Charlotte Moccia: “This way I will pay for America”

This article is published in number 47 of Vanity Fair on newsstands until November 22, 2022

Warning to Parents: Never underestimate a digital native. It might surprise you by showing you that striking the right balance between real and virtual life is strange but possible. Of digital natives who
are successful on the web the Millennium is full. The case of Charlotte M, born Charlotte Moccia, born in Florence and raised in Serravalle Pistoiese, is one of these. At eight years old, with the help of her parents, she posted her first YouTube video of her posing as a mermaid. In a short time she reached 200,000 views.
Today, who is 14 years old and has over a million followers on YouTube and TikTok, Charlotte has two novels, a comic book, music tracks, collaborations with various brands, her own collection of sneakers, the dubbing of the new film by ‘animation The Nutcracker and the Magic Flute and a starring film due out in 2023, titled Charlotte M – The Movie Flamingo Party, inspired by his first novel. How she intends to capitalize on today to plan for the future, she explained to us herself.

The secret to managing everything?
«I’m very organised: every Sunday afternoon I prepare the agenda for the week».

Your typical day?
«Wake up at 6.30 or 5.30 if I have to go over again. Breakfast, school, return for lunch and then 30 minutes of rest. Afterwards, I look at the agenda, register for TikTok, take pictures or post a story. When I finish I go to the gym and in the evening I read or study».

How do teachers see it?
“In sixth grade I had a bad experience with a math teacher. I studied a lot, I liked her subject, but she said: “Go back to making those films”. I had to change schools. Today I attend scientific high school and, even if sometimes I am absent for days, I do well in all subjects. I’m determined and the teachers don’t randomly give me good grades: they want my commitment».

Many post videos and stories daily. Why was she so successful?
«I think for spontaneity: friends tell me: “In the videos you are the same as in reality!”. Social media is my way of venting: I pause reality and turn on TikTok and then, conversely, I pause TikTok and return to reality».

What role do mom and dad play in this journey?
«They have always followed me in everything. My mom is a goddess to me: she knows how to give me the right advice, she helped me deal with certain bad moments, she introduced me to yoga and meditation, making me understand that disconnecting your mind recharges you with positive energy. Then there’s my dad, super sweet, who pays me attention. I have parents who want my happiness. And if they see that I’m happy with these projects, they help me».

What would you say to parents who, on the other hand, are wary of their children’s activities on social media?
“I believe that social networks are not a 100 percent safe place, but they can become useful if managed well and this is what a parent should do: support their child and guide them on the right path”.

In his videos he shows life situations that every teenager experiences. What does he want to convey?
“Above all joy and fun. I like to deal with topics that are meaningful but at the same time make you smile. The goal is to make the people who look at me feel good. Even writing has its weight: my generation doesn’t read, there are those who think “if you read you’re a loser”. I try to break down certain clichés, explain that reading means feeling real emotions. For this I wrote two novels and a comic. Result: fans always bring books to the meetings to sign and ask me when the next one will come out».

He also receives many commercial proposals, his name has become a brand. What relationship does it have with money?
«Making money isn’t my main interest, but I keep it in mind with a view to being able to carry out the projects I care about in the future, such as going to study in the United States. I also really like doing charity, for people and for animals. Helping others makes me feel good. I think I’m on the web for this too».

Acting is an important experience at her age. What did making a film mean to you?
“Acting has always been a goal of mine. As a child, I went to Rome every Saturday to study acting. It made me feel at home. On the set of Flamingo Party I felt appreciated and listened to. While making the film, I also made a fantastic friend. When I act I feel like myself and I have also discovered my very personal way of doing it: I don’t follow rules and I use the muscles of my face to make strange, different, striking expressions».

What did he have to give up for popularity?
“I have some difficulty finding sincere people to let into my life.”

Do you ever want moments of total privacy, away from parents, from the video camera, from social commitments?
“Yes, especially now. This month I said to myself: every time I have a free moment I want to be alone with myself, surrounded by nature, to get to know myself better. I’m still small, I don’t know who I am, what I really like to do. And I feel the need to find out. Then it is important to find even just ten minutes a day to think about the beautiful aspects of your life. Every evening, before going to sleep, I take a notebook called “the 5 minute diary” and write down the things I was grateful for that day».

What will she be grateful for today?
«For the food I ate, for finishing my math homework, for shearing and perfuming my beloved dog, Fiocco. And, last but not least, for giving this interview».

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