BY Cyriaque Griffon
MODEL Nidia Rios
PHOTOS : Alberto Korda (private collection, courtesy of Nidia Rios via Fernando Pruna)
I had the opportunity in the early 2020s to interview the former Cuban model, Nidia Rios. She was one of the greatest Cuban models in the 1950s, prior to the Cuban Revolution. The one who spotted her wasn’t just anyone. He was one of the most famous photographers of that time: the legendary Alberto Korda. Yet, as many Cubans of her time Nidia’s stardom was overshadowed by the events of the Cuban Revolution. I just heard that Nidia Rios passed away in August 2024 and I immediately thought her image needed to be a bit back in the spotlight as a tribute to her past stardom. Nidia takes you on a mesmerizing journey back in time of the pre-revolutionary Havana…
Nidia Rios (1936 – 2024)
One of the most iconic images in the world was taken by Alberto Korda ; it is the one named « Heroic Guerilla » with Che Guevara. The former became the regular photographer of the Cuban revolution’s heroes Guevara and Castro. This activity overshadowed the successful career Korda had had as a fashion photographer prior to the Cuban revolution. In the 1950s, as Havana was coveted by the jet set for its exciting nightlife, Korda spotted a tall 18-year-old girl in the crowd of students in Havana. He saw something special in her. Nidia became one of his most captivating muses, immortalized in the golden age of Cuban photography. Before the Cuban Revolution reshaped her world, Nidia thrived as a celebrated high-fashion model. As her allure captivated the public, she graced advertisements. There is one thing that Nidia recalls for sure when she met Korda for the first time.
“- Though I had a lack of self-confidence about myself, as I was not aware of my beauty, he persuaded me to become a model.”
Nidia Rios became instantly a renowned model. She was introduced as « one of the most beautiful models of Cuba ». Her (not fake) « Monroe mole » trademark on her chin, added to her platinum blonde hair, made her highly sought for advertising big brands. When referring to her potential as a sex-symbol – using an octane rating scale! – Korda once wrote on a photo that he gave to her: “To the blonde with the highest octane in the market »
In 1961, Nidia bid farewell to revolutionary Cuba and began a new chapter in New York City, where she would spend the majority of her life. Although she continued her modeling career, the acclaim she had once known in Havana remained unmatched. In time, she found purpose working within the New York public school system, dedicating herself to service away from the spotlight.