http://www.mapuche.nl/


August 18, 2001
OSCAR DE LA RENTA TAPS 14-YEAR-OLD MAPUCHE MODEL IN CHILE.
Santiago, (EFE via COMTEX)




- A 14-year-old Mapuche Indian model has impressed fashion designer Oscar de la Renta so much that he chose her from among dozens of models to wear some of his garments from a collection unveiled in Santiago. Ximena Huillipan, who may be the first Mapuche international model according to some critics, has been featured on the country's newspaper pages as she stepped onto the catwalk of the famous designer's collection this week.

Ximena said that she was proud of her background and regretted not speaking better Mapundungun, the Mapuche language, which her father and grandparents speak fluently. Ximena's arrival on the fashion scene was possible thanks to Chilean designer Ruben Campos, who employs her mother as dressmaker. Campos was so impressed with the features and figure of Ximena that he registered her in a Chilean affiliate of an international modeling agency. The possibility of "traveling and having an entertaining job" is what interested the model most, who like any other girl of her age, attends school and likes pop music, especially the Backstreet Boys, Christina Aguilera and Jennifer Lopez. EFE http://www.efe.es...