Adriana Garcia Cruz exudes a confidence that is hard to miss, but this sense of self-assurance didn’t come easily.
“I wouldn’t do this interview if I was younger and I think, like, [not] even five years ago,” she reflects.
Cruz’s story begins in Colombia, during a time of societal unrest. She and her husband lived modestly, but the challenges of classism were ever-present. Cruz recalls the desire to break free from these limitations.
“We didn’t experience the violence in our city in Bogotá, where I was with him. But we really wanted to try to elevate our careers to a higher level,” she explains.
In 2006, Cruz moved to Canada with the aspiration of becoming a photographer. Despite the support of family and friends, her journey wasn’t without its hurdles. While she worked on building her portfolio and establishing a studio, Cruz faced emotional struggles as she tried to settle in her new environment.
“At first, I didn’t feel very comfortable, and when I realized there were places where I could go just with women, I started to attend and I felt more at ease,” Cruz shares with CTV News.
It was then that she discovered Dress for Success, an organization dedicated to providing professional clothing and career programs for underemployed women.
The suiting program, which includes personalized styling, became a turning point for Cruz. Through this service, she received the attire she needed to feel empowered during client meetings.
“To be received like that, with a little interview at the beginning, and to really listen to me—‘What do you want to express? For which occasions do you need these clothes?’ It was an excellent experience,” she says.
This is a sentiment that Sophie Katz-Milo, executive director of Dress for Success Montreal, has heard frequently. Under her leadership, the charity’s Montreal chapter has seen demand triple in less than five years.
“Many of our clients come from diverse backgrounds—refugees, immigrants, members of the LGBTQ2S+ community, Indigenous women, or those who have survived domestic violence. These women often struggle with feeling wanted and lack self-confidence,” Katz-Milo explains.
With the help of donations and volunteers, Dress for Success has impacted over 1.3 million women globally, while bringing their personal stories to light.
Cruz, now a confident photographer, expresses, “I don’t think I’ve ever had someone come into my studio and say, ‘I feel wonderful,’ or even ‘I feel OK.’”
Having learned to feel at ease in her own skin, Cruz is now on a mission to inspire other women in Montreal to embrace their confidence and potential.
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