Vogue Mexico Honors Indigenous Women for Its 20th Anniversary Cover
For the past twenty years, Vogue México y Latinoamérica has brought high fashion to the masses — but only recently have they made a dramatic and poignant shift
Photo: Unsplash/@larahaenny
For the past twenty years, Vogue México y Latinoamérica has brought high fashion to the masses — but only recently have they made a dramatic and poignant shift. Late last year, they put Roma actress, Yalitza Aparicio, on the cover of its magazine, and the response was palpable. Now, on the magazine’s 20th-anniversary cover, they are once again beautifully showcasing indigenous women.
The magazine is releasing six gorgeous covers — all with their own unique story — and three of them feature indigenous women from various parts of Latin America.
“When I travel through Latin America, I am always asked what Vogue is doing to open the way for women to workspaces and prevent sexist stereotypes. Karla Martínez de Salas, Editorial Director of Vogue México y Latinoamérica, writes in the magazine. “I hope that the stories we present in this anniversary edition inspire women to dream big, to start with small changes and, above all, to connect with their roots, accepting their unique beauty and celebrating their originality.”
One of our favorite covers is of Abigail Mendoza, a famous Zapotec chef from Oaxaca sitting on steps surrounded by a group of female Oaxacans. Her food pays homage to the traditions of Zapotecs, who are an indigenous people of Mexico. Mendoza is a renowned chef and owner of her restaurant in Tlamanalli, which the New York Times has called one of the best in the world.
“The culinary art of the traditional Oaxacan cook, #AbigailMendoza, has become a standard of respect for tradition and her vehemence for #culturazapoteca has turned her into a teacher and example of wisdom and passion,” the magazine wrote on their Instagram page.
Another stunning cover has four indigenous female Bolivians, known as Las Cholitas.
“At more than six thousand meters high, Las Cholitas, climbers of Bolivia, are an example of strength and conviction whose echo resonates throughout the world. We travel to the slopes of Huayna Potosí, a mountain located northwest of Bolivia, to learn about the life of these inspiring women.”
Martínez de Salas said she’s been planning this anniversary edition for months. She recalled her biggest regret in her time at the magazine is having had Aparicio only on the Mexico cover and not the Latin America issue. She said she feared people would think it was too Mexican and wouldn’t extend a reach to other parts of Latin America.
“I learned that the audience wants our cover to project different types of beauty, thus showing all women in the region.”
Yes, we do.
