Sandro Guzmán The Man Behind The Most Successful Dominican Models

2024 Author: Steven Freeman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 08:15

If you don't live under a rock, you may have already heard about the wave of Dominican models that has been sweeping the international catwalks for a few years. Models such as Lineisy Montero, Hiandra Martínez, Ámbar Cristal and Ysuanny Brito, among many others, have become favorites of the most prestigious designers in the world. But have you ever wondered how these girls have managed to position themselves in such a privileged place? With the help and guidance of Sandro Guzmán, the Dominican businessman who has developed an incredible talent to discover the potential that many young Dominican women who have a unique and exotic beauty can have abroad.

It was precisely Guzmán who was in charge of helping us gather Lissandra Blanco, Melanie Pérez, Emy Ramírez and Jennifer Concepción to make the incredible editorial published in the March edition of People en español, which is now for sale.

We spoke with him to learn a little more about his history and his efforts to highlight the beauty of Dominican women.

- Why would you say that your country has become the cradle of some of the most sought-after models of the moment? What does the Dominican woman have that other women do not have?

It has been a great job for many years, to publicize the real beauty of Dominican women. We have managed to put unique faces, which have impacted at the industry level. Our beauty, has a strength and magnetism product of a great mix of races (indigenous, Spanish, African). The Dominicans have stood out for their personality and their great desire to do things well and above all they are always happy and positive. Each one has a personal seal, neither one resembles the other. This great diversity has opened the doors of success for us.

- What are the requirements or types of beauty that girls must have to win a casting? What are you looking for?

I never tire of saying that the key that opens the door of this industry is personality, accompanied by a good presence, security and own style. If all this is accompanied by a unique face, it is the perfect combination. The Dominicans who have triumphed are imposing faces and do not compete with each other. For example, Lineisy Montero, Rose Cordero, Hiandra Martínez, Arlenis Sosa or Ysaunny Brito are not physically similar.

Dominicans have not always been proud of their beauty, their curly hair, for example. Why do you think this is changing?

It was very hard work. The first gift that a [Dominican] mother makes before the age of 13 is a straightening (remove the waves from the hair). It is a cultural problem. [This is] a country with a high population of people of color and the prototype of beauty is another. I can tell you about my 25 years of work in the industry [and] little by little we have seen the changes. For example, Lineisy's success with her natural afro, now we see many girls arriving with natural hair at the casting. Much remains to be changed, but little by little we are making the patterns of beauty change.

- We know that many of these girls come from humble homes. How are these young girls' lives changed?

It is the most beautiful part of what we do. They are girls with extreme poverty and we have seen how many of them have changed the course of their lives and that of their family. The most important thing is that they, with a decent job, can buy [a] house for their parents, invest for their future and change their sociocultural level. Many have been very humble, but with very educated families and with many wishes to get ahead. Lineisy's mother worked as a domestic in a family home. They lived in one room, but she did not drop out and graduated from accounting. She raised her family with many values. Without a doubt, Lineisy's contribution has been a change from heaven to earth.

- How and when did you start your modeling agency and what are your goals from now on?

I have more than 25 years in fashion. I am a marketer and business administrator by profession. My thesis at the university was a project of European stores in the Dominican Republic. I came [to this] out of passion. I did this for many years without profit and in 2006 (I did it until 2013) I started with the franchise of the Elite Models look RD contest. But before, he had already signed the first three Dominicans in multinationals (Alejandra Cata, Yaris Cedano and Roza Gough). I was the pioneer in putting Dominican blood in international agencies and the one who has signed the most with multinationals. My goal is to continue helping Dominican youth and continue to place stars worldwide. [I want] to place the tricolor flag and turn my land into one of super models. [I want] them to talk about the players,of the merengue and the most beautiful black and mulatto models in the world [that has] the Dominican Republic.