WE’RE a matriarchal society. Whatever our mothers say is the rule of the day. We’ve had two female presidents and the most number of female CEOs in the world. So, even if March is Women’s Month, it feels like we’re always honoring our women all-year round. Generally. (Save for a few stupid misogynistic remarks, rape jokes and actual rapes.)
WOMEN SUPPORTING WOMEN
Alexa Negrón Luciano, 27, was a fixture on Puerto Rican social media, where netizens would mock her “oddball bag lady” appearance. (But which I think fashion designers can take inspirations from for their couture ideas.) She was homeless and a transgender.
After a woman at a fast food complained that Alexa was peeping at her at the women’s bathroom, the police were called. Hours later, she was killed. She was found in a grassland in Toa Baja with multiple gun shots in her body. A video was uploaded on social media appearing to show Alexa being taunted and threatened, CNN reported, followed by several gunshots. And laughter.
“This is violence against women, without a doubt,” said Gov. Wanda Vázquez as quoted by the New York Times as saying, adding that the case is “sad, cruel and insensitive.” The killing, just one of a series of horrible murders of transgenders worldwide, would be investigated as a hate crime.
The murder has sparked outrage in Puerto Rico, with calls against transphobia. Among the prominent persons condemning the crime are the country’s beloved beauty queens. In one fashion event, Transfashion PR 2020, organized by fashion stylist Juan Colon Moda, five international title holders held a plaque with a letter in Alexa’s name on it.
“Something I always wanted to accomplish,” said Juan Colon on Facebook. “Gather the most important women of every contest of this decade!!!! And it was achieved at Transfashion PR 2020. For Coai Inc. Thank you, Queens!”
Signifying “We Are All Alexa,” the queens were Miss International 2014 Valerie Hernandez, Miss Universe 2019 1st Runner-Up Madison Anderson, Miss Earth 2019 Nellys Pimentel, Miss World 2016, Stephanie del Valle and Miss Supranational 2018 Valeria Vazquez.
“Nice to be part of the #transfashionpr 2020 #Alexavive,” Stephanie, a batch mate of our Catriona Gray at Miss World 2016, posted on Instagram. “Thanks to @juancolonmoda for dressing us, and thanks to Coai Inc. for making us part of such an emotional event.”
TIMELESS WOMEN
ALSO in celebration of Women’s Month, Time magazine released its “100 Women of the Year” project, which is “spotlighting influential women who were often overshadowed. This includes women who occupied positions from which the men were often chosen, like world leaders Golda Meir and Corazon Aquino, but far more who found their influence through activism or culture.”
Meir (1956) and Aquino (1986), and another Filipina, media maven Maria Ressa (2018), were on Time “Woman of the Year” and “Person of the Year” covers.
The magazine created 89 new covers for women who were overshadowed during their years of prominence. One of them is actress Anna May Wong (1905-1961), for 1928, who fought Hollywood for its racism when it wasn’t fashionable to do so. One disheartening episode was when Anna May fought to play the role of O-Lan in the film version of Pearl S. Buck’s The Good Earth (1937). The part was given by MGM to the white actress Luise Rainer, winning her a second Oscar. This kind of Asian erasure will never be acceptable today.
Another new Time cover girl is China Machado (1929-2016), for 1958, the Portuguese-Chinese model who was the first nonwhite to appear on a major fashion magazine, for the February 1959 issue of American Harper’s Bazaar.
“Time and again, Machado was a pioneer. She became an editor at Harper’s in 1962, and signed with IMG Models at the age of 81—proving that a more inclusive view of beauty was not just possible but necessary,” Cady Lang wrote in Time.
Anna May and China paved the way for Hannah Locsin, the intrepid Pinay model pounding the runways in Milan and Paris for Gucci, Paul & Joe Paris, Anteprima, Ralph & Russo and Rokh. She, and her full bangs, star in the Gucci campaigns for 2020.
“Ending fashion week the best and most surreal way possible. It was a huge honor to be part of this beautiful show,” Hannah posted on her Instagram, thanking Miu Miu and top stylist Katie Grand.
WOMEN POWER
IT’S admirable that a predominantly Muslim nation such as Indonesia would embrace beauty pageants. To hear the fans cheer for our own Pia Wurtzbach, Miss Universe 2015, is so heartwarming. Pia was a judge on March 6, at Puteri Indonesia 2020, the pageant which selects their representatives to Miss Universe, Miss International and Miss Supranational.
Traditionally, all the current queens at Miss Universe, Miss International and Miss Supranational are invited to attend the Puteri finals. But Pia was unable to do so during her reign. So it was the first time for her to wear the kebaya, the Indonesian national dress. Pia and all the reigning queens and finalists all wore exquisite kebaya created by Anne Avantie Heart.
Frederika Alexis Cull, Puteri Indonesia 2019, placed in the Top at Miss Universe 2019, their highest so far. She crowned her successor, Ayu Maulida Putri of East Java. Frederika was assisted by Miss Universe Zozibini Tunzi from South Africa.
Jolene Marie Rotinsulu of North Sulawesi, Puteri Indonesia Lingkungan 2019, crowned her successor, Putu Ayu Saraswati of Bali. Jolene was assisted by Miss International 2019, Sireethorn Leearamwat of Thailand.
Jesica Fitriana of West Java, Puteri Indonesia Pariwisata 2019, crowned her successor, Jihane Almira Chedid of Central Java. Jesica was assisted by Miss Supranational 2019 Anntonia Porsild of Thailand. “I have to admit, once in a while, it’s nice to go back into pageant mode again,” Pia gushed on her Instagram.