The world of international fashion and modeling already includes a few names from Costa Rica such as Juliana Herz, but Leonora Jimenez Monge is the closest we have to a supermodel. The achingly beautiful blonde, who is a native of Santa Ana, has graced catwalks in the major European haute couture (high fashion) capitals. Her classic looks and solemn demeanor give her a timeless beauty that designer labels such as Chanel and Loewe appreciate. She has also posed for well-known international fashion magazines such as Elle and Hola.

Oscar Wilde, Irish man of letters and sharply caustic wit, once wrote:

“Beauty is a form of genius – is higher, indeed, than genius, as it needs no explanation. It is of the great facts in the world like sunlight, or springtime, or the reflection in dark water of that silver shell we call the moon.”

Wilde’s words perfectly apply to Leonora, who is whip-smart on top of looking great. She is an environmental activist whose work towards the protection of Costa Rica’s precious maritime resources, and she is also a strong advocate for the rights of the LGBT community in our country. Leonora is an entrepreneur at heart; she owns a beauty salon and a fashion boutique and somehow finds time to become involved in other projects.

Traffic is Leonora’s latest entrepreneurial project. This new fashion magazine aims to inform the people of Costa Rica about the latest in the multibillion dollar fashion industry, which Leonora knows quite well. The magazine will focus on how Costa Rica is shaping up with regard to fashion design and style trends. Leonora has been making the requisite media rounds to publicize Traffic, and during a recent visit to Teletica’s 7 Estrellas, she explained that:

“The hardest part was convincing fashion label owners and other investors to trust in our vision.”

Leonora is going old-school with this magazine, which is a glossy print that you either have to buy at La Casa de las Revistas or have delivered at your home or office. Traffic is thematic, with the first edition entitled “Premiere” and featuring Leonora on the cover. The next issue, “Love,” will be out in a couple of months and will focus on Tica mothers and maternal issues.

According to a report by Teletica, Leonora is playing the odds with Traffic since Ticos do not take thje fashion industry too seriously, often accusing it of being frivolous and superficial. Still, Leonora aims to bring awareness to the fact that this is an industry that a few Ticos have already entered, and which could bring additional jobs and greater international recognition of Costa Rica on the world stage.