Even for individuals who search to be the focus, the highlight typically comes with a heavy value. In a world the place gossip guidelines a lot of the mediasphere, even non-celebrities can find yourself caught up within the maelstrom of intense public consideration. Particularly in the event that they’re carefully related to somebody well-known and recognizable. Gabriela Berlingeri skilled that, and to a level only a few can relate to, throughout the time she dated probably the most well-known folks on the planet — Dangerous Bunny.

The story of how Berlingeri and the Latin entice artist had an opportunity assembly and began up a relationship again in 2017 has turn into a part of his lore. The 2 had been collectively for a number of years and even collaborated on a handful of songs. She was even shouted out in “Acho PR,” a single off his newest album “Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana.”

The main points of when and the way the connection ended have been saved near their chests, in tune with what was already a extremely non-public romance. And whereas media shops have coated each final one in all Dangerous Bunny’s strikes within the final yr, Berlingeri has immersed herself in her ardour venture — her jewellery line, DiciembreVeintinueve. Named after her delivery date, the model has additionally aided her in discovering new and wholesome views on self-love and life past a high-profile relationship.

Raised all her life within the beachy Isla Verde neighborhood of Carolina, Puerto Rico, Berlingeri has at all times counted herself as near nature. She describes her household as one stuffed with “creators,” a trait that she feels proud to observe.

“My grandmother makes stained glass, my dad designed all his tattoos, plus he loves portray. My aunt is an architect. My household has been fairly inventive,” Berlingeri tells POPSUGAR. “The act of constructing one thing your self, together with your arms, is superb.”

In her case, Berlingeri gravitated towards jewellery. “A lot of folks say they can not sleep with their jewellery on, however I at all times sleep with them,” she says. “I get up, and even when I am not sporting anything, I will have my jewellery on me.”

Her curiosity solely elevated after she labored alongside a neighborhood jewellery designer and realized methods to craft items herself. In 2019, she started to plant the seeds for what would finally turn into DiciembreVeintinueve (or D29, as it is also recognized). The model launched in November 2020 following pandemic-related delays, and since then it is churned out lovely necklaces, bracelets, earrings, rings, and extra, all made in-house by Berlingeri and her crew utilizing domestically sourced supplies.

Berlingeri says she has long-term concepts for collections however prefers to be impressed within the second on the subject of particular person designs. When requested how she comes up with them, she says: “It’s extremely random. I will sit down, go over what items I’ve at hand, placed on my AirPods, and begin linking them collectively. It is like constructing a puzzle.”

This month D29 is releasing its Valentine’s Day assortment with items such because the Nabelle “Unicorn” Necklace, and a two-piece “Thelma and Louise” Necklace to share between greatest associates. This yr’s theme is devoted to self-love, wholesome friendships, and the necessary bond between one’s thoughts, physique, and spirit while you start to deal with you. Final July, they dropped the Rhea Assortment, a line impressed by the colours of Puerto Rico’s pure basins, rivers, forests, and seashores. It was an concept that out of the blue sprang to Berlingeri only some months in the past. She determined to take a street journey across the island to search for additional inspiration. It reveals in quite a lot of the items — simply take a look at the inexperienced tourmaline stones that make up the collar of the Medare Necklace, which she factors out can characterize not solely the inexperienced of the flora but in addition how river and ocean water can typically tackle a inexperienced hue.

“The stones we use in our collections are pure, semiprecious,” she shares. “I’ve had a number of seaside inspiration earlier than, however this time I wished to incorporate extra of the rivers and forests. Puerto Rico is thought for its seashores, however we have now many lovely rivers and I wished to seize their colours.”

One other piece, the Casa Necklace, reveals a palm tree within the foreground and a mountain vary within the background, which displays a view many locals stay with daily — the coast on one aspect and the central mountains on the opposite. As Berlingeri places it, “A lot of folks will relate as a result of we’re a small island. Attending to a seaside isn’t that arduous, though I do know there are vicissitudes.” She remembers a information report she noticed as soon as about communities within the highest factors of Puerto Rico, the place folks had gone their whole lives with out leaving their cities. “There’s a number of poverty in Puerto Rico, up within the mountains, greater than folks understand,” she provides. “There are households residing there who’ve by no means seen the ocean, and so they don’t have any means [to visit the coast].”

As she speaks candidly and enthusiastically about this assortment and future tasks, together with quickly increasing D29 to promote bathing fits, her pleasure is palpable. She’s surrounded by a devoted all-women crew of individuals she considers shut associates, together with head designer Shelby Díaz Esquerdo, who spearheads the waste-conscious One among One initiative, which reuses discarded parts to create one-of-a-kind jewellery items.

Berlingeri is aware of escaping consideration for whom she was with previously will take some time, however she’s adjusted her life round what helps her ignore the noise and transfer ahead together with her targets.

“What’s most necessary for me proper now’s sustaining myself joyful and at peace,” she says. “It’s a must to push by lots so as to really feel nicely and steady. And I need to create issues that fulfill me, and deal with my work.”

Berlingeri is placing that into the theme of her new line, too, framing it across the thought of getting her prospects purchase Valentine’s Day items for themselves.

“I am in an period of: love your self! It is an important second to say, ‘I will get this for myself,’ throughout this season of consumerism, [which was] created to make you spend cash.”

“I am in an period of: love your self! It is an important second to say, ‘I will get this for myself,’ throughout this season of consumerism, [which was] created to make you spend cash,” she says. “It is an important alternative for somebody to consider themselves for the primary time and never take into consideration different folks.”

Build up D29 and making it profitable was precisely the form of wholesome distraction Berlingeri wanted the final yr, including that it was “100%” a type of remedy for herself.

“I get [to the office] and I am joyful. To me, getting right here frees me from all the pieces else; it retains my toes on the bottom — busy,” she says. “Typically I’ve days off and assume, ‘What do I do?’ I do not need to rely upon anyone to make plans.” Proper now, she likes to go to the seaside by herself; she is aware of particular spots the place she will be able to have privateness, keep away from overeager followers, and easily benefit from the surf.

That is what this entire period is about for Berlingeri: specializing in herself, what brings her pleasure, and what makes her excited concerning the future. And that is by no means an excessive amount of.

Though one in all designer Coco Chanel’s well-known quotes goes, “Earlier than you permit the home, look within the mirror and take one factor off,” Berlingeri begs to vary. “I am sorry to Coco Chanel, however extra is extra,” she laughs. Extra work, extra happiness, extra time with associates, and all for the sake of nobody however herself.