MEXICO – Social media influencer Wendy Guevara made history Sunday when she became the first transgender woman to win a Mexican reality series.
Guevara was a contestant on “La casa de los famosos México,” the Mexican adaptation of “Celebrity Big Brother.”
“I can’t believe it, my God!” Guevara, 29, said moments after being crowned the winner of the show’s inaugural season in Mexico.
Guevara, who conquered fans and supporters with her captivating personality, was selected as the winner of the show with 18.2 million fan votes, beating out Peruvian television presenter Nicola Porcella, Mexican businessman and influencer Alfonso “Poncho” de Nigris and to the Mexican actor and politician Sergio “, El Tata Mayer.
Guevara and 13 other celebrities spent 10 weeks living in a house where they went head-to-head in teams. Contestants were eliminated weekly by viewers after a series of challenges.
Guevara, who is from León, Guanajuato, is a popular figure in the LGBTQ community, with nearly 6 million followers on Instagram.
“It is better to laugh at life, than life laughed at us,” said the Venezuelan.
Following her win, fans expressed their support on social media. Rolling Stone Latin and pop writer Tomás Mier tweeted that “ALL of Mexico is celebrating” and shared images of fans gathering at El Ángel in Mexico City, a monument representing the country’s independence.
Another user tweeted in Spanish: “In a country damaged by prejudice and discrimination, today a trans woman won the most popular reality show with the vote and affection of the public.”
“Congratulations REINA,” acclaimed Mexican singer Ana Bárbara commented on one of Guevara’s Instagram posts.
The last week of the program obtained 40 million votes for Guevara and Porcella, including a vote from the president of the Mexican Chamber of Deputies, Santiago Creel, who voted for Guevara, according to the Spanish newspaper El País.
