Marcelo Gaia and the Importance of Latinx Awareness
If you haven’t heard of Mirror Palais, you’ve definitely seen it already. This high-fashion sustainable brand has quickly gained traction over the past few years, becoming an internet sensation known for their heavenly designs. They especially went viral after Bella Hadid was seen wearing their cropped blouse out in NYC, and later posted wearing their bikini. Marcelo Gaia, the genius behind the art, is a second-generation immigrant with Brazilian heritage, born and raised in New York. As all great artists do, Gaia was inspired by his culture. He applied Brazilian fashion and materials to his designs, such as his iconic linen dresses that were inspired by the clothing his mother and grandmother wore in hot weather. Being Brazilian myself, I immediately identified and fell in love with Mirror Palais.
However, with every success comes a band of ill-wishers along with it. Gaia began to receive backlash across various platforms for his clothing line. Most of these comments accused him of appropriating Latino culture, such as an especially popular TikTok comment that Gaia later replied to, stating that he was adding to the “‘Catholic Mexican girl aesthetic’ that now white women are using to fit [their] [sic] eurocentric beauty”. Being Brazilian myself, this discourse struck a chord with me. This comment, and others similar to it, prove what most of us second-generation Brazilians already know: We will never be Latino enough for you.
I’m 20 years old, and this is the first year of my life that I have seen true, and positive, Brazilian representation in American media. By no means is there a lot; I can only think of two off the top of my head, Marcelo Gaia being one of them. Although there’s still few and far between, before this, there were only a handful of Brazilian Victoria’s Secret models I knew of, but no one really cared that they were Brazilian unless it was to sexualize that fact (Brazilian body, Brazilian butt, etc. etc.).
Brazil has only ever been relevant when it’s a topic of sensuality and exoticness. American media references Brazil for Rio’s Carnaval, known for sex and parties, or for the Amazon’s mystery, a common location for adventure or superhero films (take The Incredible Hulk, 2008, or Jungle Cruise, 2021)—but absolutely nothing else. More recently, I finished a book in which the only non-white character was a Brazilian woman…who was a cocaine dealer. For many Americans, or cultures that are not familiar with us, that’s where our usefulness and intrigue ends. They don’t want to know anything else about us that isn’t convenient to them, and Marcelo Gaia is a prime example of this.
After the accusatory TikTok comments went viral, Gaia responded to it with a video. “I have really had enough when it comes to this discourse,” he said. “I’m Brazilian. Brazil is a devoutly Catholic country. (…) This was inspired by my culture, this was inspired by Brazil.”
The lack of knowledge and the hyper-sexualization of Brazilian culture in American and Hispanic media is a conscious decision. This extends from widespread media to smaller things, such as the Latin American Club on my campus which has never truly included my country, who directly told me “No” in my freshman year when I asked for more Brazilian representation until this semester (and even then, barely). I’m proud of my country and my culture, I adore our traditions and beliefs. Growing up surrounded by people who rejected this or fetishized it has been damaging more than I can say. I’m happy to have rediscovered myself and my culture for myself, and become connected to it in a way I couldn’t be in my teenage years.
Marcelo Gaia is just one of many Brazilians who have been turned away by mass media for not being “Latino enough”, as if there could be such a thing. Embrace second-generation immigrants. Reject your ignorance. There is no place for your benightedness; make room for us in your media.
Strike Out,
Written by: Paula Macena
Edited by: Jane Dodge
Graphic by: Abby Randolph
