Meet the Cover Girl of the Quinceanera.com Supplement
Although she appreciates the effort for something so special, Guadalupe Espinoza decided to postpone her quinceañera after being overwhelmed by the amount of money her parents would spend. She likes to talk, cars, and animals. Her career choice: supermodel.
Guadalupe Espinoza wants to be a supermodel. She is only 16 years old but already shows promise. Not only does she know how to make all kinds of facial expressions to charm the camera, but she carries an important arrangement of shirts, pants, and shoes for an unexpected photo shoot as well.
She belongs to a generation of Latinos who are ready to conquer the world; she is proud of her origins –she speaks fluent Spanish, although she prefers to speak English-, a disciplined scholar, cute, intelligent and she doesn’t like to mince words.
Guadalupe is also part of a twenty-first century family unit. She lives with her mother and stepfather, with whom she has a great relationship, as well as their children, who she considers like her brothers. They are five in total, four from her stepfather and one older biological brother.
“I’m not in a hurry to grow up”
She thinks about love but would rather not talk about it, though she can’t avoid blushing when asked about any boyfriends. “I have friends, and that’s it,” says Guadalupe with a half-smile. Moments after, she adds that she is “fortunate when it comes to love, although I try to concentrate on school and my career. I talk to my mom often; she always tells me that there are more important things than boys and clothes, such as work and school.”
Guadalupe speaks wonders about her quinceañera. It took place in Bell a year after the usual age to celebrate. She postponed her celebration due to how much it would cost, but after visiting several friends’ quinceañeras, she made her choice. “My mom asked me if I would like to have a Sweet 16 instead of a Quince and I said ‘yes’, and since my birthday is during winter in January, we waited until June for good weather.”
Despite this, it was a very Latin-flavored celebration with a single exception. “Everyone was confused about my age” she laughs. She wore a white dress and celebrated all traditions “church, toast, and everything else,” she says. “I danced with uncles, cousins and the entire family” from the waltz dance to the surprise dance: merengue.
Guadalupe assures that she is proud to be a Latina. “I am happy because I like to speak two languages. Not everyone can say the same.” Aside from being proud of her cultural roots, she describes herself as outspoken. “I always have something to say and I don’t like to keep still. I have so much energy. Besides, I love to dance. I’m taking some classes in which we dance from ballet to hip hop. Everything.”
“I don’t want to finish high school and work at McDonald’s; I want to go to college”
She also claims to know how to do a manicure. “I do my nails,” her mom’s, her cousins’, and the list goes on. This is a hint in regards to her future; she wants to do modeling and if that doesn’t work out then own a business in the fashion industry. “Ever since I was a little girl, I like taking pictures and I enjoyed having the photo session for my Quince. I like being in front of a camera.”
However, Guadalupe is not eager to welcome the future. “I’m not in a hurry to grow up. I don’t want to have kids or anything like that… for now, of course.” What she does want is to do something with her life. “I don’t want to finish high school and work at McDonald’s; I want to go to college.”
She also doesn’t do drugs because her friends stay away from them. “I’m not interested in alcohol or drugs.” She confessed that she shares everything with her mother, who is also her best friend.
When it comes to her wardrobe, Guadalupe likes to dress simple with skirts, skinny jeans and prefers summer clothing over winter outfits. Her favorite clothing store: Forever 21. Her ideal trip: Puerto Rico, based on pictures she has seen, and Egypt, which has always drawn her attention.
She says that her favorite movie is “an old one”, The Mummy from 1999, and one that she carries in her heart, Beauty and the Beast. Although she does not read many books, Guadalupe began to read the Bible. “I read it every now and then because it makes me think.”
This is Guadalupe, our cover quinceañera, “excited” about being featured in a magazine and the $1,700 scholarship for the Patricia Sturla Modeling Academy given to her by El Clasificado. Clear goals, a restless mind, and a flaming heart.
