Perhaps too many people don’t hook up Panama with the world of fashion, though the latest edition of Dias de Moda –a Panamanian version of the Central America Fashion Week- shows that people are beginning to look at Panama as a place to promote the fashion design, modeling and industry all over the region. This latest edition featured a lively fashion show where the public caught up with the finest runway glitz and shelled out for the latest fashion and makeup extravaganza.

It’s fair to say that quite a number of Panamanian women have managed to catch top model status in recent years, like gorgeous Justine Pasek. The 2002 Miss Universe has evolved as an icon of national modeling, the Christian Dior face for Latin America, let alone a runway girl for other trademarks and a staunch advocate in the worldwide fight against AIDS. She even was bold enough to launch her own line of toys that has made her a Barbie with a heart.