Cholita Mountain Climbers Defy What Climbing Looks Like

graphic design in collage style of a group of native women climbing mountains

In Bolivia, Cecilia Llusco, an Aymara woman, guides hikers to the summit of Huayna Potosí, a mountain in western Bolivia, located in the Andes at 6,088 meters above sea level. Llusco is part of a group of native women who proudly embrace their cultural heritage and are popularly known as cholitas.


In the past, the word "cholita" was not exactly a term of endearment for the ethnic minority of Bolivian women. However, things took a turn as time went by. The cholitas reappropriated the term, and their traditional clothes became a symbol of identity and resilience.

Dressed in her colorful traditional skirt and equipped with crampons, a traction device attached to the base of the boot for walking on ice, Llusco is part of a group of mountain climbers whose fame skyrocketed after the release of their award-winning documentary in 2019.

A group of cholitas turned gender norms upside down, literally and figuratively, when they began skateboarding in their traditional clothing.

Now, another set of cholitas are gearing up for their next challenge: scaling the world's highest mountain, Everest.

Llusco's upbringing was tied to the mountains, thanks to her father's job as a high mountain guide, where she gained insight into his profession. At the age of 8, she made her first visit to the Huayna Potosí base camp, situated at 4700 meters above sea level. By 14, she began climbing mountains and started working as a porter—a local native who carries essential supplies like food, tents, and climbing equipment for tourists participating in guided hikes up the mountains.

In 2015, along with ten other Aymara women, she reached the summit of Huayna Potosí, triggering a series of expeditions to other mountains over six thousand meters in height in Bolivia. The initial project was self-funded, and the women organized themselves into a group they named "Cholita Climbers," which now boasts fourteen members.

With the success of the documentary "Cholitas," directed by Pablo Iraburu and Jaime Murciego, Llusco became a high mountain guide and traveled to places like El Aconcagua, the highest mountain in the Americas, second only to the Himalayas in Asia. As if she hadn’t already accomplished more than most climbers of any gender, Llusco climbed to 5500 meters Illimani, a snowy Andean mountain in Bolivia, while eight months pregnant.

Now she and her companions dream of reaching Everest in 2024 to represent their Aymara culture and colorful skirts on the world's highest peak.

To achieve their goal, the Cholita Climbers have launched a crowdfunding campaign to gather funds for their expedition, including training, gear, and travel expenses.

The film also highlights Lidia Huayllas, the group's most senior member, who is spearheading the ambitious project of taking the cholitas to the summit of Everest. Completing this trio of women is Senobia Llusco, Cecilia's younger sister, who not only actively participates in the group of cholita climbers but also plans to invite women from Tibet to join them in conquering the world's highest mountain.

In an interview with Ladera Sur, Llusco shares, "Our biggest dream is to go to Nepal, we have that project for 2024. We will go to the biggest mountain in the world to bring our culture and our colorful skirts. I am proud of not losing the skirt culture, Aymara, indigenous, of my roots. I will never lose it; I won't take it off. When we planted potatoes, I would pull it up, and I do the same when I have to climb on ice. Of course, I've climbed many peaks with my skirt and crampons."

Where it Started

Huayllas, a pioneer and organizer within the group, took the lead in 2015 by encouraging the cholitas to unite and plan their ascent to conquer the summit of Huayna Potosí. She began climbing and proudly carried her cultural identity and the traditional skirt, a symbol of the indigenous resistance in Andean culture, rather than opting to wear traditional climbing gear.

Lidia Huayllas Strava - Cholita Escaladorawww.youtube.com


While Huayllas currently serves as the deputy mayor of one district in El Alto, Bolivia, her greatest achievement is leaving a legacy for new generations of women, urging them to pursue their dreams. In the interview with Ladera Sur, Huayllas shared, "To all women, I say there is always sexism, but I would like to tell them that all women have to make dreams come true. We have already taken the step, and we will show that women can reach the summits we set out for. Now, my dream is to go to Everest with my companions."

