Yalitza Aparicio’s recent Instagram post revealed that her family faced mistreatment at a restaurant. According to Aparicio, the restaurant allowed her relatives to buy fresh water from outside, but when they returned, they were prevented from entering because they supposedly had foreign drinks. Aparicio called for more empathy towards diners and better treatment from the establishments of the “Pasillo de humo” market on November 20 in Oaxaca de Juárez.
Her statements sparked support from internet users, and within two days, the local authorities and tenants apologized to Aparicio and her family. The Directorate of Markets of Oaxaca de Juárez promised that they would take necessary measures to avoid such situations in the future and invited Aparicio and her family for a free breakfast.
Aparicio was born in Tlaxiaco, Oaxaca, in 1993. Before pursuing acting, she studied to be a preschool teacher at the Normal School of Tlaxiac. In 2016, Aparicio auditioned for the lead role in Alfonso Cuarón’s film Roma, where she played Cleo, an indigenous domestic worker. Despite having no prior acting experience, Aparicio was selected for the role and received praise for her performance.
Roma premiered at the Venice Film Festival in 2018, winning Best Film and earning Aparicio a nomination for Best Actress at the 2019 Oscars–the first indigenous Mexican actress to receive such a nomination. Despite her success, Aparicio has faced discrimination in Mexico, including racist comments from Mexican actor Sergio Goyri in 2019.
Aparicio has become a role model for many people in Mexico and around the world. She has used her platform to promote education in indigenous communities, speak about the importance of diversity and inclusion in the film industry, and introduce Oaxacan culture to the world through her YouTube channel. Aparicio has also participated in other films and series such as Presencias, Los Espookys, and Mujeres Asesinas.
In conclusion, despite the obstacles she has faced, Yalitza Aparicio remains an inspiration and continues to use her voice for the betterment of her community and the film industry.
