Teen liposuction and busty pinatas: narcoaesthetics in Colombia in pictures | Art and design
Publish date: 2024-04-03
Teen liposuction and busty pinatas: narcoaesthetics in Colombia – in pictures
In Colombia, girls grow up in a world where they are seen as decorative objects – and where plastic surgery rules. For her new photoessay Beauties, the 2014 Joan Wakelin bursary winner Manuela Henao captures the teenagers shelling out fortunes for buttock implants, nose jobs and new breasts
Thu 23 Apr 2015 07.15 EDT Last modified on Thu 26 Mar 2020 10.42 EDT
Estefania and Tatiana, 18 and 19, Medellín. Estefania: ‘I had my liposuction when I was 15, then breast implants at 18. I can’t even remember when I started to want to change my body; I have always had that desire. When I was very little I remember saying to my mum that one day I will have breast implants. It’s about time to have another liposuction. I would also like to have my bum done, and probably a face job.’
Share on Facebook Share on TwitterTatiana: ‘I had a liposuction when I was 16 and breast implants a month ago. My desire to have plastic surgery built up when I started going out. I remember seeing voluptuous women in clubs and anxiously comparing myself to them. I used to feel so insecure about my body. The majority of my friends feel the same, and almost all of them are willing to have at least one plastic surgery.’
Share on Facebook Share on TwitterIn Medellín, it is common to see mannequins with extra large breasts and bottoms
Share on Facebook Share on TwitterA piñata vendor in Medellín
Share on Facebook Share on TwitterThe entrance to a bar in downtown Medellín
Share on Facebook Share on TwitterKaterine Herrera, 28, a pole dancer in Medellín. ‘I was studying cosmetology, but then my husband had an accident and I started working at the club to pay for his treatment and look after my son. I’ve had multiple operations: breast implants, tummy tuck, liposuction, butt implants and a nose job. I’ve spent 30m pesos (£10,000) on them. I spend about 1m pesos (£300) on beauty treatments every month. Surgery has hugely boosted my self-esteem and, of course, the money I make dancing in the club.’
Share on Facebook Share on TwitterA young woman shows off her tattoos
Share on Facebook Share on TwitterA woman shows off her elaborate manicure
Share on Facebook Share on TwitterLucía in her sweet 15 (Quinceañera) dress
Share on Facebook Share on TwitterBreast implants
Share on Facebook Share on TwitterA statue of the Virgin Mary in the back garden of a house in Medellín
Share on Facebook Share on TwitterAlejandra Ramirez, 23, model and diet pill seller, Medellín‘I started saving for surgery at 18 – most of my friends had already had it by then. I was frustrated I didn’t look as pretty as them. Now, I’ve had breast implants for 4.5m pesos (£1000), two nose jobs for 7m pesos (£1900), liposuction at 5m pesos (£1300), and bio-polymers in my butt. I need to remove them because the doctor had no qualifications. I knew the risks, but I really wanted to have my butt done. A friend was rushed into surgery recently because she got black spots and blood clots under the skin. She was in a lot of pain.’
Share on Facebook Share on TwitterA bottle of appetite suppressants. Slimming pills are becoming popular among women in Medellín, often sold by models via their Facebook pages, using their image to promote their business
Share on Facebook Share on TwitterPopular magazines with images of women on their covers
• Administered by the Royal Photographic Society in partnership with the Guardian, the Joan Wakelin bursary offers £2,000 for the production of a photographic essay on an overseas social documentary issue. Click here to apply for next year’s bursary Share on Facebook Share on Twitter
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