And inspiring is exactly what they’re doing. The youngest of the Llusco sisters, Senobia, followed in Cecilia Llusco's footsteps as a porter and high mountain cook. Their connection to the mountain goes beyond the physical; for them, a mountain is a person, and they take their deep spiritual connections with them to every mountain they climb. Senobia and her sister performed Aymara rituals before ascending Nevado Ausangate in 2017, honoring the mountain deities.

She dreams of representing Aymara women on the world's highest mountain and sending a message of strength. Despite financial challenges and gender stereotypes, the Cholita Climbers persist in their goal. In the interview with Ladera Sur, the youngest of the Llusco sisters shared, "We want to be known, and recognized as well. We want to show that Aymara women are strong. That's why we are going to the highest mountain in the world."

These cholitas, whether scaling high mountain peaks or showcasing skateboarding prowess, defy preconceived boundaries, empowering indigenous women in spaces once deemed out of reach. For the Cholita Climbers, Everest isn’t just a mountain; it is a symbol of cultural representation and determination. With their fortitude, they aim to change perceptions and pave the way for future generations of Aymara women.

hands holding up yellow protest signs that say Hands Off Our Bodies
Photo Credit: Gayatri Malhotra via Unsplash

Originally published in Common Dreams. Reprinted with permission.

The Latino electorate will prove decisive in securing reproductive freedom and abortion access through ballot measures around the country, particularly in states where Latinos are a significant portion of the electorate.

In November, abortion rights measures will appear on ballots across ten states, including Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Nevada, and New York, where Latinos make up a significant portion of the electorate. For decades, pundits and politicians have recycled long-held misconceptions about Latino voters and abortion access, citing our conservative and religious beliefs.

Anti-abortion extremists have long fueled these misconceptions through misinformation and disinformation campaigns targeting Latino communities with egregious lies and inflammatory rhetoric about abortion. Yet, polling, focus groups, and direct interactions with Latino communities have debunked these outdated tropes.

The Latino electorate will prove decisive in securing reproductive freedom and abortion access through ballot measures around the country, particularly in states where Latinos are a significant portion of the electorate.

For Latinos, the freedom to decide, a pillar of our American democracy, is critical. Meanwhile, Latinos are being hit directly with anti-abortion efforts that take away that freedom such as the six-week abortion ban put into effect by the Florida Supreme Court and the 1864 abortion ban upheld by the Arizona Supreme Court. In the wake of the Dobbs decision, people of color and Latinas have felt the impact of a lack of abortion access, an element of basic healthcare.

A 2023 report by the National Partnership for Women and Families estimated that nearly 6.5 million Latinas, or 42% of all Latinas of reproductive age in the country, live in a state that either had or was likely to ban abortion. Ironically, it will be abortion access and anti-choice efforts to restrict freedom of choice that will mobilize Latino voters this election.

In a poll conducted by three national reproductive justice organizations, 87% of Latinas named abortion and women’s rights as one of their top priorities as they head to the polls. Another battleground poll conducted by Somos PAC and BSP Research found that 61% of Latino registered voters expressed a more positive/favorable view of Kamala Harris after hearing that she will protect abortion rights, versus only 19% of Latinos who said they had a more negative view of Harris after hearing that.

In key states to secure the White House and both chambers, Latinos make up large chunks of the electorate: Arizona (25%), Colorado (15%), Florida (20%), Nevada (20%), and New York (12%). In the face of unprecedented attacks on basic healthcare access and targeted attempts by extremists to mislead and divide our community on this issue, this November Latinos will be key deciders on abortion access across the country.

Mari Urbina, Managing Director of Indivisible, Battleground Arizona Lead and former Harry Reid advisor.

Héctor Sánchez Barba is president and CEO of Mi Familia Vota (MFV).

This Viral Video Game Is Changing the Face of Voter Outreach

In 2024, voting campaigns have evolved greatly, to say the least. Creativity is now the name of the game and tongue-in-cheek humor is expertly leveraged to drive action. One example of that is Bop the Bigot, a revival of a viral game created in 2016 by Bazta Arpaio, an Arizona activist group, as part of a campaign to unseat Maricopa County’s Sheriff Joe Arpaio. Arpaio lost his re-election to Paul Penzone that year.

