"Jacklighting"

Border communities are often reduced to criminality, dismissing the culture and people who live there. Everting storylines hinged on tradition, stereotypes, and political partisanship, Guerrero focuses on voices that call this place home, inadvertently disrupting the status quo. Seeking refuge from a reality overwhelmed with confines and strict ways of being stands models full of aspirations wanting to tell their story. Guerrero captures each model through a raw lens, adorned in vibrant outfits with greens and sandy beaches acting as a backdrop.

Accompanying the series of portraits are interviews of each model articulating their identity and expanding on their experiences in the Rio Grande Valley. Mentored by Fiorucci, these young adults are given an opportunity to explore themselves through fashion, an escape from the day-to-day. While opposing caricatures and lacked representation, each creative epitomizes the extraordinary possibilities that make the Valley a cultural hotspot.

Check out the series and interviews below.

Fish: My experiences in the fashion industry led me to want to provide a sense of connection and stability in South Texas. I felt a disadvantage for being located far away from metropolitan areas and made it a point to provide as much information and resources to the many faces we scout here. The majority of our faces come from conservative and heteronormative homes and for them, fashion is sometimes the only way to get out of it all. For me, it helped me find myself and my identity in a religious community where people don’t always accept my individuality. This is just the beginning for the many faces we meet and connect with every day.

Marisol: Marisol Cervantes is a Chicana activist from the RGV. I’m a recent graduate in Philosophy with a passion for environmental studies. I’m currently finishing my time with UTRGV, having managed a community-based volunteer garden for the past two years. Growing up by a militarized border which is also a rich source of wonderful life has opened their eyes to the injustices placed on an area due to its colonized history. I hope to be a light for their community in the future towards self-actualization.

John: Hi my name is John Judas Sanchez. One of my first loves is art. The form of truly expressing yourself. Everything art has to offer whether it's music, fashion, painting, or working out. I just have a mentality that I need to give 150% every single day; be the best version of me now. I grew up in Chicago, the greatest city to me. Being from Chicago gave me a different viewpoint of life. It also gave me a mentality of hard work, dedication, and patience. I've seen things a child shouldn't see at a very young age that impacted my life. I had to grow up faster than the other kids. I was just walking home from Chicago when I saw Miguel, a 15-year-old neighborhood friend get beat to death with a baseball bat by five people. I also saw my brother lying in his own blood. The most traumatic thing I've ever seen. One of his friends shot him. He shot my brother through the hip and the bullet went through both legs. He had four bullet holes. There was so much blood. My brother survived. Shows me to be thankful for every day no matter the situation that is currently happening. As well-being from the Windy city showed me you can come from the mud to become whomever you want to be such as Kanye West, Jerry Lorenzo, and Virgil Abloh. I moved to the valley in 2012. The best thing to happen to me. I discovered myself here, believe it or not. I can express myself. I can do all the things I love and be who I am. It’s a "boring" place to others but to me, it's so calm and peaceful. Life goes by slowly here. If I stayed in Chicago I would've never found myself. Only one of three things. I would've been in a gang, jail, or dead. The Valley is the best place for me to be. The Valley will always be my home.

Gael: I didn’t have a perfect childhood nor the best life but I learned to love it and laugh even during the worst times. I found my true self and ambition. Being from the valley, kids just look up to narcos and believe that’s the only way out. We should do better as a community.

Trisha: Hello my name is Tristan and I grew up in Brownsville Texas in a loving home and a great community. I am twelve years old and heading into 7th grade. The Valley will always hold a special place in my heart because I grew up here and I have so many fond memories among the humid airs of the Valley.

Gabriela: My name is Gabriela and I'm an art history graduate student working in fashion in the Rio Grande valley. My life at this moment converges on a need to develop an educated and thoughtful understanding of the rgv through the symbolic representation of our history and experiences. This manifests in my modeling and my work as well as in my academic interests - the history of dress in this region and latin America.My dad's family has lived and died in this region of south texas through all colonial iterations of this state so far. At this stage in my life, I am obligated to the task of understanding our history out of the desire to both honor it and be critical of it, as well as to reconcile personal feelings and questions about my identity.

Amy: My name is Amy Valdez. I'm 19 years old, a musician, and an aspiring artist. Charming sites and wonderful people are often found in the most unpredictable places. Living in the valley has shaped me to learn to look closer. Finding the hidden beauty in the world around me.

Alma: My name is Alma Lozano I was born and raised in Brownsville Tx. I have seen and experienced all the joys and pain of this place. I am an active participant in the betterment of the community. I enjoy going to events and museums to support the immense talent that this community offers. I'm an avid crystal collector who also loves writing, DIY projects, and refurbishing furniture.

Brianna: Hi, my name is Brianna Lozano and I live with a never-ending pull to create through different art mediums. All the arts are close to my heart. I can be found either daydreaming, cooking, or reading a book while surrounded by nature and the sounds of my favorite music. Brownsville is the source of most of my inspiration, pain, and love.

Alexis: My name is Alexis Tovias, I’m 22 years old, originally from Mexico, and currently residing in Austin. As an immigrant and a woman of trans experience, I want to share my story in hopes to inspire those who hear it. I’m eager to surpass the expectations I have for myself and show the world all I’ve got to offer. Growing up in the Valley helped me stay closely rooted in my Mexican heritage but it also meant I was bothered by all the machismo. Nevertheless, I’m proud to be a Mexican raised in the valley who endured so much because now I know exactly who I am and what I want.

Caleb: My name is Caleb Abrego.I am a 20-year-old computer engineering student with a passion for fashion. I’m new to the modeling industry and I’m ready to show the world who I am. I want to set an example for the future generation by challenging the status quo in men’s fashion. Growing up in the valley, where toxic masculinity is the norm, you see a lot of people afraid to be themselves. My sister has never apologized for being who they are, which inspires me to be true to myself. I am not afraid of what anyone else has to say.

Andres: Hey! My name is Andres Vidal and I was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and have been living in Brownsville for 8 years now. I love to cook and learn new recipes to show my family so they can enjoy what I make. In my free time I usually just spend time with my dog since she brings me so much joy and happiness. Ever since I moved to the valley I noticed there isn’t that much cultural diversity and anyone that is outside of the “norm” gets judged very easily. There was one time I was modeling outside in downtown Brownsville and a truck that passed by yelled homophobic slurs just because they wanted to make fun of someone doing something they weren’t used to.

Rhandall