Todd Antony photographs Cholitas on top of the world
Earlier this year, photographer Todd Antony headed to El Alto in Bolivia to shoot a personal, two-part project featuring a unique community of indigenous Aymara women who are breaking stereotypes and shifting perceptions. These women identify themselves as cholitas, a term that has historically been used pejoratively to describe them, but which they today wear as a badge of honour. As recently as 10 years ago Cholitas, easily recognizable by their wide colorful skirts, braided hair and bowler hats, were socially ostracized, systematically marginalized and discriminated against. They were refused entry to some restaurants, on public transport or certain public spaces. While these women have been advocating for their rights since at least the 1960’s, their movement was further invigorated by the 2005 election of Evo Morales, Bolivia’s first Amerindian president. Since then the majority indigenous population have seen greater recognition and autonomy. That’s the context in which a particular group of Aymara women who, until a few years ago, worked as cooks and caretakers for mountaineers from around the world, decided to become …