Federica Tommasi didn’t just show up in Rome-she reshaped it. By 2024, her name was on every tongue in Trastevere, whispered in backrooms of Ostia’s clubs, and scrolling endlessly on Instagram feeds from Piazza Navona to Monte Mario. She wasn’t a politician, a chef, or a Renaissance artist. She was a model, a performer, and a cultural force who turned Rome’s ancient alleys into her runway. And she did it without asking for permission.
From Small Town to Big Screen
Federica was born in Frosinone, a quiet province south of Rome, where the biggest excitement was the weekly market. At 17, she moved to the capital with two suitcases, a laptop, and a dream that no one in her family took seriously. Her first job? Selling sunglasses at a kiosk near Termini Station. By 19, she was doing test shoots for local photographers who didn’t even pay her in pizza. But she showed up. Every day. Rain or shine. Always on time. Always professional.
Her breakthrough came in 2021 when a viral video of her dancing barefoot at midnight near the Tiber River caught the attention of a Berlin-based talent scout. The clip-just 47 seconds long, no filters, no lighting-showed her laughing, sweating, and moving like she owned the cobblestones. Within weeks, she was signed to a European modeling agency. But Federica refused to leave Rome. She said, "I don’t want to be famous elsewhere. I want to be famous here. In the city that made me."
The Rome That Wasn’t Ready for Her
Rome in 2022 was still clinging to old rules. The fashion scene was dominated by Milanese influencers with perfect skin and zero personality. Nightlife clubs still had dress codes that banned sneakers. Federica showed up in ripped jeans, a leather jacket, and combat boots. She didn’t ask to be let in. She just walked in. And people followed.
She started hosting midnight pop-up events in abandoned palazzos. No permits. No PR teams. Just her, a Bluetooth speaker, and a crowd that grew from 30 to 300 in three weeks. One night, she turned a forgotten chapel in Monti into a dance floor. The police showed up. Instead of shutting it down, they asked if they could stay. By 2023, her events were being featured in Vogue Italia under the headline: "Rome’s New Underground Queen."
Turning Controversy Into Currency
Not everyone loved her. Conservative media called her "a disgrace to Roman values." A local priest publicly condemned her "indecent" performances. But Federica didn’t respond with tweets or interviews. She responded with action. She launched a free photography workshop for young women from Rome’s suburbs-no experience needed. Over 2,000 attended in 18 months. She gave them cameras, taught them lighting, and let them shoot her. The result? A gallery exhibit called "Rome Through Their Eyes" that opened at the MAXXI Museum in 2024.
She also started a podcast, Under the Colosseum, where she interviewed sex workers, street artists, transgender performers, and retired opera singers. No topic was too raw. No voice too quiet. The podcast hit 1.2 million downloads in its first year. It wasn’t about shock value-it was about truth. And Rome, for the first time in decades, started listening.
The Business Behind the Persona
Federica never sold her body. She sold her story. Her brand, Tommasi Studio, is a hybrid: part fashion line, part creative agency, part community hub. She designs clothes that fit real bodies-not Instagram ideals. Her clothing line, La Notte, features bold prints inspired by Roman frescoes, but cut for movement, not perfection. It’s sold in 14 countries, but 60% of sales still come from Rome.
She also runs a small production company that films short documentaries about Rome’s hidden communities. One film followed a group of elderly gay men who still dance in Piazza Navona every Sunday. It won Best Short at the Rome Film Festival in 2025. She didn’t accept the award. She handed it to the men in the film. "They’re the ones who made this city alive," she said.
Why She Matters
Federica Tommasi didn’t conquer Rome by climbing the ladder. She tore it down and rebuilt it with her own hands. She didn’t wait for permission. She didn’t need approval. She made space for others to walk through.
Today, you can find her at 6 a.m. on a bench near the Trevi Fountain, drinking espresso and talking to a group of teenagers who want to start their own projects. She doesn’t have a manager. She doesn’t have a publicist. She answers her own DMs. Her Instagram has 2.3 million followers, but she posts only once a week-usually just a photo of a street, a face, or a moment she found beautiful.
Rome didn’t change because Federica became famous. She became famous because Rome was ready to change. And she was the one brave enough to lead it.
Who is Federica Tommasi?
Federica Tommasi is an Italian model, performer, and creative entrepreneur who rose to prominence in Rome between 2021 and 2025. Known for her raw, unfiltered presence in nightlife and street culture, she turned underground events into cultural movements, launched a fashion line called La Notte, and started a podcast that gave voice to marginalized communities in the city. She is not a traditional celebrity-she built her influence through authenticity, not media manipulation.
Did Federica Tommasi start a business?
Yes. She founded Tommasi Studio, a hybrid creative agency that produces fashion, film, and community events. Her clothing line, La Notte, is sold internationally but rooted in Roman aesthetics. She also runs a small documentary production company that highlights overlooked stories in Rome, and she hosts free workshops for young creatives from underserved neighborhoods.
What made her so popular in Rome?
Federica’s popularity came from rejecting the polished, performative side of fame. She showed up unfiltered-in ripped jeans, at midnight, in abandoned buildings-and invited others to do the same. Her events were spontaneous, inclusive, and real. She didn’t chase trends; she created them. People followed her because she gave them permission to be themselves, not because she looked perfect.
Is Federica Tommasi involved in activism?
Yes, indirectly. She doesn’t call herself an activist, but her actions are deeply political. Through her podcast, photography workshops, and public art projects, she amplifies voices often silenced in mainstream Rome-sex workers, transgender youth, elderly LGBTQ+ communities, and migrant artists. Her work challenges the city’s traditional norms without protest signs or speeches. She changes culture by creating space, not by demanding it.
How did she handle backlash from conservative groups?
She didn’t argue. She didn’t delete comments. She doubled down on community. When priests condemned her, she opened a free art studio for girls from Rome’s outskirts. When media called her immoral, she filmed a documentary about the city’s oldest gay dancers. Her response wasn’t defensive-it was generative. She turned criticism into opportunity, and in doing so, won over even her harshest critics.
