Elderly women celebrate 15th birthdays in mass Iztapalapa event

In a vibrant celebration defying heavy rain, hundreds of elderly women in Iztapalapa, Mexico City, fulfilled a long-held dream by celebrating their 15th birthdays at the 'Quinceañeras de Oro' event.

A total of 456 women participated in the third edition of the program, held at the Macroplaza Cuitláhuac. They donned colorful dresses and took to the dance floor for a waltz, accompanied by 54 elderly male escorts, known as 'chambelanes'. The festivities continued with rock and roll music, allowing the women to showcase their dance moves.

Iztapalapa Mayor Aleida Alavez, who served as the godmother for the event, praised the women as the 'builders of Iztapalapa.' She emphasized that the celebration is a tribute to their life stories, acknowledging that many had to prioritize work, family care, and raising children, often postponing their own desires.

Alavez stated that the women choosing to wear a dress and dedicate time to themselves is a 'powerful act' that places them as protagonists of their own history. With this year's participants, the 'Quinceañeras de Oro' program has now honored a total of 1,260 women.