Ciao!

Miguel, I think she totally screwed it up!. You do not (ever) address cultural differences in terms of hight, race, or level of income at least at a Beauty Pageant, furthermore you do not do it in a host country were the indigenous population in proportion is like in Bolivia, were recently two presidents were overthrown by indigenous people, lastly what does ...."I come from the other side were people are white, taller and they speak english..." (the last of her comments is totally out of context). I feel sorry for all the beautiful women that have fought the last couple of years do destroy the prejudice of the "dumb model-blonde" that is particularly storng in Santa Cruz; well, Miss Bolivia some how corroborated that nonsense prejudice. The self called ambassador has to represent also the "Andinan" region and she has to represent the poor short indians that live in Santa Cruz, its surroundings and in the amazonian region (I bet they outnumber the small percentage of mestizos that live in the city of Santa Cruz.

Oh, I've no doubt she put her foot in her pretty little mouth. Definitely. But I also wonder how much people are just over-reacting. Could she have worded it better? I certainly hope so. But I'm not sure it was "offensive" in entirety. That's all. And while I do think this just adds fuel to the oriente-occidente animosity, I think it was also deliberately taken in that context by the media in La Paz.

And while I'm sure Miss Bolivia has to represent ALL of Bolivia. I wonder if Miss La Paz (had she been crowned Miss Bolivia) would've made any effort to point that Santa Cruz even exists.

She indeed screwed it up. Her words came out quite ignorant-sounding.

She said: "I'm from the other side of the country ... and we are tall and we are white people and we know English," she added.

Thats funny because when I went to Santa Cruz I saw a good number of short brown people who spoke no English. Thats not to say that what she said was wrong, but her words give the impression that the entire WEST side of the country is that way.
I'm from Cochabamba and I've often been told "You don't look Bolivian, you know, indian". When that happens I don't get offended, I simply state that there are native, mixed, and white bolivians just like in any other latin american country.

Lighter skinned persons of the Bolivian West have a right to be mad at this ignorant twit's remarks.
She tried to fix a stereotype by telling another one.

Perhaps another could be: not prejudiced, not too nationalistic, and not too crazy about the sea...?

Perhaps another answer could be: not prejudiced, not too nationalistic, and not too crazy about the sea...?

It seems to me that you are "outraged by the outrage" (to steal the words of a Republican Senator from Oklahoma).

As I wrote in my post over at LiLA (please excuse the blatant plug), I acknowledged that Bolivia is much more than La Paz and the Andes. Does Cochabamba ever get mentioned in the press or in tourist brochures? It's really no big deal. Do I think that Cochabamba is the best city in Bolivia? Of course, but I don't think any less of people from Tupiza, Trinidad, or Oruro.

What she did was unfairly portray an entire "side" of the country. She continued her ignorance by portraying her "side" as the exact polar opposite (tall, white, English-speaking). The last one is not the comparable contrast of poor, but nevertheless her disdain of ever being portrayed as Indian, short or poor was the most unfortunate part of it, as if there should be some shame in that.

There's no justification for her comments, and I don't think it has to do with political-correctness. It has to do with the dangerous feelings of racism that manifest themselves in actions toward campesinos and others of indigenous descent. I don't support generalizations of any kind, even the ones unfairly placed on Cruceños.

why do people put so much weight behind the words of girl who looks good in a bikini and father is loaded. does that make them a good representation of the country? maybe the US should have Shaq talk about politics and race... but hey, maybe it is good for people to get offended.

For the record: I think the girl was obviously stupid. She made a huge mistake. No mistake. Huge. Ignorant. She could've said something much more "diplomatic" and less offensive. My point's merely that I think there indeed is a bit of over-reaction. I mean, she's just a model, not a really important person (sorry, models). Her opinions on politics *shouldn't* matter — at least not as much as people seem to think they do. I guess that's all I was saying. And while there's no excuse for what she said, I do think it's funny that politicians here in La Paz are tripping over themselves to find a microphone to make sure everyone knows they're just at offended as the next politician. It's just a bit overkill, making the outrage almost seem comic, which makes it loose it's importance. Does that make more sense?

She Indeed screwed it up!!! the words just came out of her mouth; one word: 'unfortunately' and the other:'indian people' ...I mean what is so unfortune about being indian?? That is so called racism.
Then she claims that all people in the east side (Santa Cruz) are white,tall and speak english... I really missed the word WASP...That is a joke!!!
I´ve lived in Santa Cruz for a couple of years...and the majority of people are 'mestizos '(short and brownish)...so...what is she talking about???
Then I had to say without a doubt that the Camba (people from Santa Cruz) accent makes it very hard in order for them to speak english...people from the west side (La PAz) have a much better accent..because they pronounce the `s´ at the end of a word unlike cambas.
Bolivia is a country full of diversity but everybody (east and west sides) have indian blood in their veins and this is not something to be ashamed of.

Yes she screwed up a lot. And yes she is just a swimsuit model. However, even beauty pageants are becoming politicized and for being stupid the Miss Bolivia PR people are covering their asses.

For the record, what is it with South American women? At almost every beauty pageant known to man they dominate the Top Ten. I heard that plastic surgery is popular among those who can afford it and that they have pretty intense "beauty pageant schools." Does that have anything to do with it? Of is that continent just lucky and full of beautiful women? (And hopefully equally beautiful men).

@ Alfrredo:

For the record, there's nothing wrong w/ being part indigenous. Nothing at all. And she did come out all wrong (although she spoke in English, which isn't her first language). I'm just ammused that paceños who'll use the word "indio" as a slur (and this includes some very "liberal" artist types I've met) would be offended only because a non-paceño used racist language.

