Valeria Jiménez is a Colombian woman who became known to many in her country through a major press scandal. It was 2016, and Guns N' Roses, the famous rock band, was scheduled to perform in Medellín, Valeria's hometown. A lover of music in general, and this genre in particular, she didn't hesitate to buy a ticket to the concert.
Of course, the tickets weren't exactly cheap. Still, Valeria managed to buy a ticket to "Occidental," which cost a little less than the minimum wage in Colombia. Despite the expensive price tag, Valeria soon learned she wouldn't be able to get in because the venue wasn't wheelchair-accessible. She uses a wheelchair, and that prevented the organizers from guaranteeing her access and safety.
Valeria contacted the attendants. They only managed to tell her she had to exchange her ticket for a preferential one, paying double, of course. It was then that she filed a public complaint, which gradually gained traction until it was reported in virtually all of the major media outlets in her country. In the end, she got what she wanted: they would respect her right to sit wherever she chose, like any spectator.
A story of hardships and achievements
The concert episode partially reveals who Valeria Jiménez is: a woman of character, with very strong convictions. She's a political scientist by profession and knows that rights aren't just a beautiful word, but a construction that must be built upon every day. Getting into the concert hasn't been her only struggle, but it's the one that's had the greatest impact so far.
She was born with a genetic disorder called osteogenesis imperfecta. It's a rare disease that causes extremely fragile bones. It also limits growth and affects mobility. Initially, they even thought Valeria wouldn't survive. But she's been a fighter since birth. This is the only way to explain why she's endured 17 surgeries throughout her life and emerged stronger from every one.
Today, Valeria is an independent woman. She is basically self-sufficient in all her activities, except for a couple of minor tasks. She has also learned to fully accept herself, appreciate herself, and take care of her appearance. She likes to dress up and look beautiful to project an image that reflects her great inner harmony.
Among her pending tasks, there's one that excites her: traveling. She hasn't yet been to all the places she'd like to, but she hopes to do so in the near future. It's clear she'll achieve it. In the meantime, she travels around in her wheelchair and is also a great swimmer who has also taken up physical therapy. It's clear that passivity isn't her thing.
Learn about Gus Guevara, who also suffers from Osteogenesis Imperfecta and is a role model for his activism for inclusion.
A woman of action
Valeria defines herself as "a rebel with a cause." She certainly is. She's never had it easy. But that, instead of discouraging her, has forged her a wonderful personality, with which she always overcomes any obstacle. She's intelligent, cheerful, and talkative. A woman of ideas who always has a plan in mind and a challenge at hand.
As is clear from the first line, Valeria is in love with music. For her, it's a constant companion, inspiring and balancing. Her indomitable spirit pairs well with rock, her favorite genre. Interestingly, she's also drawn to the rhythms "of other generations," as she puts it.
Here we tell you the life story of Is i , another example of life and overcoming.
She likes to use expression in all its forms. This is clear in the three tattoos she has inked on her skin. One shows a Tyrannosaurus Rex “in its bones.” It’s on her right leg. The other is a bouquet of flowers on her left forearm. Finally, on her right hand, near the wrist, she has the word “MAGIC.” She explains that the original meaning of this term is “TO BE CAPABLE.”
Valeria loves politics and is especially interested in all issues related to social inclusion. She is a columnist and blogger. This has allowed her to express her ideas and confront her criticisms of a society that remains sometimes ignorant, sometimes indolent. She also gives talks and participates in discussion groups. Each of her actions is a lesson in itself. She is, without a doubt, a great woman from whom one can learn that "magic" is everywhere.
