mainly on a female audience, as a tool of courage and inspiration for anyone who wanted to live the same. twelve years after my first departure, I have now visited more than 30 countries and been an international student ten times over.
WHAT’S YOUR DEFINITION OF A PERFECT TRIP?
a place where I can immerse myself in art and history followed by good food. safety to walk peacefully through the streets. and stylish cafés to romanticize life. something like copenhagen, florence, or even antwerp in belgium.
WHAT DRAWS YOU TO KEEP MOVING?
curiosity. I think the world is so big and diverse that what keeps me wanting to travel is this curiosity to learn more about different cultures, unknown languages, new flavors, and new-to-me places.
WHAT’S THE BIGGEST LESSON YOU’VE LEARNED WHILE TRAVELING?
there is not just one way to live life. I learned it by observing the calmness of those who live by the sea, or on top of frozen mountains. those who live in a small village in the middle of turkey or in a big city like tokyo. there are many ways to live, and that is magical. in some way it shows me that I don’t have a life script to follow, and I can live it in the way I find best.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE TRAVEL MEMORY?
in 2019 I took a backpacking-style trip through eastern europe, and this was one of the most transformative experiences of my life. not necessarily because of the places I visited, but because of the way I allowed myself to live the trip. because of the learnings I had in almost 30 days traveling solo and meeting people along the way. I remember having many internal dialogues and realizations that I carry with me in my life to this day.
WHAT ARE THE NEXT DESTINATIONS ON YOUR LIST, AND WHY?
this year I’ll be visiting destinations that have been on my bucket list for years – one being egypt. what do you mean I’ll get to see the pyramids up close!? another trip on the docket this year is south korea. I’ve become more curious about east asia since my trip to japan so I’m excited to learn more!
AND FINALLY— WHAT DOES BEING WELL TRAVELLED MEAN TO YOU?
being well travelled, for me, is not about how many places fit on a map, but how many stories fit within me. it is traveling with intention, allowing encounters that transform us. It is talking, listening, sharing who I am and welcoming who the other is. it is remembering that, in a world driven by money, there are still exchanges that only happen when we are open in mind and heart.
MY TOP 5 DESTINATIONS OF ALL TIME:
tokyo, edinburgh, NYC, istanbul and stockholm.
THE FIRST THING I DO WHEN I STEP INTO A NEW COUNTRY:
find a cafe to drink a flat white and do some people watching.
MY TOP TIPS FOR HAVING A GOOD TRAVEL DAY:
get your e-sim always. have an extra battery for your phone. and set a period of time to wander around. Let the destination surprise you!
MY GO-TO AIRPLANE SNACK/DRINK:
I have this rule of only drinking starbucks at the airport. it does not taste the same in other places, I swear.
THE THING THAT INSTANTLY MAKES A PLACE FEEL LIKE HOME:
playing my favorite songs white getting ready for the day!
MY RIDE-OR-DIE TRAVEL ACCESSORY:
my diary.
follow mi's journey on social: @lifebymialves
well travelled began with conversations like this one. people who have lived across borders, internally and externally, and who recognise something in each other that's difficult to name in a single place.
the community is small and intentional. if you've read this far and felt something shift, that's probably reason enough to reach out.
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