Challenging Gender Norms, a Bolivian Skateboarding Collective Celebrates Indigenous Style — Colossal

In Cochabamba, Bolivia, a group of women skateboarders are changing attitudes toward Indigenous traditions one kickflip at a time. Donning customary Quechuan garments like brimmed sombreros and colorful polleras—wide skirts commonly worn by Andean women—the Imillaskate collective combines a contemporary sport with time-honored cholita heritage.

Colossal readers might recognize some of the women of Imillaskate from Celia D. Luna’s marvelous series of photographs, Cholitas Bravas. A new short documentary directed by Rebecca Basaure and Mariano Carranza and produced by NOWNESS highlights the group’s style and dedication to the community. The film traces the stories of members of Imillaskate, the collective’s mission to construct a skatepark, and their visits to local schools that emphasize self-affirmation and empowerment through skateboarding.

Until fairly recently, Quechuan and Aymara women were derogatorily called “cholitas” and were actively ostracized from society. Known for their long braids, bowler hats, and full skirts—a hybridization of styles resulting from Spanish influence during the Inquisition—the style evolved into a look brimming with Indigenous cultural and lineal pride.

Deysī, an Imillaskate co-founder and award-winning skater, describes how surprised her mother was when she first dressed as a cholita. She continues:

Some people in my generation are embarrassed to wear pollera because the pollera highlight your features—your Indigenous features—highlight what we are as Indigenous people, as the daughters of women of polleras. It’s a part of my family legacy. And without family, I’m nobody.

The inspiring documentary also touches on gender inequalities in Bolivian society, as Imillaskate members share how important mutual support has been through major life transitions like motherhood and the loss of loved ones. “We rely on each other, just as others rely on us,” says another co-founder, Ellī. “Because we, as Indigenous people—as Quechuas—we have a collective mindset.”

NOWNESS creates videos that celebrate art, food, travel, fashion, and more. Watch the entire film on YouTube. You might also enjoy Todd Antony’s series Cholitas Escaladoras, chronicling a group of Quechuan and Aymara mountain climbers in Bolivia.