Silvia Vasquez-Lavado Explained

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

Early life and Education

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.[2] 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.[3] She lives in San Francisco.

Mountain climbing

Vasquez-Lavado struggled with depression and alcoholism during her 20s as a result of the trauma from her abuse.[4] In 2005, while attending a ayahuasca 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.[5] [6]

Shortly after, Vasquez-Lavado decided to go to Mount Everest base camp in October 2005. After a four-day trek, Vasquez-Lavado arrived at the base of Everest and climbed Kala Pattar.[7] She later summited Everest in May 2016. She is one of the few women in the world to have completed the “Eight Summits” as of 2019, climbing the Seven Summits across both the Bass and Messner lists.[8]

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.[9] Courageous Girls has had projects in Nepal, India, the United States, and Peru.[10]

In the Shadow of the Mountain

See main article: In the Shadow of the Mountain. In the Shadow of the Mountain, Silvia's first memoir, was released February 1, 2022, in the United States,[11] and internationally on February 3, 2022. In a review for The New York Times, Qian Julie Wang wrote: "Patriarchal societies champion summit journeys as tales of conquest. But Vasquez-Lavado understands that ‘we do not conquer Everest, just like we do not conquer trauma. Instead, we must yield ourselves to the chasms and unexpected avalanches.’"[12] Kirkus Reviews called In the Shadow of the Mountain "An emotionally raw and courageous memoir."[13]

In November 2020, The Hollywood Reporter announced that Selena Gomez is set to be cast as Vasquez-Lavado on the film adaption of In the Shadow of the Mountain.[14] [15]

In March 2023, In the Shadow of the Mountain won the prestigious 2023 Edward Stanford Travel Book of the year.[16]

Honors and awards

Vasquez-Lavado was recognized by Fortune magazine as one of the Corporate Heroes of 2015. CNET named her one of the 20 most influential Latinos in Silicon Valley.[17] She has been recognized by the Peruvian government as one of the “Marca Peru” ambassadors (country brand ambassadors).[18] Vasquez-Lavado, a distinguished member of the Explorers Club, received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Millersville University and served as its commencement speaker on May 7, 2022.[19]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Survivor empowers sex-abuse victims through mountain climbing. Stevens. Heidi. chicagotribune.com. en-US. 2019-03-15. 2019-04-01. https://web.archive.org/web/20190401031330/https://www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/stevens/ct-sexual-abuse-survivors-mountain-climbing-balancing-0322-20160322-column.html. live.
  2. Web site: 2022-02-06 . ‘If I hadn’t climbed Mount Everest, I might not be alive’ – abuse survivor turned mountaineer Silvia Vasquez-Lavado . 2024-04-18 . Irish Independent . en.
  3. Web site: Alum Conquers Mount Everest – Millersville News. 2016-06-03. Millersville University. 2019-03-15. 2019-04-01. https://web.archive.org/web/20190401031334/https://blogs.millersville.edu/news/2016/06/03/alum-is-first-peruvian-woman-to-conquer-mount-everest/. live.
  4. Web site: Pioneering Gay Climber Silvia Vasquez-Lavado on Hiking as Healing . 2024-07-08 . www.advocate.com . en.
  5. Web site: Quesada . Isabel Miró . 2016-07-15 . Una montaña a la altura de Silvia Vásquez-Lavado . 2024-07-08 . COSAS.PE . es-PE.
  6. Web site: Kandula . Ikya . 2022-02-03 . Climber Silvia Vasquez-Lavado on the Healing Power of Outdoor Adventures . 2024-07-08 . Condé Nast Traveler . en-US.
  7. Web site: Meet the First Openly Gay Woman to Complete the Seven Summits. Parris. Aer. 2018-12-14. REI Co-op Journal. en-US. 2019-03-15. 2019-04-01. https://web.archive.org/web/20190401031330/https://www.rei.com/blog/hike/meet-the-first-openly-gay-woman-to-complete-the-seven-summits. live.
  8. Web site: Silvia Vasquez-Lavado, first Peruvian woman to climb Everest. 2016-07-05. EFE. en. 2019-03-15. 2019-04-01. https://web.archive.org/web/20190401031332/https://www.efe.com/efe/english/sports/silvia-vasquez-lavado-first-peruvian-woman-to-climb-everest/50000266-2977327. live.
  9. Web site: Silvia Vasquez-Lavado. 2015-06-16. Fortune. en. 2019-03-15. 2019-04-01. https://web.archive.org/web/20190401031323/http://fortune.com/heroes-of-the-fortune-500/silvia-vasquez-lavado-24/. live.
  10. Web site: Silvia Vasquez-Lavado, first Peruvian female to conquer Everest. 2016-05-19. andina.pe. es. 2019-03-15. 2019-04-01. https://web.archive.org/web/20190401031332/https://andina.pe/ingles/noticia-silvia-vasquezlavado-first-peruvian-female-to-conquer-everest-613341.aspx. live.
  11. Book: Vasquez-Lavado, Silvia . In the shadow of the mountain: a memoir of courage . 2022 . Henry Holt and Company . 978-1-250-77675-4 . First . New York.
  12. News: Wang . Qian Julie . 2022-02-01 . For This Mountaineer, Everest Was a Challenge and a Path to Peace . en-US . The New York Times . 2022-03-01 . 0362-4331 . 2022-03-01 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220301082918/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/01/books/review/in-the-shadow-of-the-mountain-silvia-vasquez-lavado.html . live .
  13. Book: IN THE SHADOW OF THE MOUNTAIN Kirkus Reviews . en . 2022-03-01 . 2022-03-01 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220301082927/https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/silvia-vasquez-lavado/in-the-shadow-of-the-mountain/ . live .
  14. Web site: Siegel . Tatiana . 2020-11-11 . Selena Gomez to Play Trailblazing Gay Mountaineer Silvia Vasquez-Lavado for Scott Budnick's One Community (Exclusive) . 2022-03-01 . The Hollywood Reporter . en-US . 2022-03-01 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220301082918/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/selena-gomez-to-play-trailblazing-gay-mountaineer-silvia-vasquez-lavado-for-scott-budnicks-one-community-exclusive-4090084/ . live .
  15. Web site: 11 November 2020 . Selena Gomez's New Movie Role is a Pioneering Mountain Climber . 11 November 2020 . 12 November 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201112023729/https://www.teenvogue.com/story/selena-gomez-new-movie-role-is-a-pioneering-mountaineer . live .
  16. Web site: @NatGeoUK . 2023-03-02 . What to read: the Edward Stanford Travel Writing Awards 2023 winner and shortlist . 2023-03-23 . National Geographic . en-gb.
  17. Web site: These are the 20 most influential Latinos in Silicon Valley. Casi. Pilar C.. 2015-09-21. AL DÍA News. en. 2019-03-15. 2019-03-09. https://web.archive.org/web/20190309143415/http://aldianews.com/articles/media-technology/these-are-20-most-influential-latinos-silicon-valley/40590. live.
  18. Web site: Mujer.21: Silvia Vásquez-Lavado, la primera peruana en llegar al Everest. 2016-08-21. Peru21. es. 2019-03-15. 2019-04-01. https://web.archive.org/web/20190401031328/https://peru21.pe/lima/mujer-21-silvia-vasquez-lavado-primera-peruana-llegar-everest-226381. live.
  19. Web site: Writer . MICKAYLA MILLER Staff . 2022-05-23 . Catching up with Silvia Vasquez-Lavado, a '96 Millersville grad and mountaineer who wrote a film-bound memoir . 2024-03-06 . LancasterOnline . en.

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