When I was a teenager I had 3 fashion bibles: Seventeen magazine, CosmoGIRL! & Teen Vogue. Picking up a new issue was like a mini monthly Christmas moment. Yes, I would get THAT excited to see a new cover on the stands at the supermarkets while going grocery shopping with my mom in Aruba.
If I had to choose between candy or a new mag, the pick would always be a glossy new addition for my collection.
Reading fun articles, drooling over the super cool fashion styling, ripping out pages as new posters for my bedroom wall, making collages with interesting cutouts, and daydreaming of what it would be like to be featured in one of my sacred style bibles…this is how I enjoyed my ME TIME.
If you rewind my life tape even further back you would see a MINI ME(anro) modeling in front of a mirror; Striking different poses from the Posh (Spice pose pointing a finger forward), to puckering up my lips and throwing a peace sign, all the while blasting the latest Britney Spears CD.
There’s even physical evidence of my early age fascination with modeling and fashion as seen in my youngin’ personal style and what I wrote down in a schoolmate’s friendship book back when I was like 7 or 8 years old. My answer for the hobbies section included modeling, dancing, singing and play dates with my friends.
As I developed, so did my interest in the world of moda. I’ve been fangirling over international Fashion Weeks ever since I discovered their features of fashionistas seated in the front rows of shows and seeing gorgeous pieces rocked on the runway by super models.
My childhood fashion dreams were calling (literally).
Out of the blue, my phone rang and I got a call asking me if I’d be interested in walking for artist/designer, MariaTeresa Madariaga‘s collection at Aruba Fashion Week 2024. It was probably one of the fastest “YES”s I’ve ever said.
Aruba Fashion Week 2024
The following month I was awoken from a nap with my phone ringing with MariaTeresa’s name appearing on the caller ID. She called to inform me that we’ve been featured in Vogue and that my photo while walking the catwalk is the featured image. She said it with much more excitement and flair (a la signature MariaTeresa of course), but I was in absolute disbelief. So, I can’t really recall the play by play. Honestly, I wasn’t even sure if I was still dreaming. It took me a hot minute to realize that this was really happening. Once I saw the article, I’m pretty sure I cried some happy tears, and then I called my mom and dad. As per usual. Haha.
Vogue México & Latinoamérica Fashion Feature
Above images feature posts shared on Facebook by CEO of Aruba Fashion Week, Angel León, and Caribbean fashion brand, Maison Ryon ARUBA.
(Check out the Aruba Fashion Week 2024 article by VOGUE México & Latinoamérica’s María Diez, titled ‘Tendencias en Aruba Fashion Week 2024: Una celebración a la esencia latina’ here.)
I picked up both calls with a bit of shock (& awe), but mostly with a grateful heart.
Getting to model at Aruba Fashion Week was like getting to eat my dream ice cream, and fully indulging in every bite. A feature by VOGUE of me strutting down my first official catwalk? Well that was like getting served the magical sprinkles I didn’t even know were on the menu.
This is my testament that you really can transform your dreams into reality. So, here’s to manifesting more dreams into existence in this lifetime!
(photo credits available on images)
