The Cuban model Néstor Rodríguez (@nestor__rdguez) has caused a stir on social media after sharing his participation in the Vogue Open Casting 2025, a call directed exclusively at individuals over the age of 18 who identify as women.
"The casting is for women, but that didn't stop me. It gave me the opportunity to stand in heels before the Vogue cast and show who I am. That’s Néstor Rodríguez, a person who doesn’t give up, fights for his swing, doesn’t like to follow rules, and refuses to be labeled," he expressed in a video following his presentation.
Rodríguez resides in San Antonio, Texas. They define themselves in their Instagram profile as an international androgynous model. They do not appear to be affiliated with any modeling agency and submitted their proposal according to the contest rules, with a clear goal: to make their identity visible and break stereotypes.
The Cuban public supported me, said the young man. He also admits he doesn't know if he will be chosen, but he wouldn't pass up the opportunity to participate for fear of failure.
The Vogue Open Casting is a global initiative aimed at discovering new talents to redefine contemporary beauty standards.
Participants can submit their photos and presentation videos through the official Vogue app until August 25, 2025. The finalist will star in a feature in the iconic magazine.
Anna Wintour, global editorial director of Vogue, stated: "It is a celebration of individuality. Nowadays, models can be found all over the world, and many have been discovered due to their presence on social media."
The committee responsible for selecting the next generation of faces includes key figures from the fashion industry such as Simon Porte Jacquemus, Claire Thomson-Jonville, and Virginia Smith, among others.
The audacity of the Cuban Néstor Rodríguez has sparked admiration and controversy. His participation brings to the forefront the question of the boundaries of gender in contemporary fashion and the value of daring to challenge the norms.
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