In Bolivia’s highlands, the voluminous, layered skirt known as the pollera carries more than fabric—it carries history, identity, and pride. Once imposed by Spanish colonizers centuries ago, the pollera has evolved into a symbol of resilience for Indigenous women across the country.
From miners to wrestlers and mountain climbers, these women wear the skirt not just as clothing, but as a declaration of cultural strength.
The Pollera in Modern Life
Ana Lia González Maguiña, a professional mountain climber, prepares to scale Huayna Potosi, a 6,000-meter peak north of La Paz. Her gear includes a thick sweater, climbing harness, rope, and aviator glasses—but most notably, she wears a hot-pink pollera.
The pollera, traditionally layered with petticoats, has been reinterpreted over generations with bright, patterned fabrics. Indigenous women, known locally as cholitas, wear it during physically demanding work and professional sports, showing that traditional dress does not limit mobility or performance.
Instagram | @adventurejournal | Bolivian women show strength and pride by climbing mountains while wearing the pollera skirt.
“Our sport is demanding, it’s super tough. So doing it in pollera represents that strength, it’s about valuing our roots,” said González Maguiña, 40. “It’s not for show.”
This sentiment is echoed by women across Bolivia. Skirt-clad miners, skaters, soccer players, climbers, and wrestlers embrace the pollera as an act of pride and empowerment, demonstrating that tradition and modern life coexist.
Women in Work and Sports
Macaria Alejandro, a 48-year-old miner in Oruro, wears her pollera while working underground. Dust and dirt mark her skirt, reflecting long hours in physically demanding conditions. She describes the choice as both practical and symbolic:
“We, women in polleras, want to keep moving forward. I work like this and wear this for my children.”
Polleras are part of daily life for many Indigenous women, blending cultural heritage with professional demands. From wrestling rings to high-altitude peaks, the skirt remains a functional and respected garment.
Political Changes and Cultural Challenges
Bolivia’s political landscape has shifted under center-right President Rodrigo Paz, who assumed office last month during economic challenges. This change follows years of leadership under Evo Morales (2006–2019), Bolivia’s first Indigenous president, who highlighted Indigenous representation and rural communities.
Morales renamed the country the Plurinational State of Bolivia and elevated the wiphala—a multicolored Indigenous flag—to equal status with the national flag. Pollera-wearing ministers and officials became common sights in government halls.
Instagram | @rocknroamgirl | Cholitas proudly carry tradition forward while shaping a confident and modern future.
Despite these advancements, some cholitas express uncertainty under the new government. Alejandro notes:
“I feel like the government won’t take us into account. We needed a change. The economy must get better. But it’s sad to see there are no powerful people wearing polleras. I see it as discrimination.”
Concerns include the removal of Indigenous symbols from the army logo and the decision to no longer fly the wiphala at the presidential palace. These actions highlight the ongoing tension between political change and cultural visibility.
González Maguiña remains optimistic about the future, emphasizing the resilience and determination of Indigenous women.
“We already have the strength and everything that comes with it. We’re certainly going to knock on the doors of this new government.”
For Bolivian Indigenous women, the pollera is not a costume or relic. It is a garment that signifies identity, strength, and continuity. Across professional fields, women prove that wearing traditional clothing is compatible with modern life, demanding work, and public recognition.
From mountain peaks to mining tunnels, the pollera bridges history and the present, reflecting both the struggles and achievements of Bolivia’s cholitas.