The game has now been updated for the current election cycle and relaunched by On Point Studios, with new features added to enable players to find out what’s on their ballot, confirm voter status, and register to vote.

Much like its former 2016 version, the game allows users to take out their political frustrations by virtually “bopping” GOP candidates in the head. It’s very similar to whack-a-mole, except the mole is replaced by former President Donald Trump, Ohio’s Senator J. D. Vance, and Kevin Roberts, President of the Heritage Foundation, which is spearheading Project 2025.

cartoon renditions of Donald Trump and J.D. Vance around a Bop the Bigot logoPromotional image provided by On Point Studios.

B. Loewe, Director of On Point Studios, came up with the concept for this game when working as the Communications Director at Bazta Arpaio in 2016, and is the executive producer of this revamped version. In the first version of the game, Bop the Bigot players used a chancla (flip flop) to “bop” the characters, tapping into Latino culture by leaning on the childhood experience of being set right by a flying chancla from a fed-up mother or grandmother.

This year, the chancla is replaced by a more current element, a green coconut, referencing Kamala Harris’ coconut tree meme. There are also side characters like “the couch,” cat ladies, and more coconuts. All references to jokes about Vice-Presidential candidate Vance, or insults Vance has made about women on the campaign trail.

Another new addition is that Harris’ laugh is immortalized as the game-over sound effect, an unexpected detail that adds even more humor and levity to the game.

cartoon renditions of Donald Trump, Kevin Roberts, and J.D. Vance around a Bop the Bigot logoPromotional image provided by On Point Studios.

Bop the Bigot, which is playable on desktop and mobile, is intended not just as a way to vent political frustrations, but also as a tool for activism and securing voter engagement.

For example, the game supports the work of Mexican Neidi Dominguez Zamorano, Founding Executive Director of the non-profit organization Organized Power in Numbers by using the “game over” screen to prompt players to donate to it and support their efforts.

Organized Power in Numbers is focused on empowering workers in the South and Southwest of the U.S. through collective action and comprehensive campaigns. Their mission is to create a large-scale movement that challenges the status quo and advocates for workers' rights, and racial and economic justice.

Currently, Dominguez Zamorano is leading worker outreach to 2 million working-class voters in the South and Southwest through doorknocking, texting, and calls with the help of local groups in North Carolina, Arizona, New Mexico, and more.

“We have been blown away by the enthusiastic reception for the video game. We knew we wanted to be part of its creative approach because our movement needs more fun and laughter. We need more ways to connect with nuestra gente so we can feel joy among all the absurdity we witness every day,” Dominguez Zamorano shared with Luz Media via email.

“Our people are gente trabajadora and we deserve to feel uplifted even in our toughest moments. We are deeply involved in the South and Southwest so we know what’s at stake in this election and we’re happy this can be a resource to mobilize, raise spirits, and get out the vote," she concluded.

Dominguez Zamorano is a committed activist for immigrants and workers' rights, known for her strategist skills and expertise. She played a key role in the campaign to win DACA and has also held roles in major campaigns, including as Deputy National States Director for Bernie Sanders' 2020 presidential campaign. In addition to her work with Organized Power in Numbers, Dominguez Zamorano is serving as a Senior Advisor to Mijente’s Fuera Trump Initiative.

Grassroots efforts like these have taken on new life in 2024, with Bop the Bigot adding to the larger, ongoing fight against political apathy and disinformation. Just as it did during the 2016 race, the video game uses humor to soften the serious task at hand—getting people to the polls.

"We want the game to be a fun and comical outlet for anyone who’s been insulted, frustrated, or harmed by Trump in the past and everyone who is ready to move forward as a country after election day," explained Loewe in a press release. "The proposals in Project 2025 and the beliefs of Trump and Vance aren’t just weird, they’re truly harmful. We wanted to give people a humorous and peaceful way to smack down their racism and sexism. We hope it makes people laugh and also feel empowered and motivated to get to the polls on or before election day."

With a mix of satire, sharp political critique, and nostalgia, the game is a call to action. The upcoming election, which is getting closer by the minute, has sparked fierce activism and creative yet grounded initiatives like these aim to ensure voters are engaged, especially young Latinos and disenfranchised groups.