Silvia Vasquez-Lavado

Silvia Vasquez-Lavado (born 1974) is a Peruvian-American explorer, mountaineer, social entrepreneur and technologist. In June 2018, she became the first openly gay woman to complete the Seven Summits, the tallest mountain on each continent from both the Messner and Bass lists.[1]

Silvia Vasquez Lavado, Antarctica January 2016

Early years

Silvia Vasquez-Lavado was born and raised in Lima, Peru, during the Peruvian terrorist movement, the Shining Path. Vasquez-Lavado was a victim of childhood sexual abuse. After sharing her struggles with childhood abuse, Vasquez-Lavado's mother encouraged her to leave Peru.

Vasquez-Lavado came to the US on an IIE/Fulbright scholarship and attended Millersville University.[2] She lives in San Francisco.

Mountain climbing

Vasquez-Lavado struggled with depression during her 20s as a result of the trauma from her abuse. In 2005, while attending a meditation retreat in Peru, Vasquez-Lavado had a vision of reconnecting to her inner child and the two of them walking in a valley surrounded by mountains.

Shortly after, Vasquez-Lavado decided to go to the base of Mount Everest in October 2005. After a four-day trek, Vasquez-Lavado arrived at the base of Everest and climbed Kala Pattar.[3] She later summited Everest in May 2016.[3] She is one of the few women in the world who have completed the “Eight Summits” as of 2019, climbing the Seven Summits across both the Bass and Messner lists.[3][4]

Mountaineering summits

Social impact

In 2014, Vasquez-Lavado launched Courageous Girls, a nonprofit that helps survivors of sexual abuse and trafficking with opportunities to find their strength and cultivate their voice by demonstrating their physical strength.[1][5] Courageous Girls has had projects in Nepal, India, the US and Peru.[3][4][5][6]

In November 2020, reports of an upcoming biopic with Selena Gomez to be cast as Vasquez-Lavado were published.[7]

Honors and awards

Vasquez-Lavado was recognized by Fortune magazine as one of the Corporate Heroes of 2015.[5] CNET named her one of the 20 most influential Latinos in Silicon Valley.[8] She has been recognized by the Peruvian government as one of the “Marca Peru” ambassadors (country brand ambassadors).[9] Vasquez-Lavado is a member of the Explorers Club.

References
  1. Stevens, Heidi. "Survivor empowers sex-abuse victims through mountain climbing". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2019-03-15.
  2. "Alum Conquers Mount Everest – Millersville News". Millersville University. 2016-06-03. Retrieved 2019-03-15.
  3. Parris, Aer (2018-12-14). "Meet the First Openly Gay Woman to Complete the Seven Summits". REI Co-op Journal. Retrieved 2019-03-15.
  4. "Silvia Vasquez-Lavado, first Peruvian woman to climb Everest". EFE. 2016-07-05. Retrieved 2019-03-15.
  5. "Silvia Vasquez-Lavado". Fortune. 2015-06-16. Retrieved 2019-03-15.
  6. "Silvia Vasquez-Lavado, first Peruvian female to conquer Everest". andina.pe (in Spanish). 2016-05-19. Retrieved 2019-03-15.
  7. https://www.teenvogue.com/story/selena-gomez-new-movie-role-is-a-pioneering-mountaineer
  8. Casi, Pilar C. (2015-09-21). "These are the 20 most influential Latinos in Silicon Valley". AL DÍA News. Retrieved 2019-03-15.
  9. "Mujer.21: Silvia Vásquez-Lavado, la primera peruana en llegar al Everest". Peru21 (in Spanish). 2016-08-21. Retrieved 2019-03-15.
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