Morena Magic PART II
Morena Magic embodies her art in the photo "Hermanas," her collaborations with Pinterest, and at the Volvo Fashion Week Mexico.
PART II: Morena Magic’s Mexican Art with Vibrant Latin American Identity
In PART I, we learned about Morena Magic’s popular Mexican art and how she gives a voice to people from marginalized communities while speaking about social injustices. Now, we’ll dive deep into how her Mexican multidisciplinary art showcases the vibrancy of Latin American identity with lots of pride.
Remember the clown photos set in a mercado Magic did in collaboration with the Mexican photographer Livier Miroslava. These powerful images went viral when they published them on social media and they brought in many new opportunities for both Magic and Miroslava. They changed everything and opened doors for new experiences.
“We had a lot of success with those photos and then, thanks to them, we decided to do another session. We did it with my friend who’s a stylist. They call her La Hyna. She’s also an incredible artist,” Magic said.
That new session was the one that resulted in Miroslava’s iconic award-winning “Hermanas” photo. The one that won second place in the Latin America Regional Awards from the 2026 Sony World Photography Awards. The creative process from Magic’s perspective is completely different to Miroslava’s journey.
Magic, who’s a Mexican self-taught multidisciplinary artist, collaborated with her best friend La Hyna for the photos’ creative direction. La Hyna is both a stylist and tattoo artist. A multidisciplinary artist who does beautiful things and she was in charge of the hair and makeup for this particular session.
Magic, on the other hand, was the one who made all the choices regarding the clothes. And obviously – in case it was not clear – Miroslava took the photographs. It was the creation of a collaborative piece where each one of them had a special role to fulfill. An artwork in which creating between women and friends was at the center of everything.
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Just like with the clown photographs, it was a very natural process. Magic said that “nos la pasamos chido” and with La Hyna they created this whole universe full of Mexican, Chicano, and Latin American identity with their hair, makeup, and outfit choices.
La Hyna first chose the hairstyles she had in mind and then, Magic thought of outfits that would match their hairdos. La Hyna wore a silver thorn crown with some pearls and a small chain surrounding her forehead with religious pendants with her hair down. Magic braided her hair with a lace ribbon and wore a flower crown, which was an important symbol making a nod to Mexican identity in the photograph.
Morena used these flowers to represent the Mexican colors and all of the diversity in their ecosystems. A representation of the flora and fauna, but the most obvious reference was Frida Kahlo’s “The Two Fridas.” That was not on purpose or planned. It happened in the moment and Magic wanted to honor her because Kahlo is an artist who really inspires her work.
“That day I said: my look with the flowers and everything, I’d like for it to feel like a Frida painting. Something like that,” Magic said.
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The Virgin of Guadalupe as a Cultural Symbol
That’s also why Magic told La Hyna to hold hands in the precise moment that Miroslava took the photo. You’d think it was super planned out because of all of the details in such a powerful image, but it was in the spur of the moment. As you might’ve noticed, the Virgin of Guadalupe has a very strong presence in this artwork. It is a statue placed above Magic and La Hyna, but it’s also portrayed upfront on their clothes.
Even though Magic doesn’t practice any religion, she loves the figure of the Virgin of Guadalupe and other important religious characters. The virgin is also a reminder of Mexican culture. She believes that when people think about Mexico, the first things that come to mind are the flag and the virgin because of its vibrant colors.
That’s one of the many reasons why she repeatedly sews the Virgin of Guadalupe in her fashion pieces, which were worn by Magic and La Hyna in this session.
“I decided to include the images of the virgin; religious images that I feel are characteristic of my work. For my friend, I did a corset with a virgin and some open pants with buttons and ribbons. She used some heels and wore a [lace] collar making a reference to clowns,” Magic said.
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The universe they created with their outfits, hair, and makeup is the clear combination of Mexican and Chicano culture. The religious elements and details referencing Frida Kahlo exist in a Mexican environment they created in the moment. For Magic, Chicano culture is inspired by Mexico and the roots of the immigrants who moved to the United States. The culture is also present in Frida Kahlo because she spoke a lot about Mexico in her art.
Some of the photos from the session with Morena Magic and La Hyna at the market, the streets, and an ice cream shop in Aguascalientes, Mexico. | Photos courtesy of Livier Miroslava. | Impulsiva Stories
But in the end, it’s a fusion of Magic, La Hyna, and Miroslava. It’s a fusion of the things that they love by visually creating a natural connection and harmony between them. Within that organic connection, Miroslava was able to capture Magic and La Hyna’s longtime sisterhood.
“I feel that in the photos you can really notice the connection between us because we’ve been best friends for years. I feel that chemistry and energy cannot be hidden. You can see that sisterhood in any photo. That loyalty. That friendship there is,” Magic said.
It was about working together doing what they love and looking for a specific aesthetic based on the hair, makeup, and fashion with Miroslava’s great artistry. That great collaboration between the three of them resulted in the Sony award, which is synonymous with pride and gratitude for Magic.
She feels great about the prize as the person who was photographed for that portrait. It feels amazing because she knows about all the effort and work behind such a powerful image. The pride and joy come not only from all the behind-the-scenes work, but also from this image’s natural power in connecting with people on a deeper level.
Some of the photos from the session with Morena Magic and La Hyna at Bar Lumbre in Aguascalientes, Mexico. | Photos courtesy of Livier Miroslava. | Impulsiva Stories
Magic believes this was the result of art created from a very honest place where everything flowed as it was supposed to. It was not planned and there was no huge budget behind it. It was done from the heart and a simple need of creating by the three artists involved.
