Today we’d like to introduce you to Désirée Triolo.
Désirée, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I am a native Italian born and raised in Palermo, Italy. I moved to the lone star state becoming a proud Houstonian in 2016 and a US citizen in 2018. I have been traveling the world since I was a child, growing up between Italy and the United States, living for extended periods of time in New York City, Wayne, NJ, and, more recently, Houston.
I’m an alumna of Bocconi University, one of the top business and management schools in the world, where I was conferred a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Management for Arts, Culture and Communication in 2013 and an M.Sc. in Marketing Management, with a major in Business Communications and Social Media, in 2015.
I am currently Senior Associate at EY in their Brand, Marketing & Communications department.
My high school sweetheart, Daniele, and I have been together for 11 years and we got married in 2016. He is Finance Director at ZT Sliver Pay and the Altus Foundation, an organization that provides premium health care services to those in need. And we have a furry son, Elvis, a peppy native Italian French Bulldog.
Four years ago, during my graduate studies in Milan, I discovered my passion for sports and a healthy lifestyle and armed with sneakers and dumbbells, I decided to dedicate my free time to fitness. It started as a hobby, became a true passion, and now I’m a NASM certified Personal Trainer and founder of the Instagram account @itsdesifit. My fitness journey started in 2014 thanks to Kayla Itsines’s BBG Program, a 12 week workout guide that promises to help you achieve a “bikini body” – not a perfect body, but a body you feel comfortable in by learning to love yourself and accept your flaws because “you are beautiful, just the way you are…”.
During those 12 weeks, I found strength, I became the most resilient version of myself, and most of all, I had fun! Making fitness enjoyable is the key to turning the habit of working out and living a healthy way of life, into a lifestyle. Being one of the first BBG girls, I became close to Kayla and her team, and thanks to their ongoing support, I plan monthly fitness events in the greater Houston area as part of her BBG Community. I also believe that giving back to the community is extremely important, and I like to donate my time to the Altus Foundation, leading their quarterly fitness events #AltusStrong.
Fitness has made me the strongest, most confident and resilient version of myself and I hope that through my guidance, I may help my clients become THEIR BEST SELVES.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
In 2016 I was attacked by our family dog and that “accident” left me with a broken nose, a crushed septum and a bunch of ugly scars in my face. At first, I felt devastated. My heart was broken and I did not accept the image I saw reflecting in the mirror. It was surely one of the toughest times of my life. But thanks to the love of those surrounding me, and by practicing a lot of self-love, I learned to accept my scars and understand that life is not about what happens to us, but about how we react to the good and bad situations that occur.
So, one day I looked at myself in the mirror and said to myself: ”Désirée, if you are telling your followers that they should love themselves no matter what, that they should learn to accept their flaws and value them, instead of hating them, you MUST do it too.”
What happened to me was out of my control, but I decided to get back up, stronger than ever. This experience shaped me as a person, and today, as a trainer. To all the young women starting their journeys: I want you to truly believe that YOU ARE ENOUGH and you should never, ever, let anyone or anything take away your sparkle!
Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I believe that a healthy body is key to a happy life, and for this reason, I have decided to dedicate my free time to fitness. As a trainer, I offer both live personal training sessions/group classes and online coaching. Whether you have access to a gym or you plan to workout at home, I will deliver customized plans based on your needs & goals, check your progress weekly and set challenging, yet achievable, goals together with you.
I am most proud of the community of strong women I have built around myself. Thanks to social media, I have the opportunity to speak to thousands of like-minded women and their ongoing support and belief in my cause are what keeps me going.
During the summer of 2018, I planned my first very own fitness event in Palermo, Italy – my hometown. I had no clue what to expect, I did not know if sponsors would support me, and most of all, I wasn’t sure if people would show up. Not only did sponsors such as Women’s Best, KIND and Emmy’s Organics – to name just a few – jump on board and believe in my project, but the event sold out in less than 2 hours with participants coming from all over Italy! That was overwhelming and unexpected! The energy you could feel during the event, the girl power that you could breathe in the air, is what makes my heart beat! Here’s a link to the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFi-b0OnqH8
And when I am not wearing my eccentric leggings and sports bra, I transform into a true Marketer!
Do you have a lesson or advice you’d like to share with young women just starting out?
Hard work pays off. That is the true key to success. Believe in your dreams, and dream big but always remember that you must put your heart and soul into achieving your goals.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.itsdesifit.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsdesifit
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/itsdesifit
Getting in touch: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
