Who doesn’t know Gianluca Vacchi? An Italian-born social media sensation known for his extravagant lifestyle. Gianluca is a millionaire who was a business tycoon before he became a star on social media due to his dancing videos going viral on the internet.
There are only a few people in this world who are known for their vibrant personalities and unique vibe. While Vacchi has established a prominent identity in the world of entertainment, there is another Italian who, a present, is taking the world of social media by a storm.
An immigration lawyer by profession, Gianni Mendes Toniutti, is the co-founder of TLRT, a well-reputed Italian-American law firm and the owner of a vibrant personality. He was always fond of the entertainment sector and wanted to build a reputation in the industry. His dream started turning into a reality when he posted a video on his Instagram account that got viral, helping him acquire a global fanbase.
Several Italian media platforms have started referring Mendes as the new ‘Gianluca Vacchi.’ While no one can replace the spot that Vacchi has acquired, Mendes is definitely moving closer to it. And, although Mendes and Vacchi are two totally different individuals altogether, there are indeed several similarities between the two that have caused several Italian media platforms to title the Italian-American lawyer as the next Gianluca Vacchi.
Coming from a Different Professional Background
Born and raised in Bologna, Italy, Gianluca was an Italian business tycoon and a millionaire before he became a social media icon. While most of his fans know him as the 50-year-old Italian playboy, Vacchi was a highly ambitious person since his early days. He pursued a degree in Economics and Business, graduating from the University of Bologna in 1993. After graduating from college, he started working on his brand, collaborating with influential entrepreneurs and companies and also building several successful businesses in the process. Working hard day in and day out, Vacchi eventually decided to step back from the business to live a more relaxed lifestyle.
Mendes was born in Brazil but raised in Bologna, Italy, as well. He graduated in International Law at the University of Bologna in 2002 and, similarly to Vacchi, ended up working on his own business, a law firm he co-founded in 2009. Mendes’s social media followers know him as an entertainer, but there are a few who know he is also a very well-reputed lawyer in the United States. Mendes is known today as the Immigration Lawyers of the VIPs, having represented several famous individuals in the arts, music, and sports fields. Despite being in such a serious profession, Mendes still accomplishes to have an exhilarating and entertaining lifestyle, traveling all around the world and enjoying life at its fullest.
A Viral Video Leading to Social Media Success
Another similarity between these two Italian social media icons is the way they became a part of the entertainment world. Vacchi became viral, posting a dancing video on his Instagram account. His elite moves on a Pitbull’s track made the world go crazy. Since then, he has become a social media sensation with more than 11 million followers on Instagram.
The story of Mendes is somewhat similar, as even he got to become a social media star after he uploaded a video that went viral. In 2017, he casually entered the flagship Zara store, NY, and stood on a spot just in front of the escalator, where he paused and pretended to be a human mannequin. While it acquired quite a few laughs across the store, it did something much powerful on the internet.
The two-minute fake Zara Store advertisement was uploaded, and it acquired hundreds of thousands of views on several platforms, including Instagram and YouTube. The video laid the foundation of Gianni Mendes’s social media success and helped him become a prominent entity in the social media and entertainment sector.
Love and Passion for Music
Mendes’s father was a guitarist and a true admirer of Flamenco. The young boy spent a significant amount of time with his father and his friends, some of which were well-known artists of the time, such as Sabicas, Andres Segovia, and Felix de Utrera. Living a life surrounded by Flamenco artists and guitar players, instilled a passion for music in his heart.
He started playing the guitar when he was just ten years old. When his family relocated to Spain, Mendes became one of the very few students of Flamenco maestros Manolo Sanlucar and Enrique de Melchor. The passionate musician who was in love with the folkloric music of Southern Spain, Flamenco, released his first album “Colores” in 2002 with Enrique de Melchor.
Currently, Mendes is working on the release of his first Latin-Pop single, “Te Amaré.” The single is inspired by Latin and Brazilian rhythms. The track is Gianni Mendes’s composition and production of Tim Mitchell, the multi-Grammy producer of Shakira.
Although we do not know if Vacchi has always been passionate about music, he is definitely today. We know he grew up surrounded by musicians and artists, like Mendes. Vacchi started playing the piano when he was just six years old, as his grandmother was a piano teacher. Today he is a DJ-ing success, with more than 40 finished tracks, with most of them from the reggaeton and pop genre.
Building a Personal Brand
Gianni Mendes is working on his social media presence in an attempt to build a personal brand. His Instagram account is full of pictures with positive messages that push his audience to achieve their dreams. He is a great advocate of living life at its fullest and being spontaneous no matter the job you do. His motto is “The Power is in Your Hands.” With his energy and positivity, Mendes is definitely on the right path to establishing an identity that is recognizable all across the globe.
Gianluca Vacchi is also dedicated to building a brand for himself too. His videos and lifestyle definitely exhale great energy and positivity. He has stated, “At the end of the day, my strategy has always been to be spontaneous, so the style for me was always to not have a style. I’ve been doing many different things, and you cannot get me into a simple category. That’s always been my life. I never do strategy. I do what I feel to do at the moment, and this has always been my key to success.”
An Immigration Lawyer, Born for Greatness
Besides being Italians, there are innumerable similarities between the lives of Gianni Mendes and Gianluca Vacchi. However, it is also true these are two completely different individuals, with different personalities and values. While Vacchi is one of the biggest Instagram influencers and a top entity in the entertainment sector, he has entirely left behind his business life. Mendes, on the other hand, is still deeply involved in his law practice, accomplishing today more than ever, and managing a law firm recognized by the media as the most prestigious Italian American law firm on the East coast. One thing is certain: despite being a serious lawyer, this man is stirring hype with his unique style and dynamic vibes.
So…is Gianni Mendes the next Gianluca Vacchi? Although the similarities are numerous, we feel the comparison is not right. But let’s put it this way….Gianni Mendes is definitely the new Italian phenomenon to keep an eye on, and we are still going to hear a lot from this fellow!