Sofia Martins

Who is Sofia?

Well, I was born in Faro and I think I was always a cheerful child but also a bit shy. I think I was observative about the others, I was finding the others fascinating. And it was a moment in my life when I was fourteen years old and I was about to dance, so I decided to join a dance club. This is really interesting because I could define something that could be a value for me and I think that dance was very important to me by that time and it still is. 

Later on, I was thinking about becoming a vet so I applied and then in the end I didn’t manage to get in. That’s how I ended studying psychology at the University of Algarve. To be honest I discovered a lot about myself at that time because I managed to create a lot of events. 

Eventually, I managed to go to Brazil and it was not the first time when I went out of The Peninsula Iberica. It really changed my mindset when I finally understood that going abroad is not that hard. To be honest, I didn’t have this idea about starting international projects at that time but I think it started right there. It was the moment when I realized that due to such projects people can grow up. 

In order to find myself, I went to one APF organization (Associação para o Planeamento da Família). Understanding your sexuality is significant as it’s a part of your identity. Also, it’s important what you think about your identity. Who am I as a woman? Considering your past and how people treated you. Even when it comes to justifying what you are wearing and why. How people treated you because you are fat or skinny, tall or black, homosexual, you know what I mean? It was a real life-changing experience. 

Moreover, I think that I am in constant progress. I am changing day by day.

What would you like to do when you grow up?

I want to be simply happy! I want to smile a lot! To have time for myself, family and friends. I want also to use my time in a more smart way if you know what I mean. I want to be more intelligent and release myself of others’ expectations like what we should be, what we should do, etc. I want to be able to accept whatever life brings me. I want not only to accept it but also to appreciate all of those gifts from life.

What is the first thing on your mind when you think about Faro?

(Well, I think it would be the capital of culture….it is inevitable. To be honest that’s a really tricky question because that’s this specific question you are asking people in order to make them think. ) – Joking.

To be honest it’s inevitable not to think about sunsets. The sunsets and the sea…

What would be the soundtrack of your life story?

Hmm…Well, I like a lot of types of completely different music and that’s why I can not define it. For instance, I like everything from pop, classical music, world music to Indian music. But if I have to choose I think I would go for  ZAZ – Je veux.

What is the place in Faro you are most connected to? Why?

The beach, yea definitely the beach. The beach of Faro, most close to Barrinha. I have this need, to be on the beach, to feel sand. To be there for the sunset, for water, for the Ocean.