4 Afro-Dominican models make history by appearing on historic cover of Vogue

History was made early this month as four Afro-Dominican models featured on the cover of Vogue Mexico and Vogue Latin America’s September issue.

What also makes this feat very significant is the fact that September is the month for New York Fashion shows and the cover also took place during Hispanic Heritage Month.

Beautifully dressed in black cloths representing their origin, Licett Morillo, Manuela Sánchez, Annibelis Baez, and Ambar Cristal Zarzuela can be seen smiling in the middle of a field.

The image is followed with a quote written underneath in Spanish, “This is the fashion that unites us”.

Despite its late release, the image has received widespread acclaim from industry players for highlighting Afro-Latinas who traditionally are seen to be represented in the page of glossies.

1. Licett Morillo

Morillo captured the hearts of industry players and Ashley Brokaw after closing Prada’s fashion show in 2018. Discovered by Nileny Dippton, a model academy in the capital city of the Dominican Republic, Morillo jumped from being a student to being one of the most sought-after models that year.

Being the second woman of color after Naomi Campbell to close the show of an Italian house, she has since covered Dazed Magazine and walked for the biggest fashion houses, from Celine to Valentino.

2. Manuela Sánchez

She started her runway career in an exclusive for Saint Laurent’s spring/summer in 2017 and also walked in Giambattista Valli’s couture show in the same year. A lover of Nutella, she has made a lot of European shows and also loves to dance.

3. Annibelis Baez

Latina model, Baez, made her debut in London J.W Anderson S/S in 2018. She is the new face of modeling from the Dominican Republic signed with Viva Paris in London and Barcelona.

She is known for her personal style and she is noted for pulling off the most difficult look, canary yellow leather suit.

4. Ambar Cristal Zarzuela

Zarzuela made history after she became the first Dominican to open a Louis Vuitton Spring 2019 RTW show in Paris. With her natural afro, her opening at Louis Vuitton came a year after African-American model Junaye Furman made her runway debut for the luxury brand.

She hails from her home town of El Cercado, San Juan de la Maguana in Santo Domingo.