Maria Valerio was born in the Dominican Republic and has spent most of her life living in Philadelphia. She has always had a strong desire for storytelling, beginning her journey as her high school’s yearbook photographer. As she got older, she began to work within the creative scene in Philadelphia assisting local photographers and designers while always remembering to connect with her roots. She has worked with El Instituto de Dominicanos y Dominicanas en el exterior as an event photographer and has attended Philly Fashion Week as a runway photographer for the past 4 years. Her work has been published by Metro Philly, 34th Street Magazine, and has been showcased at the Long Beach Island Foundation's 35 under 35 Exhibition (2024). She is currently attending the Fashion Institute of Technology where she will continue to harness her storytelling skills and grow as a creative.