
Las Cholitas Voladoras 2019
Bolivia’s cholitas luchadoras first began practicing their craft in the early 2000’s when a group of women in El Alto created a group of luchadoras inspired by Mexico’s lucha libre style of wrestling. This group was partly for recreation & entertainment, but also as a way for women who had suffered domestic abuse to take out their frustration and stress. Following many years of ethnic oppression since the Spanish colonised the region, the Cholitas are breaking into new realms. Rather than confining themselves to vending fruit on the roadside, they are working as lawyers, doctors, and even professional wrestlers. Cholitas have long had a history of activism, leading several successful political movements over the decades. When they have an issue with the state, be it healthcare, schooling, or security, they mobilise and demonstrate. Their fight in the ring becomes a dramatisation of that day to day struggle, as they successfully strive ahead in what is an otherwise male dominated sport.

Las Cholitas Voladoras 2019
Bolivia’s cholitas luchadoras first began practicing their craft in the early 2000’s when a group of women in El Alto created a group of luchadoras inspired by Mexico’s lucha libre style of wrestling. This group was partly for recreation & entertainment, but also as a way for women who had suffered domestic abuse to take out their frustration and stress. Following many years of ethnic oppression since the Spanish colonised the region, the Cholitas are breaking into new realms. Rather than confining themselves to vending fruit on the roadside, they are working as lawyers, doctors, and even professional wrestlers. Cholitas have long had a history of activism, leading several successful political movements over the decades. When they have an issue with the state, be it healthcare, schooling, or security, they mobilise and demonstrate. Their fight in the ring becomes a dramatisation of that day to day struggle, as they successfully strive ahead in what is an otherwise male dominated sport.

Las Cholitas Voladoras 2019
Bolivia’s cholitas luchadoras first began practicing their craft in the early 2000’s when a group of women in El Alto created a group of luchadoras inspired by Mexico’s lucha libre style of wrestling. This group was partly for recreation & entertainment, but also as a way for women who had suffered domestic abuse to take out their frustration and stress. Following many years of ethnic oppression since the Spanish colonised the region, the Cholitas are breaking into new realms. Rather than confining themselves to vending fruit on the roadside, they are working as lawyers, doctors, and even professional wrestlers. Cholitas have long had a history of activism, leading several successful political movements over the decades. When they have an issue with the state, be it healthcare, schooling, or security, they mobilise and demonstrate. Their fight in the ring becomes a dramatisation of that day to day struggle, as they successfully strive ahead in what is an otherwise male dominated sport.
Note: The text above was written by the Artist. No modification was made by COCA.
Todd Antony
United Kingdom
Originally from New Zealand, Todd Antony is a multi-award winning photographer whose diverse skill set leads to some equally diverse commissions and personal projects.
Over the last few years his personal projects have been focussed on photographing little known, small groups and sub cultures from around the world who's stories have the ability to both inspire and educate the viewer.
He has been working as a photographer for 16 years and is represented in the UK, U.S., France and Australia. His work has featured in numerous awards, including the American Photography Awards, International Photography Awards, Communication Arts Photo Annual, Creative Review Photo Awards, AOP Awards, and has been included multiple times in Lurzer’s Archive ‘200 Best Advertising Photographers Worldwide’