EVERY DALB WOMAN HAS A UNIQUE STORY TO TELL
SUCCESS, CHALLENGES AND STYLE FROM REMARKABLE WOMEN
Sometimes you need to lose bits and pieces in order to complete yourself once more because in this perpetual movement you’d experience great inspiration. We've found tremendous joy in talking to Christina Oné, photographer and content creator, not in order to understand more about her career and style, but to surrender to the beauty of her inner resources.
ON HER JOURNEY TO BECOMING A VISUAL ARTIST, HER ADOLESCENCE AND FIRST YEARS AT THE UNIVERSITY
First time my parents had suggested that I applied to art school, right before high school admission, I was completely against the idea. I even had a full-on dramatic episode with tears and protests, insisting that I wanted a more stable and secure future. Despite their efforts to highlight the exciting aspects of an artist's life— since I had been showing talent in drawing over the years, from doodling all over the house as a toddler to winning art competitions later on—I stood firm in my decision. They finally asked me to grant them just one favour: to visit the art school, take a look around, and if I still wouldn't be interested, they would never bring it up again. I agreed, mostly to get them off my back.
When we pulled up in front of the building on Berthelot Street, I took one look at its worn-down exterior and didn't even want to get out of the car. But they convinced me to at least step inside. The moment I walked through those doors, it was like stepping into another world, I felt like Alice in Wonderland. The hallways and workshops were filled with students' artwork, and I was completely captivated. That was the moment everything changed for me. With only four days left to prepare, I took the entrance exam, scored straight 10s on all the tests, and that’s how it all began.
I started out studying graphics in high school, later switching to painting, and eventually continued with painting at the University of Arts in the Faculty of Fine Arts. Looking back now, those years seem to have flown by, and I can't help but feel a wave of nostalgia.
''Creativity feels like wrestling with a dragon—it’s a muscle that needs regular training. ''
ON WHERE DID SHE LEARN PHOTOGRAPHY AND VIDEOGRAPHY
I still have my dad's notebooks filled with his detailed notes on photography techniques from when he was young. He’s always been passionate about photography and passed that passion on to me from an early age. Everything I know about the technical side of things, I owe to him, while the artistic side has developed through years of studying visual arts. Videography is a more recent addition to my skill set, especially since Instagram started pushing video content. I think my photography background really shows in how I try to craft my videos.
ON WHO IS CHRISTINA ONE NOW AND WHO WAS SHE 10 YEARS AGO
"How wonderful that you exist, how amazing that I am"—these lines by Nichita Stănescu always come rushing into my mind whenever someone asks me who Christina is. It sounds so much more charming in Romanian, "Ce bine că eşti, ce mirare că sunt" but you get the idea. Exactly 10 years ago, I was on the verge of coming out of a lost phase. One chapter was closing, and another one was about to begin—the one that’s still going on today. Now, just when I think I've gotten there, I realize I haven't even started.
ON HER TRAJECTORY FROM PHOTOGRAPHER TO CONTENT CREATOR AND AMBASSADOR FOR ESTABLIHSED INTERNATIONAL BRANDS
I was in the final months of high school when I started my first photography jobs, and they continued throughout my years of studying painting at university, and still do today. My first big collaboration, which also opened the door to the world of content creation, was a photography project with Samsung. It was a really successful project that ran for several years and even won an award. I called it Samsung Seasons. This photography project, entirely my creation, was what opened the door to content creation and also laid the foundation for the amazing partnership I now have with Samsung, a brand that’s very close to my heart, for which I am currently an ambassador.
''Be kind to yourself, because the only reality that exists is the one shaped by your thoughts. Take the lead role and step into the light.''
ON SOMETHING THAT NOT MANY PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT HER
My rational side has always tried to control the creative process with logic, since I grew up focusing on developing an analytical and systematic thinking. Meanwhile, my creative side often felt stifled by this restrictive and calculated approach. This contrast might surprise those who know me only through my visual work and think of me as a dreamy, somewhat detached artist. In reality, I can be quite cold and blunt, because of my highly logical way of thinking and working, which might be unexpected for someone in the creative field.
ON THE SOURCE OF HER INCREDIBLE CREATIVE NONCHALANCE
Creativity feels like wrestling with a dragon—it’s a muscle that needs regular training. When I’m trying to solve a visual problem, I steer clear of the obvious routes and look for connections that might seem random or unrelated at first. I guess "unconventional" is the word that fits best.
For all this mental exercise, art history is my steady guide, like a program running in the background. I also love following artists from around the world—photographers, directors, videographers, painters—anyone who focuses on artistic content. It helps me keep growing my visual culture.
ON PODCASTS, MOVIES AND BOOKS THAT MADE AN IMPRESSION ON HER LATELY
I recently discovered the YouTube channel ‘The Diary of a CEO’, which features interviews with influential people from various fields, many of whom are definitely worth following.
When it comes to films, although it’s not a recent find, I always recommend ‘Why Beauty Matters’, a film documentary by Roger Scruton. It discusses the importance of beauty and the impact of its decline on art. I believe everyone should watch it at some point.
At the moment, I’m exploring the works of Sienkiewicz and Dostoyevsky, as my early encounters from adolescence don’t really count. For those still searching for the meaning of life and trying to understand human nature, I highly recommend Simone de Beauvoir’s ‘All Men Are Mortal’. In fact, I’d recommend it to everyone.
ON HER MOST KIND ADVICE TO WOMEN WHO DON'T KNOW HOW TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES
We could start from here: nothing really matters. So, be kind to yourself, because the only reality that exists is the one shaped by your thoughts. Take the lead role and step into the light.
ON A FASHION TREND THAT SHE LIKES
I’m really into integrating masculinity into women’s fashion. I love bold, striking lines and a balanced mix of Gothic, minimalist, and theatrical elements, along with the all-black, dominating look that The Matrix made so iconic. Add some theatricality, drama, and the futuristic edge of Mugler’s '90s designs to something like Gestapo-style coats, and you’ve got it—no matter what, I always end up back in that dominating sphere.
ON HOW SHE WOULD FILM A TIMELESS DRESS IN A WAY THAT ALL WOMEN WOULD REMEMBER IT
I’d “render unto Caesar what is Caesar's” and dress up Nicole Kidman in a timeless gown, placing her back in Kubrick’s film, Eyes Wide Shut. I could have gone with Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly or Marilyn Monroe in The Seven Year Itch, but that would be too predictable and lacking in tension. Instead, I’ll leave it to Kubrick’s perfectly balanced and symbolic frames and I'm sure everyone will remember it.
