It’s unfortunate that in the 21st century, the world is still struggling with gender disparity. Many women are still looked down on in workplaces, with their superiors taking credit for their work. This and other factors, like the gender pay gap, have continued to make it harder for women to reach the top. According to the World Bank, around 2.4 billion working-age women are not afforded equal economic opportunities. These alarming statistics have pushed women to tough it on their own, with entrepreneurs such as Ximena Varela using her brand to pave the way for the next generation of female entrepreneurs.

Maria Ximena Varela Torlaschi, better known as Ximena Varela, is a well-known fashion designer based in Uruguay. She is also a fashion content creator and influencer with over 145K followers on Instagram.

Ximena uses her work to inspire women and help them feel more confident. Her designs are slow fashion and unique for parties, weddings, birthdays, graduations, and other social events. Ximena’s designs have been worn on red carpets and by various celebrities. She has participated in many fashion projects in Europe and South America and attended multiple fashion events, including Montevideo Fashion Week, BafWeek, and New York Fashion Week.

As a woman in business and more so from a third-world country, Ximena is using her brand to inspire and encourage fellow women and aspiring fashion designers. She shares her story with the world, showing people that any dream is attainable. Ximena was always interested in fashion design and developed a passion for it when she was a child, inspiring her to join the industry.

But her journey was challenging. Ximena was born and raised in Uruguay, a small country in South America with limited opportunities that makes it challenging for most entrepreneurs to excel. For Ximena, being a woman made it even harder. In Uruguayan society, men are seen as the providers who work while women stay at home. Although things are slowly changing, when Ximena started her journey, many people were not so open about women working, which was a major obstacle for her.

Ximena is the first woman in her family to graduate from university. She defied the odds to fulfill her passion and now uses her social platforms and brand to motivate and empower other women. Ximena shares her journey, designs, and lifestyle photos. She also talks about mental health.

“Building a successful business is not easy. There are many obstacles, and sometimes you feel like giving up is the best option. But you shouldn’t let the negative thoughts win. You can do it!” says Ximena.

Ximena has gone from a small country girl to being internationally recognized. Over the last 10+ years, she worked with top brands, including L’Oreal, Tiendamia, Peppers, Converse, Versace, Creed Boutique, and Milano. She was also invited to New York Fashion Week 2018, which was an honor and a great achievement.

As a designer, Ximena dreamed of attending New York Fashion Week, but she wasn’t sure she was going to make the cut as she was competing with people from big and established countries. The invitation to attend New York Fashion Week by the famous Spanish brand, Custo Barcelona, made her dream a reality. She hopes that through her story, other young girls will be inspired.

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