Eyeliner by Zahra Hankir

Author:Zahra Hankir [Hankir, Zahra]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Published: 2023-11-14T00:00:00+00:00

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Inspired by the courage of Mary, the memory of her mother, and her father’s hobbies, Perez continues to set an example for other Mexican American women, by way of her presence in the lowriding community and by being a proud chola at work, at home, on the streets, and even online (she has nearly 130,000 followers on TikTok).

Today, Perez drives a 1951 Chevy Styleline Deluxe. She treats her car like she treats her face—with care, emphasizing and celebrating its unique cultural features. In the California lowriding community, there are now several female lowriders and lowriding groups who cruise alongside one another, including the Dueñas Car Club, the Vintage Ladies Car Club, and the Varrio Vamps Car Club. In 2022, LA-based concert promoter Angela Romero opened Hello Stranger, a lowrider-themed restaurant and bar, to pay respect to the culture, while honoring her late brother, who died from pneumonia in 2014, and highlighting work by women artists. “I want people to know that a female opened this space,” she told the Los Angeles Times. In a series of photos for the story, Romero is boldly wearing eyeliner.

Perez’s children and grandchildren now also partake in weekly lowrider shows—and her daughter, too, wears cat eye to the weekly events. “Sunday cruising is our family tradition. No phones, no distractions, just family time. There’s just no greater feeling. That sense of pride and community,” she says. “With lowriding, I had to find my way, to figure it out for myself. Just like I did at school. Just like I did when I started wearing eyeliner. Being out there cruising empowered other women to do the same. And now, there are so many women out there at the wheel. We made that change. And I’m proud of myself, of us.”

Reflecting on her style, Perez is humble yet assured.

“I’m living my history right now in the best way possible, the best possible representation of my ancestors. When people see me, I hope they see perseverance, strength, pride, and courage,” she says. “I’m not stereotypically beautiful. But I think people do pick up on my inner strength, on the inner lioness that comes out through my eyeliner.”

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