“All of what we’ve done has been with zero budget and very much made on the street. I feel that gives it a double satisfaction. The fact that we can say: we put in a lot of effort, but at the same time it’s very natural and [done] with what we have,” Magic said.
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She knows that what’s done with a strong essence, a devoted heart, and honesty, will always have that power and strength to connect with others. But from a personal perspective, it speaks lengths to how she feels doing art in whatever shape and form she desires.
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Morena Magic in the middle of the process with Livier Miroslava to create impressive Mexican art with vibrant Latin American identity. | Videos courtesy of Livier Miroslava. | Impulsiva Stories
“At least for me, it reaffirms that that’s the correct path to create. Just saying like: wow, all these photographers from around the world made incredible works. But we went out to the barrio to take the photos,” Magic said. “We made everything in my house.”
It was a really fulfilling experience worthy of recognition for Magic. But it was also one of the many other doors that opened thanks to the initial clown photo session with Miroslava.
An Abundance of New Opportunities
Magic started receiving a lot of exposure thanks to that and she’s very grateful with those particular portraits. The Mexican digital magazine Malvestida then reached out to Magic to interview her and that also gave her way much more exposure on a national level.
And then, Pinterest invited her to be part of their creators’ community on their online platform in the category of beauty and fashion. She was also invited to participate at the Toronto Fashion Week with a few of her pieces, but she was not able to attend physically.
Yet, one of her favorite fashion experiences happened in April of this year. She was invited by Pinterest to go to the Volvo Fashion Week Mexico in Guadalajara.
“It was very surreal and magical to see myself there because as a child, I watched all the fashion shows on television. I never imagined I’d be invited to one of them because it’s well known that those events are very closed. They’re for a specific group and the fact that I was invited was like: wow,” Magic said.
It was very padre for her to be there. She also felt certain nostalgia and a lot of excitement at the same time. It was amazing to see live in action all of the work of different designers and the runways happening. She felt as if her younger self made it big time and made the dream come true.
She traveled to Guadalajara with her best friend La Hyna, who worked as her stylist that day. She did Magic’s hair and makeup and Magic wore an outfit crafted by fashion design students. Everything was done with the intention of evoking her usual Meximalist aesthetic, which easily translates to the maximalism of Mexican culture.
That particular experience moved her in a way in which she thought deeply about her story and how she has overcome many barriers by honoring her true self. By being genuine, honest, and authentic with who she is. By reflecting all of that in her art, fashion, and writing.
The Poetic Metaphor of Fashion and Street
She was living the metaphor of her fashion being the street of any barrio mexicano or latinoamericano.
“It’s the fusion of many things. If you go to the streets of any barrio. Not only in Mexico. In Costa Rica I imagine as well. In Venezuela. In Argentina. They’re very colorful places and I feel my aesthetic is like that. It's very colorful. It has many elements, images, icons, and colors,” Magic said. “So, it reminds me the street of any barrio.”
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That metaphorical and literal concept came to life after she wrote a poem with that exact phrase. It made sense to her because when you look out onto the streets of these barrios, everything is full of textures, colors, and life. That’s part of her language as a person and it merges perfectly with the music she listens to, her writing, her observations, and what she records.
It's the universe she created portrayed in her clothes and it’s part of everything she does. It’s part of who she is as a person that’s passionately represented through her Mexican and Latin American identity.
Morena Magic clearly living her poetic phrase of her fashion being like the streets of any Latin American barrio. | Photos courtesy of Morena Magic. | Impulsiva Stories
Her identity is what she lives every day of her life and that’s why she feels it’s important to show it. Magic gives that space to Mexican culture in her fashion with her daily outfits. The way she dresses is not a costume or something only used for editorial photos.
“I love wearing all these elements in my daily life. The braids, the ribbons, and all of that. Sometimes I see trends and ask myself, why is this designed to be worn for a certain occasion? Why can’t we use it daily? Why is it not natural to dress like that if you love it,” Magic said. “I live it every day and that’s something that marks my essence and style.”
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Her motivation to keep alive these identities, comes from the need to preserve the culture because of her perception that fashion wants people to be robots. To fit in a mold and for all women to be the same with a clean look wearing beige clothes.
But Magic has a very different perspective on that.
“I feel that completely kills your identity as a person, as a country, and as a culture. I feel that all these aspirational trends are erasing what we are. The culture. Our roots. Our textiles. Our typical dresses. Our essence,” Magic said. “It’s important to keep this more alive than ever and say: this is who really are. This is what we’ve always been.”
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It’s about carrying it with pride so that the essence is not erased while exploring that individuality. It’s about honoring the diversity that characterizes us thanks to our complexities that make us different.
It’s also part of her unique and personal identity shaped by very defined roots. It’s part of her identity that carries a very strong cultural and historical baggage. But most importantly, it’s about being true to herself. Going through all of the challenges Latin Americans face and never giving up on her creations. Just keep going in spite of the limitations or environment she might be challenged with.
That’s what her popular Mexican art is all about: honoring her vibrant Latin American identity. Honoring the depth and resilience that comes with being Latin American and always proudly showcasing it to the world. It’s colorful art where Magic truly embodies it because she becomes the masterpiece with her mesmerizing fashion and writing.
“I feel a lot of satisfaction. Freedom. I feel it’s also an escape from everything we live as adults. It’s this space where we can be free. Where we can be ourselves,” Magic said. “I feel it’s vital and completely important and relevant to give ourselves these spaces.”
To learn more about Morena Magic’s Mexican art with vibrant Latin American identity, you can follow her on Instagram at @morena_magic.
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