by Gabriel Brolli

From the vibrant streets of Barranquilla to the fashion runways of Milan, Italy, Lucia Puccini has carved her own path across continents. With a passion for sustainability and a love of modelling, she balances student life at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore with an international career – all while staying true to her purpose of making a global impact.

All roads lead to... Milan. When Lucia Puccini graduated from high school, like any 18-year-old, she asked herself: “What now?” Always on the move, she wasted no time. As soon as she received her diploma, she swapped the calm and somewhat monotonous vibe of Barranquilla, Colombia, for life among pasta and gelato in Florence, Italy.

She studied Italian there for four months before moving to Milan for work. As a model, a call from her agency could send her anywhere. But it wasn't love at first sight. The city felt too work-focused, especially when you're on your own.

During her gap year, she also travelled solo through Thailand, volunteered in Chiang Mai, and backpacked across other countries. “Taking gap years isn’t common where I’m from. People see gap years as if you’re lost or don’t want to work,” she says.

Then came periods in Colombia, France, Spain, and Egypt. It's hard to keep track. Modelling took her everywhere. When she decided to attend university, she sat with a university counsellor and had one request: “Anywhere in Europe, but Milan.”

But when she received the brochure for the BSc in International Relations and Global Affairs at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Milan, she knew it was the one.

Interested in environmental issues from an early age, she knows what she wants: project planning at the United Nations or Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo (BID), where many employees have studied International Relations.

She applied from a hostel in Thailand, and it was her sole application. “It was my only choice – I manifested it so much, I never thought I wouldn’t get in,” she says.

Reflecting on her childhood dream, she recalls wanting to be an environmentalist.

“My dad inspired me – he’s a pilot and a nature lover. We travelled to the Amazon, Nuquí, and other natural areas in Colombia. I’ve always seen environmental work as my purpose. I hope to use my voice in modelling to help spread awareness too,” she says.

In the meantime, we might see her on billboards, banners, or ads on social media. Living in the fashion capital turned out to be the perfect blend of everything.

“The university’s flexible schedule allows me to balance both worlds. I just switched agencies after a short modelling pause to adjust to university, and now I’m reintroducing it into my life,” she says.

Modelling taught her “confidence, patience, and faith in timing.” Right before moving to Milan, she spent three months living in Shanghai, China, for modelling. “Modelling took me out of my comfort zone and made me love being out of it.”

Committed to a healthy lifestyle and passionate about nutrition, she maintains a strict routine in Milan, where she has found a home. “Milan feels like home now. The first time I was here, I felt pressured and alone. This time, I came as a student, with friends going through the same experiences. That made a huge difference.” What makes her laugh is that now, travelling back to Colombia feels like a short vacation.