



The ladies (and one gent) over at Fashionista have been trying to figure out whence Arlenis Peña, a model they’ve got their eyes on, came from. Turns out, she’s Dominican (One of us! One of us!) and is set to appear in an upcoming issue of Vogue Italia dedicated entirely to Black models, hopefully all flipping a collective bird at the fashion industry. She’s also been booked for U.S. Vogue and has walked the catwalk for Banana Republic’s holiday collection.
We’d be so happy for her if she wasn’t set, at a mere 19-years-old, to make more money than we will, ever.
Arlenis: Coming to a Magazine Near You [Fashionista]
Arlenis Peña [NY Mag]

There’s another dark-skinned Dominican model, Austria Alcantara, who looks very similar. (http://www.imgmodels.com/details.asp?ar=2459&sl=&im=&subnameid=2459&subid=2459&modelid=258682&agencyid=9121&sexid=&careerid=11&curpage=1&letter=&areaid=&txtsoftsearch=&srch=)
Posted by models!!yeah!! | May 09, 2008
Wow she looks REALLY young.
Posted by Accidental Sexiness | May 09, 2008
now, is that a dominican 19 or an southern californian 27?
Posted by el smrtmnky | May 09, 2008
What again is so special about her? She’s actually kinda ugly, and looks like every other girl on 8th street in Miami.
I’ve “dropped off kids at the pool” better looking than her.
JT
Posted by Jonathan | May 09, 2008
Dominican chick … modeling for the Banana Republic! Oh the irony is simply overwhelming—as sweet as tropic fruit.
And as for the asshole known as JT—lighten up. I doubt your reaction would be this visceral if she were a white model.
Posted by urban latino | May 09, 2008
Eso es los dominicanos alante alante…Dios la bendiga y ademas es muy pero muy buena modelo ella estudio conmigo…super model..
Posted by Raymond | May 11, 2008
Arlenis fue mi compañera de estudios en la escuela, y es uan grata bendición saber que está cosechando grandes éxitos a tan temprana edad.
It’s so good to know that someone I’ve known almost all my life, since elementary school, is reaching all her goals in such an amazing way. My belssings to her.
Arlenis: Dajabon city is proud of you! :)
Posted by Tania | May 11, 2008
Dear JT — That is the magic of Beauty, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. The important thing is…Ms. Arlenis Pena is exposing Latinas of African descent to the world and in the process changing the idea of what beauty is throughout the world. While the entire world is embracing diversity — Americans and American fashion magazines are still lurking in Eastern Europe for another 14 year old blond girl the fashion editors secretly desire to be.
Kerq
Posted by Kerq | May 13, 2008
Arlenis is major!!
(IMG’s Austria A is hardly dark-skinned and the similarity in their appearances escapes me.)
Posted by Roger | May 15, 2008
Excuse me Mr JT stop hating this is my cousin and shes Beautiful i dont see you modeling and getting money for it so get your self a BETTER job than critizising People i bet your not that CUTE anywayss LOSER !
Posted by Shanys | June 01, 2008
elle es my prima y es muy dulce pero sobre todo mui cencilla y representativa de la mujer latina ””pa lante”’arlenis
Posted by carmen(more) | June 09, 2008
I met Austria Ulloa Alcántara, who is also from Dominican Republic. Her exotic look is quite amazing. I believe she, like Arlenis, has excellent chances of making big on the modeling industry.
Posted by Manny Baez | June 13, 2008
Ella es mi prima.
;la quiero mucho, es muy bonita e inteligente.
Te queremos Arlenis
Posted by Juan | July 09, 2008
Estamos frente a una de las modelos que mas influira en el ambito del modelaje del presente siglo. En Arlenis se conjuga la gracia, belleza, estilo, arte indispensable para una buena exponente de la belleza.
Sumados a sus dotes fisicos y aptitud que realza la belleza de todo lo que viste, Arlene tiene virtudes tan trascendentes como su espiritualidad, fe, sencillez, corazon bondadoso, alegria interna, que la hacen un ser humano con los pies sobre la tierra.
Cumple con la mision que Dios te ha encomendado.
Tu pastor.
Posted by Alberto Ledesma | July 11, 2008