That’s me as Carmen, but I’m Amancay Tapia, fooling around as Carmen.
How to Be More Confident:Lessons from Bizet’s Carmen
I’ve always been fascinated by Carmen — not just as the woman in Bizet’s opera, but as a character who refuses to behave the way society expects her to. I loved her so much, a few years ago, I dressed as Carmen( what in my mind Carmen looks like) and together with a couple of friends, we made a video about my idea of this character.
Unlike us, real women, this fictional character doesn’t apologise for being herself, independent or impossible to control. And although most of us aren’t going to start singing opera or running away with a soldier, there’s something about Carmen’s attitude that is worth thinking about.
How much of ourselves do we hold back because we’re worried about what other people will think? How often do we make ourselves smaller, nicer or more agreeable just to fit into the role someone else has given us?
In this video, I talk about what I call “Little Carmen” — that version of ourselves that holds back, seeks approval and is afraid to be completely herself.
It’s really about confidence, authenticity and allowing yourself to take up a bit more space.
So, perhaps it’s time to embrace your own main character era — not because you need to become somebody else, but because you might have spent too long hiding the person you already are.
Watch the full video here:
