Source : http://www.chavelavargasfilm.com/chavela-vargas
Chavela Vargas was born, by the name Isabel Vargas Lizano, in April 17, 1919 in Joaquin de Flores, Costa Rica. Although Chavela Vargas was born in Costa Rican, she moved to Mexico when she was a teenager and lived there until she passed away. Chavela Vargas was a very popular Mexican Ranchera singer. She was known as a ” revolutionary” because she mixed her warmth into a unique style of singing a genre that was typically sang by men. She was a huge influence on Latin American music during the 1950’s and after because she sang songs about romance and heartbreaks but didn’t bother to change the pronouns in the songs she sang, she dressed like a man when performing and would wear hats and boots that men would typically wear. Aside from her unique style of singing rancheras, Chavela also became a huge figure in the LGBTQ community. She first came out as lesbian in the autobiography that she wrote in 2002 but it wasn’t a surprise to her fans because she wouldn’t change the pronouns in songs she sang written by men and she would sing about women breaking her heart.
At the age of 81 in the year 2000, Chavela Vargas published an autobiography book titled “Y Si Quieres Saber De Mi Pasado”, which translates to “And If You Want To Know About My Past” where she officially came out as a lesbian. She stated that she was proud to be a lesbian and although she wouldn’t boast about it, she also wouldn’t deny it. Chavela Vargas appeared in a film in 2002 about Frida Kahlo’s life, who she had an affair with.
“I admired her deeply but my love was much bigger than my admiration.”
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2012/aug/12/chavela-vargas
In 2007, Chavela Vargas was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Latin Recording Academy.
Source : https://www.inquirer.com/philly/obituaries/20120806_Chavela_Vargas___Mexican_singer__93.html
Chavela Vargas is still a very inspiring to this day and I believe she is a great representation in the LGBTQ community especially in Latin American countries where people in the community are looked down upon by their own communities and even family member due to their different beliefs. She took it upon herself to challenge Hispanic morals and normalities when she performed in men’s clothing while singing songs written from men to women in the 1950’s where it wasn’t very common to see a woman push herself out of boundaries like this. It’s amazing to know that a public figure like her was around for years especially in a country like Mexico where “machismo” and specific gender roles among women and men are very common and both genders are expected to act a certain way because of their morals and beliefs where men are a lot more aggressive, bold, and fierce where as women are expected to be house wives and simply do things like cook and clean for men. Chavela really set an example for women who were also homosexual because she gave a sense of security and freedom so if women wanted to feel like the men in the relationships they could do that, especially through her music and performances.
Works Cited :
http://www.chavelavargasfilm.com/chavela-vargas
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2012/aug/12/chavela-vargas
https://wearemitu.com/entertainment/frida-chavela-romance/
https://www.pride.com/news/2012/08/20/chavela-vargas-and-frida-kahlo-item-’60-era-mexico
Prepared by : Cassie Moradel
Before creating this biography I had never heard of Chavela Vargas. It was very interesting for me to learn about this Mexican singer because I feel like she really paved the way for many other hispanic female artists who now perform music which is mostly performed and written by men. There are now many Mexican ranchera singers who are women although stereotypes and gender roles are still a big thing for many people in Mexico. It was also very cool to learn that she had an affair and a lot of love for another legend, Frida Kahlo. Finally, it was refreshing to know how much of an impact she was in the LGBTQ community because she was fearless and wasn’t afraid of what people would think about her sexuality and how she carried herself on and off stage.