There are so many inspiring people we can learn from, be it around us in our daily lives but also throughout history. One person I have always loved and looked up to is the Mexican artist Frida Kahlo. Here are five main reasons I love her:

1. She turned her suffering and hardships in life into amazing pieces of art with a unique surrealistic style consisting of vibrant colours, iconography, and symbolism. I also really respect how she incorporated traditional Mexican elements in her artwork, and was always proud of her heritage despite living abroad for several years.
2. She was a confident woman and came to accept her ‘unconventional’ looks and unibrow to such an extent that she became a fashion icon. Beauty really is about how you feel, not how you look.
3. She was a communist and even had Trotsky stay at her house. Enough said.
4. She loved animals and owned exotic pets, including Mexican hairless  Xoloitzcuintli dogs, spider monkeys, an Amazon parrot, an eagle and a fawn.
5. She was strong and determined, not letting her hospitalisation due to gangrene prevent her from visiting her first solo exhibition. She arrived there by ambulance.

My favourite quotes by Frida:

“I paint flowers so they will not die.” 

“Nothing is worth more than laughter. It is strength to laugh and to abandon oneself, to be light. Tragedy is the most ridiculous thing.”

“The most important thing for everyone in Gringolandia is to have ambition and become ‘somebody,’ and frankly, I don’t have the least ambition to become anybody.”

“Feet, what do I need you for when I have wings to fly?”