In the face of federal government cutbacks and neglect, residents of Puerto Rico are relying on their own resilience to rebuild following the devastation wrought by Hurricane Maria. Vogue magazine highlighted the women spearheading this recovery in a new article and photo spread, published on International Women’s Day yesterday (March 8).
"The women of Puerto Rico have spoken up about subpar leadership and have challenged the inequalities, the broken systems, and have even called out an ignorant, out-of-touch president live on television (as well as firing back at him on Twitter)," journalist Mariel Cruz wrote. "By empowering themselves—and each other—the women of Puerto Rico have empowered the entire island."
The photos and profiles feature Puerto Rican women working across the political, environmental and legal sectors to bring relief and justice to their fellow commonwealth citizens. Those celebrated include Karina Zúñiga, a leader of environmental restoration organization Siempre Verde PR; San Juan mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz; and lawyer Ariadna Godreau-Aubert, who offers free legal services to impacted residents facing evictions.
Richard Mosse photographed the women with infrared film, which rendered the subjects and surrounding Puerto Rican nature in resplendent hues of red and orange.
Check out the photos and accompanying profiles, in both English and Spanish, via Vogue.com.