Deni Todorovič // On style, sexuality, and striving for self-acceptance

10.21.2021 - By Sarah Davidson Play

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You know one of the main facets of the Seize the Yay philosophy is separating what you do from who you are but, naturally, our conversations still touch on “the doing” because work is inextricably related with finding your overall purpose or passion in life. Today’s guest, however, has faced perhaps more upheaval in relation to “the being “– not so much in finding what you love but in finding who you are.

Growing up as a Jehovah’s Witness to hard-working, immigrant parents in regional Victoria, Deni Todorovič's environment didn’t exactly foster the language or conversations that allowed them to fully articulate their identity until almost their 20s. But having come out not once, but TWICE since then (along with all the torment and confusion that accompanies such big shifts in identity), Deni is now living their absolute best life as a non-binary role model encouraging us all to honour who we are as well as gently and patiently helping us all learn more about the language and landscape of gender identity and sexuality.

For someone who once didn't feel like they had the language to express how they felt, Deni is one of the most articulate guests I’ve had the pleasure of speaking with sharing so openly about even the most awkward elements of gender fluidity i.e. we learn how they pick which bathrooms to use. Sexuality aside, Deni has also had an incredible pathYAY working their way from shit kicking intern all the way up to Fashion Editor at Cosmopolitan right up until its closure in 2018.

Their insights are equally as powerful in dealing with the unexpected loss of dreams embracing a giant pivot to move back to Geelong and embrace the freelance world wholeheartedly (including becoming the face of The Body Shop's Self Love Campaign - a company you know I adore working with). Their energy and passion for equality and kindness is so infectious and energising (and the gold sparkles I turned up in barely did Deni justice) – I hope that they bring your heart the warmth that mine was filled with the whole way through.