Top 20 Latin American Showgirls
This list ranks the Top 20 Latin American Showgirls, not based on ther on-screen appearances, but for their impact, career achivements, artistic skills and aesthetic.
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- Actress
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Rosita Fornés was born in New York City on February 11, 1923. She was taken to Cuba by her Catalonian-Spanish parents when she was two. Her birth name was Rosalía Lourdes Elisa Palet Bonavia. Fornés became her surname at age 15 at the request of her step-father, who helped raise her from the age of 2. Fornes first won critical acclaim as a singer after winning the best prize at a widely-known Cuban talent contest (La Corte Suprema del Arte) in 1938.
After this, Fornés became one of Cuba's most prolific performers, both admired and maligned. She was at the center of certain personal and political controversies. Her visit to the United States from May to September of 1996, for instance, generated politically heated press overage in Miami. She was for many years regarded as a sex symbol, as the unchallenged blonde goddess of Cuban show business, although her true weapons in this field were a spell-binding stage presence, unbending professionalism and a beautiful singing voice.
In her twenties, already famous in Cuba, she traveled to Mexico where she became an overnight and lasting sensation. Rosita Fornés was labeled in Mexico as "La Primera Vedette de las Américas". In the 1940s and 1950s, she toured throughout Latin America, the USA, and Europe. In the latter part of the 1950's she became Spain's most popular stage diva, rivaling Spanish stars such as Celia Gamez and Sarita Montiel. In Cuba, her sold-out theatre performances and countless TV appearances made Fornés the country's top female superstar. Fornés has received numerous artistic awards in Cuba and abroad. She declared herself apolitical and a devout Catholic, and has remained in Cuba despite and since the 1959 Revolution.
At the peak of the AIDS crisis in Cuba (when AIDS sufferers where forcibly isolated into a state-run health institution), she would visit the sick and perform for them freely. In several occasions, she has regarded her film career as an "accident", and has declared in no uncertain terms that she deplores her earlier filmography, which she considers too flawed and commercial. Fornés's first husband was Mexican actor Manuel Medel with whom she had her only child, Rosa María Medel, who is also an actress. Her second husband, Cuban actor Armando Bianchi, died in 1981 in a drowning accident after 28 years of marriage.
Fornés is associated throughout the Hispanic world with other great Latin names of the period: Jorge Negrete, Emilio Tuero, Libertad Lamarque, Antonio Aguilar, María Victoria, Dolores del Río, María Félix, Agustín Lara, Ernesto Lecuona, Adolfo Guzman, and Cantinflas. No longer exploited as a sex symbol, Fornés remained an active, commanding and venerated presence in the Cuban stage scene. She still got top billing and sang at the closing of every important variety show that took place on the island.
Always considered to be the non plus ultra of glamour in Cuba's artistic circles, it was not uncommon to watch people "ooh"ing and "aah"ing at the sight of Fornés making her way through the crowds in a party or taking center stage. In the late 1990s, she performed a series of concerts in Havana (July 1997), starred in a comedy play (Nenufares en el techo del mundo), and was part of the international jury at the International Film Festival in Bahia, Brazil (October 1997). She cared for her elderly mother, Lupe. Asked whether age worried her, her response was always the same: "Age is a state of mind". And she proved it.- Nélida Lobato was born on 19 June 1934 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She was an actress, known for Scream of the Butterfly (1965), Blum (1970) and Venga a bailar el rock (1957). She was married to Eber Lobato and Víctor Laplace. She died on 9 May 1982 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
- Actress
- Additional Crew
- Music Department
Ninon Sevilla was a Mexican showgirl born in Cuba and raised by an aunt in the populous Centro Habana sector, Ninón Sevilla was graced with feline features, wonderful legs and exceptional vitality. She successfully danced her way through Havana night clubs and cabarets, and arrived in Mexico in 1946, where she made her film debut. Although she had already imposed her eccentric attires and hairdos, it was her association with filmmaker Alberto Gout that determined the creation of her erotic film persona. She rapidly became the icon of the rumbera, an archetype of the Mexican film musicals, a "bad girl" who is dignified by dancing. Ninón became an erotic myth and a superstar, working with the best talent in the film industry (Emilio Fernández, Pedro Armendáriz, Gabriel Figueroa, Agustín Lara, José Revuelta), in the biggest sound stages at Churubusco, choreographing her own complicated numbers, and her fame reached non-Spanish speaking markets, as Brazil and France. She was also among the first to introduce traces of the santería rites in her dances, and to acknowledge the presence of African elements in the Caribbean cultures in her films' stories. With the decline of Mexican cinema in the 50s, Ninón Sevilla retired, but she made a successful comeback in 1980, with "Noche de carnaval", winning the top Mexican award for an actress for the first time in her career.- María Conesa was born on 12 December 1892 in Vinaroz, Valencia, Spain. She was an actress, known for Refugiados en Madrid (1938), Madre a la fuerza (1940) and Payasos nacionales (1922). She died on 4 September 1978 in Mexico City, Mexico.
- Actress
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Olga Breeskin was born on 12 September 1951 in Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico. She is an actress, known for Al final del arco iris (1982), Me he de comer esa tuna (1972) and Tu y yo (1996).- Esperanza Iris was born on 30 March 1888 in Villahermosa, Tabasco, Mexico. She was an actress, known for Our Mother (1936) and Glorious Nights (1938). She died on 7 November 1962 in Mexico City, Mexico.
- Ethel Rojo was born on 23 December 1937 in Santiago del Estero, Argentina. She was an actress, known for Esa pícara pelirroja (1963), No toca botón (1987) and Así es mi México (1963). She was married to Gerardo González. She died on 24 June 2012 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
- Actress
- Additional Crew
Yolanda Montes, artistically known as "Tongolele", became a professional dancer when she was only 15 years old. Tongolele was an exotic dancer and actress of Mexican films from the late 1940's into the 1980's. She was and still is well known in Latin America and Spain. Her father was Spanish/Swedish and her mother English/French, but her maternal grandmother had Tahitian blood. Yolanda Montes "Tongolele is still active as dancer and actress on theatre, television and night clubs.- Actress
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Puerto Rican born singer/actress who became internationally famous due to her well-endowed figure. Always causing a sensation wherever she visited, Chacon's variety show, "The Iris Chacon Show/El Show de Iris Chacon" was a hit in over 15 countries during its height in the 1970's and 1980's. Presently residing in Florida, Chacon does frequent radio and television work in the United States and Puerto Rico.- Actress
- Soundtrack
Amalia Aguilar was born on 3 June 1924 in Matanzas, Cuba. She was an actress, known for En cada puerto un amor (1949), Al son del mambo (1950) and Los platillos voladores (1956). She was married to Raúl Beraún. She died on 8 November 2021 in Mexico City, Mexico.- Actress
- Soundtrack
Lupe Velez was born on July 18, 1908, in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, as Maria Guadalupe Villalobos Velez. She was sent to Texas at the age of 13 to live in a convent. She later admitted that she wasn't much of a student because she was so rambunctious. She had planned to become a champion roller skater, but that would change. Life was hard for her family, and Lupe returned to Mexico to help them out financially. She worked as a salesgirl for a department store for the princely sum of $4 a week. Every week she would turn most of her salary over to her mother, but she kept a little for herself so she could take dancing lessons. With her mature shape and grand personality, she thought she could make a try at show business, which she figured was a lot more glamorous than dancing or working as a salesclerk. In 1924 Lupe started her show business career on the Mexican stage and wowed audiences with her natural beauty and talent. By 1927 she had emigrated to Hollywood, where she was discovered by Hal Roach, who cast her in a comedy with Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy. Douglas Fairbanks then cast her in his feature film The Gaucho (1927) with himself and wife Mary Pickford. Lupe played dramatic roles for five years before she switched to comedy. In 1933 she played the lead role of Pepper in Hot Pepper (1933). This film showcased her comedic talents and helped her to show the world her vital personality. She was delightful. In 1934 Lupe appeared in three fine comedies: Strictly Dynamite (1934), Palooka (1934) and Laughing Boy (1934). By now her popularity was such that a series of "Mexican Spitfire" films were written around her. She portrayed Carmelita Lindsay in Mexican Spitfire (1939), Mexican Spitfire Out West (1940), The Mexican Spitfire's Baby (1941) and Mexican Spitfire's Blessed Event (1943), among others. Audiences loved her in these madcap adventures, but it seemed at times that she was better known for her stormy love affairs. She married one of her lovers, Johnny Weissmuller, but the marriage