The first Guatemalan woman to be a top pilot deserves to be this week’s QUEEN SHEVA, and we have to admit she’s pretty fly.
Ana Victoria Castro Acuña was born in Guatemala City, Guatemala, to a father who was also a pilot and a member of the Guatemalan Air Force. Ever since she was little, she sought to follow his footsteps and become a captain herself. At 16, she began to take her first aviation classes and started flying that very same year. The thrill of flying and of being in command led her to choose aviation as her career, and at the young age of 21 she was already part of the main cabin.
Ana Victoria continued through aviation school even at a time when it was not common for women to hold this profession and admits she was often the victim of sexual harassment. When she started working officially as captain of Avianca on international flights, transporting more than 150 passengers per trip, she often heard many negative sexist comments. One passenger, for example, refused to get on the plane when he heard its captain was a woman. Another told his wife, “I can’t get on this plane”, only to be convinced by her response, “Us women can do it too!”
Indeed, Ana Victoria never doubted that us women can do it too, and has now flown countless Airbus aircrafts all around the world. She is proud to have a career that requires intensive training, and believes that only those who are mentally strong can be successful pilots. Although she often finds it difficult to be away from home so much, she loves her job and being able to represent not only Guatemalan women, but all women who are brave enough to challenge gender stereotypes. And for that, we salute you, Captain!
