Words and photos by Diego Sousa Pitti via MisfitLens Creative Agency

Lupe Guerra García dances between two worlds: the vibrant Panama that saw her come into this world, and the eclectic Barcelona that now embraces her as one of its own. A fashion designer, dancer, and multidisciplinary artist, Lupe weaves her story with threads of identity, challenges —overcome and yet to be faced— and an unwavering commitment to her Panamanian roots and culture.

"Leaving Panama has made me feel more Panamanian or connected to my culture than I felt in my own country," she reveals while confessing a feeling of responsibility to keep her "identity of origin" close to her. Lupe dreams of returning to Panama some day, carrying with her the lessons learned on this journey to fulfill a clear mission: "to contribute to recovering that cultural and artistic part of Panama that I feel is slipping away." The move from Panama was not just a change in geographical coordinates; it was a personal metamorphosis. On the cobbled streets of the Catalan capital, Lupe walks to the rhythm of freedom, with a tempo of self-discovery.

Her love for her country doesn't shield her from the discriminatory situations she faced there, but today, she focuses on her current experience in a Barcelona that has eagerly welcomed her and her passions. Lupe has found a stage where differences are celebrated, where dance is a way to narrate her story of liberation, efforts of self-understanding, and continuous, intentional exploration.

"In Panama, discrimination dances on the line between color and class," Lupe reveals as she shares some of the experiences and challenges faced in her homeland. Being of mixed race, she went through that struggle of not fully belonging anywhere; not feeling completely accepted by one side or the other, yet being labeled as "other" by both.

In Barcelona, after having completed an MBA, Lupe breathes life into her creations with a palette of colors, materials, and exploration that celebrate her complete essence. Her workshop becomes a sanctuary where each stitch is an assertion of a broader message taking shape, where designs not only clothe bodies but tell stories of resistance and love for one’s roots, while also revealing a progressively clearer identity that is filled with nuance.

"Exploring my identity as a queer person [in Panama] was something completely limited," Lupe shares as she tells me about an experience that geographically and culturally we share, and from which we have both in some way distanced ourselves. Panamanian society, steeped in prejudice, forced her to hide a vital part of herself. However, on the stages of Barcelona, her essence dances without restrictions, accompanied by music that serves as a guide and inspiration for the young pansexual artist.

Yet music is not just an accompaniment for her —it's the invisible force that gives life to each of Lupe’s creations. According to her, it's the common thread that links her creativity to the various methods of creation and expression that she practices, all with a skill and apparent ease that never fail to impress. Lupe closes her eyes and immerses herself in a creative trance, where melody and movement merge to tell visual stories that transcend the barriers of verbal language, and give everyone a chance to form their own interpretation based on feeling. And watching Lupe dance, undeniably, makes you feel.

She has found a chosen family in Barcelona. She mentions various people who have left a big mark on the life she is building for herself in the Catalan capital. "I have the right person by my side on this journey," she says, a smile on her face. Taking refuge in the shade of a subtle but consistent Barcelona autumn sun, she considers herself fortunate, for having both him and the rest of a support system and community that she has found here.

"My future is uncertain, but also exciting," she says, smiling once again. Uncertainty doesn't stop her; rather, it propels her. With determination, she seeks to achieve her own expression, far from superficial comparisons. "I want less 'tilín tilín' and more ‘paleta’," she states firmly, revealing her relentless pursuit of authenticity in every step of her journey. She makes another cultural reference to her home country, where "tilín tilín y nada de paleta" means, basically, all bark, no bite. She wants less barking and more biting —Lupe shows that she is not only on the right path, but determined, willing to take responsibility and hold herself accountable in this goal wrapped in introspective exploration.

On a Barcelona terrace, amidst laughter and puffs of kiwi and mango-flavored vape, while we played with her precious doggie, Lupe opened up about the next chapter of her story. She firmly described a new chapter where art is the voice that tells the life of a woman, who, weaving textiles and dance moves, has found and continues to find her true and sincere self. Barcelona has given her more than a home; it has given her a stage where every dance, every design, every creation is a celebration of her freedom, authenticity, and ambitions. Lupe's future looks as vast as the strong yearning for it that her gaze lets out when she talks about what makes her move, in every sense. Each applause from a new performance, audience, and stage, as well as each of the garments she creates, from casual to red carpet-worthy, propels her in a direction that feels right, in big strides, and we’re here for it.