Ana Paula Oliveira says her designer heels are part of her identity – and she’s making sure they’re passed on with meaning.
While some people leave behind jewellery or property, one woman has ensured her most prized possessions – 500 pairs of designer shoes – are included in her will.
Ana Paula Oliveira, 50, has spent the last 35 years curating a collection worth an estimated £300,000, featuring luxury names like Christian Louboutin, Manolo Blahnik and Jimmy Choo.
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The Brazilian model and content creator, who has over 1.3 million Instagram followers, says her footwear obsession began in her teens when she bought a pair of red heels with her first pay cheque. She still owns them today.
“Shoes are part of my identity,” Ana told Hype Daily.
“When I put on a pair of heels, something changes in my posture, in my tone of voice. I even wear them at home. I don’t take them off – I’m like Carrie Bradshaw from Sex and the City.”
Each pair in her collection has a personal story, marking everything from milestones to impulsive splurges.
One extravagant pair was bought simply because it matched a handbag – the bag was never used, but the shoes remain a highlight of her wardrobe.
To protect the sentimental value of her collection, Ana has catalogued every pair with photos, descriptions and purchase dates, and has allocated them to friends, family and people who inspired her.
“Each pair has an emotional value,” she said.
“By leaving them in my will, I can make sure they’ll go to people who understand their meaning.
Each person will receive a pair that represents a moment we lived together. It’s my way of sharing my story through shoes.”
For Ana, her heels are more than fashion – they are a diary of her life, one step at a time.
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