‘I am not here to shine. I’m here to make the garment shine’, quoted Benja. In a city buzzing with creativity and rising ambition, Óscar Benjamin Álvarez Ruiz – known simply as Benja – is charting a course that defies every stereotype about what a model is supposed to be. One day he is strutting down the runway at Asunción Fashion Week 2025. The next, he is under the bonnet of a Mercedes-Benz, elbow-deep in engine grease.
Benja is not just a face of the future, he is a story in motion. One of reinvention, discipline, and above all, truth. He is the kind of genuine talent Asunción loves to champion.
Meet Benja: more than a model
“Benja is like a character,” he tells The Asunción Times in an exclusive interview, reflecting on how his second name became a public identity. “It started at home, as just a nickname. But once I got into TV, it stuck. That is the version of me who dances, jumps, smiles, and lights up a room.”
Born Óscar Benjamin Álvarez Ruiz, his childhood nickname Obar (from his initials) now only comes up when someone from the past recognises him. “If someone calls me Obar today, I know they have known me for years.”
It is a sweet reminder of how far he has come.
Real roots, real confidence
Benja credits his parents for the unwavering foundation beneath his confidence. “I grew up in a loving home. I never missed a meal, and I was always told to do what makes me happy. That is why I am here.”
From a young age in the Asunción neighbourhood of Zeballos Cué, he embraced experimentation; with clothes, hair, and energy. “I am not afraid of criticism. If something feels right to me, I go for it.”
This fearless attitude is exactly what makes him such a refreshing presence. Benja cannot pinpoint when it all began.
“I just remember in 2018, I started modelling classes. People always told me I was good-looking, so I looked for that approval elsewhere.” His inspiration came from a mentor named Musa. “She was like me, but ten times bigger: fun, raw, fearless. I saw her and thought, ‘If she can live from this, so can I.’”
Asunción Fashion Week: A game changer
This year marked his first walk at Asunción Fashion Week, and it changed everything. “The energy backstage surprised me. Usually, there is jealousy. But here, it was all good vibes. I would walk again, even if it was just socks.”
For Benja, participation was not about volume or status. It was about being present. And representing something greater than himself. He credits Victor Flores of Sight Agency and Negro Vazquez with helping him seize this pivotal moment, a testament to the supportive spirit growing within Asunción’s fashion scene.
Benja approaches Asunción Fashion Week like an athlete. “I do four days without carbs, then reintroduce glucose gradually before the show. On Friday, I had no energy. But Saturday, I felt like I was going to own the runway.”
The physical prep is important. But the mental preparation is everything. “From the moment I was confirmed, I visualised myself dazzling.” It is this dedication that transforms a walk into a performance.
Fashion as freedom in Asunción
Benja sees clothing as personal storytelling. “Most people just dress to fit in. I dress to express.”
His current influence? Europe. “When I travelled there, I saw men in linen, hair slicked back. That inspired me. Even if here, people call it ‘weird.’ But weird is good. It means you are you.” And in Asunción, embracing that “weird” is precisely what makes you stand out.
“I do not try to stand out on purpose. I work on myself; my nutrition, my speech, my knowledge. If I grow, everything else follows.”
He lives by a mantra: your success will not exceed your personal development. It is a powerful philosophy that clearly pays off. Benja’s greatest challenge? Television.
“It taught me how to be under pressure. Lights, cameras, people expecting things. It also showed me my weak spots. But more than anything, it taught me the value of connection. Everyone wants the spotlight. But none of it matters if you have no one to share it with.”
From runway to repair shop: The Mercedes mechanic
Benja is not just a model. He is a fully-fledged Mercedes-Benz mechanic. “I have worked at my dad’s shop since I was 15. I love cars, I love engines, and I love rebuilding things.” His ultimate dream? “Formula 1 driver,” he laughs. “Stylish. Cool. Bold. But… it is expensive. For now, I am the guy behind the tools.”
Benja has been through doubt, but only when he stopped doing what he loved. “An aeroplane needs acceleration to lift off. I stopped modelling for a few months and lost momentum. But when I came back to class, everything realigned.”
His advice to dreamers? “Do not compare yourself. Everyone is different. That is your magic. Walk with confidence. And never stop dreaming. I want people to remember that I always told the truth. Even when it hurt. That is how I was raised. I have lost friendships because of it, but I sleep well knowing I was honest.”
Follow Benja’s unique journey
In a world dominated by image and influence, Benja stands out by standing true. He is not just reshaping fashion in Paraguay, he is reshaping what success looks like, with an authenticity that resonates deeply with Asunción. The Asunción Times honours bold voices who break the mould; not just with style, but with soul. Benja is undoubtedly one of them.
Follow the evolution of Benja on Instagram.