only lasted five years and was filled with battles. Lupe certainly did live up to her nickname. She had a failed romance with Gary Cooper, who never wanted to wed her. By 1943 her career was waning. She went to Mexico in the hopes of jump-starting her career. She gained her best reviews yet in the Mexican version of Naná (1944). Bolstered by the success of that movie, Lupe returned to the US, where she starred in her final film as Pepita Zorita, Ladies' Day (1943). There were to be no others. On December 13, 1944, tired of yet another failed romance, with a part-time actor named Harald Maresch, and pregnant with his child, Lupe committed suicide with an overdose of Seconal. She was only 36 years old.- Actress
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Celia Gámez was born on 25 August 1905 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She was an actress, known for Rápteme usted (1941), Las Leandras (1969) and Mi hijo no es lo que parece (1974). She was married to José Manuel Goenaga Alfaro. She died on 10 December 1992 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.- Actress
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Rosa Carmina was born on 19 November 1929 in Havana, Cuba. She is an actress, known for La diosa de Tahití (1953), Gángsters contra charros (1948) and Sandra, la mujer de fuego (1954). She was previously married to Juan Orol.- Sexy and feline actress-singer-dancer, very popular in Argentina as "vedette" during the sixties and seventies. Since the late sixties she lived for a short time in Mexico, where she made some movies. Married then divorced actor Daniel Guerrero.
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Meche Barba was born on 24 September 1922 in New York City, New York, USA. She was an actress, known for Los años de Greta (1992), Quinceañera (1987) and Quiero vivir (1953). She died on 14 January 2000 in Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico.- Lila Deneken was born on 14 May 1950 in Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico.
- Actress
- Soundtrack
María Antonieta Pons was born on 11 June 1922 in Havana, Cuba. She was an actress, known for Teatro del crimen (1957), La vida íntima de Marco Antonio y Cleopatra (1947) and Embrujo antillano (1946). She was married to Ramón Pereda and Juan Orol. She died on 20 August 2004 in Mexico City, Mexico.- Actress
- Writer
- Soundtrack
Tita Merello was born on 11 October 1904 in Buenos Aires, Federal District, Argentina. She was an actress and writer, known for Guacho (1954), Cinco rostros de mujer (1947) and Arrabalera (1950). She died on 24 December 2002 in Buenos Aires, Federal District, Argentina.- Actress
- Soundtrack
Susana Gimenez was born Maria Susana Gimenez Aubert in 1945. She has had an amazing career in Argentina since the 60s. Susana is said to be a great professional and a very spontaneous woman. She has headed a lot of movies, shows in theater, and the most well-known televsion show in Argentina, "Susana Gimenez" (1998). She started her show on TV in 1987. The show was such a hit that it has kept her working until today. By the end of the 60s, with Rodolfo Beban and Mrs. Ana María Campoy, she starred in a very successful play in the theater, "Las Mariposas son Libres". Also, she shared the cast of "Las Mariposas son Libres" with the leading actresses China Zorrilla and Delfy de Ortega. Susana is very loved by her audience. Her spontaneous character, freshness, and charismatic personality has conquered millions of Argentine television viewers.
Susana Gimenez has a daughter, Mercedes, and a mother, both of whom she gets on well with. Susana is a very close friend of the very distinguished television presenter, Tete Coustarot, whom she met when the two of them were models. As a super-fashion and fancy woman, she is always in vogue with clothing, jewelry, and all kinds of accessories. Although, she almost never wears earings.- Actress
- Producer
Moria Casán was born on 16 August 1946 in Buenos Aires, Federal District, Argentina. She is an actress and producer, known for Buenos vecinos (1999), Primavera (2016) and Cruzadas (2011).