A LATINA modelling agency has been criticised on social media for calling an Afro-Latina Black model an “ugly Black” in Spanish.
The comments were made on social media last Friday.
In an audio recording, one of the agency owners can be heard saying to Jasmin Viveros Bonilla: “You look like you’re from Ghana or Freetown.”
The other can be heard laughing.
They also call Afro-Latina Jasmin “ugly as f***” and an an “ugly b****.”
In her first press interview, Jasmin told The Voice that anti-Blackness in Latin communities is widespread.
She added: “It’s nothing new. I’m used to this treatment in the community.”
The agency owners were frustrated that Jasmin had set up her own modelling agency called Las Mami Models.
Jasmin says the owners of UK Latina Agency made threatening comments, saying they knew “where she lived.”
Her sister Lorena has suggested that as a Black model at the UK Latina Agency, she was not given the same opportunities as non-Black Latina models.
She also says that she was very disheartened to hear the racist comments.
She explained: “I was very angry that she made those comments to my younger sister.
“As a Black woman she looks up to me.”
No personal apology
The sisters say that although the agency apologised publicly to Nigerian and Sierra-Leonian communities, they have not privately apologised.
The sisters believe more discussions about anti-Blackness in Latina communities should take place.
Jasmin explained: “Families will literally call the darker ones the Black ones in Spanish. If you have family members like that, you should be calling them out.”
They also say that people should use their social media platforms to spread awareness of the issue.
Popular Latina podcaster Milena Sanchez has spoken out in support of the sisters and criticised the agency. She also criticised Latino Gossip TV for giving them a platform.
In response to the social media storm that took place after Jasmin shared the comments publicly, the agency owner Jheraldyn Alban said: “If you know me, you know I’m no racist.”
She also suggested that Jasmin had been selective about the comments she shared.
In an Instagram live video she said she did “not justify or condone any racist comments” and apologised to anyone who had been offended.
The Voice has sent a request to UK Latina Agency for comment.
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