This week is Asunción Fashion Week (AFW), and as part of the celebrations, Monica Garcia, one of Paraguay’s top models, tells her story to The Asunción Times.
Monica was effusive in her praise for the brand that has allowed her to make a statement at the launch party for Asunción Fashion Week, by wearing a designer suit which has already featured on some of the world’s top catwalks, but previously has only ever worn by men. Monica is the first woman to wear it, and has a point to make about life, through her art.
“On this occasion I want to highlight and thank the Gilardini brand (Italian men’s clothing) for dressing me and for letting me show that despite the blue of the suit and the pink of the shirt and tie, a person, just like the 7 billion inhabitants of the planet Earth, can wear it with the same delicacy as a woman who walks to the sound of her values and the education she received.”
“That you respect your essence, love your natural self and your spiritual, mental and emotional growth and that it always becomes fashionable to imitate good actions and respect one another.”
Monica Garcia has been a professional model since 2016, and has traveled the world throughout her career, surpassing even her own hopes and dreams.
“I’m honoured that after 9 months of classes, I launched myself into the world of fashion, and I have walked the most beautiful catwalks in Asuncion, Ciudad del Este, and I would say by miracle, the top catwalks in New York City! In September 2022, in an open casting with more than five thousand people and over three hours of line-ups, I was called to feature in the top fashion show of my life, at New York Fashion Week!”
With a determination typical of young Paraguayans, she found a way to overcome obstacles as and when they appeared, including having to sort out her own contracts and negotiations in a language she wasn’t yet fluent in, with companies in a different hemisphere, rather than being able to rely on someone else to sort it out for her. She makes it sound simple:
“With Google translate I translated the five pages of the exclusivity contract, and made arrangements with the firm that allowed me to fulfill a dream that I had not even dreamed of in my life.”
“Then in April 2023 I decided to do a workshop for professional models who are experts in the sector, and thanks to that I was able to make my way and continue to step strong on the New York City catwalks, I participated in Times Square fashion week, Asian Fashion Week, Hampton Fashion week and in many fashion, art, music and exquisite gastronomy events with artists from all over the world showing, wearing and respecting each piece that I have worn and shown in me to the present senses.”
In addition to her fashion career, Monica Garcia wants to help show the best that Paraguay has to offer, both in terms of the country itself, and the people that make it special.
“I also have a degree in Hotel Management and Tourism and I have traveled every part of the 406,752 km2 of Paraguay, and I am very proud to say that I am from the land of work, effort and people who strive and are resourceful to get ahead. Thank you, infinitely thank you for showing Paraguay and its magic. And may it be so, today and always!”
