The Albanian-Swiss icon on legacy, resilience, and building a life driven by intention.
Few journeys embody reinvention quite like Angela Martini’s. Born in Shkodër, Albania, and raised in Switzerland after immigrating at the age of nine, Martini’s story is rooted in discipline, ambition, and an unshakable belief in possibility. Guided by parents who modeled perseverance, academic rigor, and entrepreneurial vision, she learned early that success is built, not given.
After launching her modeling career in Europe, Angela’s move to Miami at 21 marked a turning point. Signed with NEXT Model Management in Miami and Elite Model Management in New York City, she quickly became a sought-after presence, working with brands and publications including JCPenney, Macy’s, GQ, Maxim, Esquire, and Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. In 2010, she made history as Miss Universe Albania, earning a sixth-place finish at Miss Universe in Las Vegas, the highest placement for her country to date.
Yet modeling was only one chapter. Driven by a desire to create impact beyond the camera, Angela expanded into life coaching, film production, and authorship. Certified as a life coach in 2017, she channels her experience into helping others align purpose with action. Producing has become her deepest passion, with multiple films already released and new projects, including a reality series, in development. Her memoir is Love. Hope. Light, published by Simon & Schuster, stands as both a tribute to her late mother and a testament to resilience, family, and the power of belief.
In this interview, Angela Martini reflects on her evolution from pageant queen to producer and mentor, the lessons that shaped her mindset, and what it truly means to build a life anchored in purpose, creativity, and legacy.
Follow Angela @angela_martini
Hi Angela, We last interviewed you a few years ago, and a lot has changed since then. How would you describe this current chapter of your life in one sentence?
This chapter is about clarity, boundaries, and building a life that finally reflects who I truly am.
When you look at your journey today, what part of your identity feels most dominant: model, producer, author, or life coach… or something entirely new?
Something new. I’m no longer defined by one role but by the vision I’m building.
What has surprised you most about yourself over the last few years?
I was shocked to realize that what I once thought was impatience was actually a very deep, powerful patience—one that goes far beyond what I ever believed and is reserved for what truly matters—and at the same time, I truly discovered how powerful my mind is, something I always sensed but only fully understood in recent years.
You built an international career in modeling, but producing has become your main passion. What was the moment you realized you wanted to be behind the camera, not just in front of it?
It happened naturally when I started thinking in stories, structures, and outcomes—not just images.
How does your mindset differ when you are developing a film versus stepping onto a photoshoot set?
Film requires leadership and foresight; modeling is about surrendering to the moment.
You became a certified life coach in 2017. How has that training changed the way you handle pressure, criticism, and success?
Life coaching helped me separate feedback from identity and pressure from purpose, and it trained me to respond instead of react—using both criticism and success as information, not definition.
Do you find that your own personal challenges make you a better mentor to others?
Yes—absolutely. I’ve faced many personal challenges since I was very young, almost like living many different lives, and that’s what allows me to truly understand others. Because I’ve been through so many scenarios myself, I naturally see situations from a much broader perspective and can easily step into other people’s shoes.
What is one lesson you consistently share with people that you wish you had learned earlier in life?
Find your role in this life and become aware of your lessons—what you’re here to learn and who you’re meant to become. Karma is like a GPS for your life; when you understand it and follow it, everything starts to make sense.
Growing up between Albania, Switzerland, and the U.S. shaped your worldview. How do those roots influence the woman and business leader you are today?
Growing up between Albania, Switzerland, and the U.S. taught me how to adapt, read people, and understand different value systems, while also training me to see situations from more than one angle rather than accepting a single worldview as absolute.
Your book, Love. Hope. Light was deeply personal. Has your relationship with your own story changed since publishing it?
Yes, it has. Since publishing the book, I’ve continued doing deeper inner work, and my relationship with my own story feels freer and more open. I’m less attached to the story itself and more focused on sharing it in a way that can inspire others—because even if it helps just one person, my job is done.
Would you ever consider writing another book, perhaps from a more business or spiritual perspective?
Yes, absolutely. If I write another book, it would likely blend spirituality, love, and real stories from my life—something honest and unconventional that brings it all together.
How do you personally define success now, compared to when you first entered the fashion world?
Early on, success was about external validation—today it’s about inner peace and building a life that feels true.
Who would play you in a movie about your life?
Angelina Jolie.
Which place that you have visited do you think changed you in a particular way, maybe for motivation or to see a different reality, etc.?
There isn’t one exotic place I can point to. What truly changed me in a deep way was the U.S.—it pushed me, challenged me, and expanded my sense of possibility. Living here shifted my mindset, motivated me to grow, and opened a different spiritual and personal reality for me.
Tell us your top 3 countries to travel to. And which countries or cities are still on your bucket list?
My top three countries to travel to are Albania, Switzerland, and Bali—they each ground me in different ways. On my bucket list is Japan.
I’m drawn to India—especially Rishikesh—and Australia.
How would your best friend describe you?
You’d have to ask them. @xhesikaberberi, @briannabardhi, @itsKleoniki, @cindymarianaa
Which fictional character would be the most exciting to meet in real life?
Cleopatra—because power, mystery, and strategy in one woman will always fascinate me.
What’s next for Angela Martini in 2026?
In 2026, I’m focused on deepening creative work—producing new stories, expanding my spiritual and personal expression, and building projects that resonate globally and meaningfully.
Something people don’t know about you?
Something people don’t realize is how deeply spiritual I am and how connected I feel to the unseen world.
Where can we follow you?
You can follow me on social media at @angela_martini.
