Cosmo for Latinas fall issue launched on Monday at a fabulous party at the W Hotel in New York City. The event had all the elements of a great party: beautiful people, great drinks, delicious bocaditos and awesome music spun by a fierce female DJ, DJ Kalkutta.
It was the first time I attended a Fashion Week show, and what an awesome event it was!
The night was all about celebrating being Latina, the culture, the music, the language. Looking around the room I saw beautiful, funny and confident Latina women.
I realized something that night—though we communicate in English, our cultura seeps through; whether through jokes or references, or conversations about how to care for curly hair and how to wear red lipstick, or which eye brightener works best for olive skin tones.
For me, the highlight of the evening was when Cosmo for Latinas Editor in Chief, Michelle Herrera Mulligan, took the mic and, in addition to thanking people for supporting the publication, announced the magazine’s support of the Ella Leadership Institute.
Limongi & Dr. Angelica Perez
The Ella Institute, for those who might not be familiar, is the brainchild of Dr. Angelica Perez. It is dedicated to empowering women to overcome their fears and become leaders, entrepreneurs and be successful in whatever they wish to pursue. The Ella Institute also runs a Facebook group called the Latina Leadership Network, of which I am proud to be a member. The group provides support, advice and opportunities for professional Latinas.
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During her speech, Herrera Mulligan mentioned that years before, she and Perez had spoken about what it is the Latinas needed in order to succeed. Today, they are both leading the way by creating spaces where Latinas can have a voice, and share resources and support.
I left the event feeling elated. Not only because I met some colleagues I admired and with whom I had only interacted via social media, but also because this room offered a glimpse of what Hispanas can accomplish if we rally together and support one another. I tell you, the future looks bright… and this is only the beginning.