@ Kara:

Not sure why Latin women are so beautiful. At least the pageant types. However, norms of beauty have changed recently towards "mestizo" women. And socially constructed norms of "beauty" over-determine who we find attractive.

Y quien dice algo sobre lo que dijo de como preparan el "maja'ito"? Como dijo que es el plato tipo de su region y porsupuesto, que la carne seca la cocinan al sol por que "la gente no tiene electricidad". Entonces son "altos, blancos, bilingues" y no tienen electricidad? Dejamos de defender a esa pobre ignorante.

I looked at this year's delegates on the Miss Universe webpage and I've come to the folowing conclusions:

The women of Latin America are indeed some of the most gorgeous in the world. Are the men that good looking too?

The women of Latin America, the Phillipines, India, and the US domintate the Top Ten of beauty pageants.

I have noticed the women who come from non-white majority countries tend to be lighter skinned. Example: damn near every Miss India I have ever seen at these pageants. I think this sends a bad message that only the fair skinned are "beautiful."

I also looked at the pics of all the deleagtes' national costumes. It's kind of sad that the US doesn't really have any sort of traditional outfit. I mean some of these cosutmes were so beautiful and colorful. But in a way the US will never have any sort of national outfit is because we are so diverse and come from so many different backgrounds.

Three women, an Italian, a French and a camba (Gabriela Oviedo from Bolivia) went for a job
interview in England. Before the interview, they were told that they must compose a sentence in English with three main words: Green, pink,
and yellow.

The Italian woman was first one: -"I wake up in the morning. I see the yellow sun. I see the green grass and I think to myself, I hope
it will be a pink day."

The French woman was next: -"I wake up in the morning, eat a yellow banana, a green pepper and in the evening I watch the pink panther on
tv."

Last was the camba from the east of Bolivia "tall and white woman" : she wrote, in her perfect english, because only the east people of
Bolivia know english: "I wake up in the morning. I hear the phone "green ...... green.....". I "pink" up the phone and I say yellow"?????"

Kara:
As to "national" outfits, what makes you think the US doesn't have several? No country has one; they have many. And what makes jeans & white t-shirt (for example) culturally inferior to any other outfit? All cultures (including their clothes) are socially constructed over time — and evolve (not static). There's no pure culture.

Dear Miguel,

Thank you for writing the piece on Gabriela.  She is my cousin. I’ve known her since she was born, and I know for a fact she is not a racist as the Bolivian press has branded her.  She is a very smart girl who perhaps took a big chance at doing her interview in English, hoping to score a few more points that way.  Her English vocabulary is not as extensive as she perhaps first thought.  I am 100% sure that, had she done the interview in Spanish, it would not have sounded the way it did.  However, I think you were right in your assessment…she tried to show the diversity that exists in Bolivia, and that is what got her in trouble.  I have lived in this country for 22 years, and am used to the puzzled looks people give me when I tell them I am 100% Bolivian.  I too try my hardest to dispel the notion that Bolivia is ONLY an Andean country.  

People from Santa Cruz are proud people. They love their land.  That sometimes this is viewed as “regionalista” by the rest of Bolivia.  They often accuse “cambas” of being arrogant because of their love and loyalty to their department.  It used to be that being proud of your land and your people was good… how did this become undesired “regionalismo”?  I don’t understand that.  Maybe you can write something about this in your Blog!

It has been very hard to sit here and watch how my dear cousin has been destroyed by the Bolivian press.  I watched the video on the Miss Universe site, and I have to be honest.  I would not have used the same words she used.  However, I have lived in an English speaking environment for 22 years, and my vocabulary is many times richer than hers.  I also have several more years of “life experience”.  To expect a 21 year old to have the wisdom and diplomacy of a consummated politician, or even a crowned royal princess, is, I think, ridiculous!  Nevertheless, we Bolivians are sometimes our worst enemy.  The news of “Bolivian Beauty is racist” has reached TV networks all around the world.  Even Al-Jazeera!  Really!  If the Bolivian press wanted to show something ugly about Bolivia, they have achieved it.  But, the sad part is that they have destroyed any chances that Gabriela will have a normal life now.  Never mind that she is one of the smartest, sweetest, most talented girls I know (and beautiful too).  Never mind that, her whole life she has excelled at school, as the best student, not only of her grade, but the whole school.  Never mind she has always had the top scholarships, even in college.  All that is wasted now.  And it makes me very sad.  No amount of support now will give her back her clean name!   And, I truly believe it did not have to end this way.

Please forgive me for going on and on today.  It was not what I set off to do J.  I intended to thank you and cheer you on…. So much for that!  (lol) 

From sunny Tampa,

Patty

Patty,

You said "If the Bolivian press wanted to show something ugly about Bolivia, they have achieved it."

The Bolivian press is not responsible for her mistake. The first articles were published by Reuters on May 28 at 3:27 PM titled: 'Tall, White' Bolivian Beauty Faces Calls to Quit.
This was followed by CNN, etc. These articles published word for word what Gabriela said and people came to their own conclusion that Gabriela was racist.

I understand and believe she probably isn't racist, but it simply didn't come out that way from her mouth. Don't blame the Bolivian press for 'misconstruing' what she said.

I suppose when she gets back to Bolivia she could clear the misunderstanding for her own sake through interviews.

Miguel, I agree with you. I think her statements have become unreasonably sensationalized. Seems like her statements have become an excuse for nationalists to stop onto a soapbox. Patty's comments confirm this.

She's not a native speaker. She made a few non-pc comments, in an English-language contest. She's not a politician, or an orator.

The outrage stems from embarassment.