SHADES OF LATINO BY RICARDO MUNIZ

Photographer Ricardo Muñiz offers to OhLaLa readers a tribute to multi racial beauty of Latino men. This portrait series was shot along the wall behind Ricardo's Old Law Tenement apartment building in New York. It highlights the beauty of all that is Latino: the culture, the colors, the art, gay and ethnic pride and, especially, the diversity of Latino beauty and creativity.

On the first picture Michael MacNeal, Italian and multi-racial, below, Clarence Haynes Panamanian and Rafael Angel Ortiz, Panamanian/Jamaican.

Unfortunately we can't give you more details on how to meet Ricardo's models but you can visit Boiish for more information on what the boys are wearing. Boiish Clothing was created by a legally-married, Latino gay couple from Queens, NY, Steve and Santos who have met in 1992. To enjoy the rest of the photos click here or on the images below.

+ Coquichulo Images Ricardo Muñiz
+ Boiish Online
+ Stylist: Valerie Greene + Makeup: Mackendy Marseille

On a more personal note we wish a Felíz Cumpleaño to Steven featuring in the photoshoot you just turned 21 ;-)

Comments

[Ricardo]

Publishing this series right before Xmas and the day after Steven's 21st birthday is a nice gift for all of us involved. Thanks, Steph and Alek. Wishing you and Ohlala readers a blessed and joyous holiday season.

[Leigh]

I love the pics and the idea of the book, but I have to say that the first man is an excellent example of white latin-american beauty. He may be multiethnic, but not multiracial. I don't mean that in an disparaging way in the least, just pointing out a fact. Many people are reluctant to acknowledge that that there are whites in Latin America, as well as whites who are called 'latino' in the U.S. And yes, I am talking about people of Spanish and Portuguese descent, as well as Italian. Anyway, love the pics and Happy Holidays.

[Ricardo]

Leigh, thanks for loving the pix. A brief history lesson: white has always existed in most Latin countries as a symbol of power, success and beauty since the days of conquest and colonization. There is no reluctance. Only within the past few decades has Latin America begun embracing its racial and ethnic diversity. My work, hopefully, shows the beauty in all shades in all of us who are Latino. By the way, people from Spain, Portugal and Italy are not truly white: check their last names and just ask their Arab and African neighbors. Oh, and Happy New Year to all.