WATCH NOW
Watch on the app
What defines beauty in Latin America? Akima Sparks the Debate on Latino Standards
Colombian actress Akima kicked off a conversation that’s still super relevant these days: What defines beauty in Latin America? It all started when she took on the role of Rebeca in Netflix’s adaptation of One Hundred Years of Solitude. In the novel, Rebeca is portrayed as an incredibly beautiful woman, and Akima, with her indigenous and Afro-descendant features, was given the part. But not everyone was on board with this casting decision. Some people criticized it, claiming her appearance didn’t align with the traditional beauty standards that have dominated Colombian television.
Ver esta publicación en Instagram
In a TikTok video, Akima addressed these reactions and made a strong point: this casting choice wasn’t just about looks. It was about challenging the status quo. “The beautiful woman is normally a white woman, a blonde woman. I would even say that people got offended because they’ve never seen a character introduced as the most beautiful woman, who looks like me.”
And that’s the core of the issue. For a long time, the faces we’ve seen in Latin American media have represented just one narrow version of beauty, leaving out women with indigenous, Afro-descendant, or more mixed features.
@callmeakimaa La mujer colombiana
When Rebeca is introduced in the show, her beauty stands out. But it’s not the typical beauty that audiences are used to seeing on screen, and that made some people uncomfortable. Akima explained that this discomfort isn’t necessarily a bad thing—it’s part of progress. The fact that people are talking about this is valuable. It’s a starting point for questioning what it means to be beautiful in countries like Colombia, where there’s incredible diversity, but beauty standards are still dominated by Eurocentric ideals.
She emphasized how important it was to have a character praised for her beauty with features that are “more indigenous, more Afro.” “I think it’s incredibly valuable that we’re presenting different kinds of faces to the world. I know that in Colombia, the typical image of a beautiful woman doesn’t usually look like Rebeca,” she explained.
Ver esta publicación en Instagram
Akima didn’t back down from the cultural significance of these reactions. “It’s not about defending myself or trying to convince people that I’m beautiful. This is about something much deeper,” she explained, highlighting how beauty standards are tied to structural issues throughout Latin America. She discussed how, in countries as diverse as Colombia, it’s essential to question why non-white features are frequently left out of beauty ideals.”
“To me, feeling beautiful is an act of rebellion,” she said. “In a society that can be so cruel and racist, fully embracing my identity is a bold statement.” Akima also recognized that her role might make some people uncomfortable: “I’m glad to stir up that discomfort because I know it sparks a conversation. It sheds light on what being a Colombian woman truly means.”
Ver esta publicación en Instagram
She also reflected on what representation means beyond the individual: “It’s valuable that so many people can see themselves in this. And for others, it’s an opportunity to expand their perspective, to change their idea of beauty.”
Akima’s words were clear: this was about much more than a single casting decision. “This is about how we’ve been taught to see certain features, and how we’ve ignored others. It’s about expanding the way we define beauty in a region as diverse as ours.”
for the latest updates from LatiNation