Who is Wendy Guevara?: Latin AMAs Guest & Madonna’s Special Invitee
The Mexican influencer is a beloved celebrity for her unique and funny personality
Wendy Guevara is currently one of the top influencers in Mexico, especially after gaining attention on the reality show ‘La Casa de los Famosos’ (The House of the Famous). She made a strong impression right from the start with her unique and funny personality, as well as her natural charm that appeals to people. This earned her invitations to the Latin AMAs 2024 and a special invite from the music icon Madonna to her concert in Mexico.
Wendy catapulted into fame in 2017 when she posted a video of her and her friend, Paola Suárez, when they ‘got lost and asked for help,’ repeating: “Estamos perdidas, perdidas” (We’re lost, lost). Their storytelling style was unique, and since they’re both transgender women, they took turns speaking in a way that entertained viewers. Naturally, it went viral.
Ever since, they’ve become known as ‘las perdidas’ (the lost ones), and quickly became an internet sensation not just in Mexico but across Latin America. The video took off on social media to such an extent that Wendy and Paola won an MTV MIAW award in the viral videos category.
Who is Wendy?
She was born Luis Carmen Guevara Venegas on August 12, 1993, in León, Guanajuato, Mexico, right in the heart of Leo Season. However, she chose to be known as ‘Wendy’ as a tribute to a dear friend who passed away a few years ago. She has mentioned that she only completed primary school and had a serious accident that kept her hospitalized for six months. She tried to start secondary school afterward, but it only lasted a month.
I left, you know, I was bullied for being gay, for my sexual preference, I had to fight all the time, so it was better for me not to study anymore.”
According to El País, Wendy shared various aspects of her life on several episodes of the reality show ‘La Casa de los Famosos.’ She touched upon challenges involving alcohol and drug addiction, a tumultuous childhood with an abusive father, and a deeply disturbing rape when she was only 10 years old. Guevara, who has urged victims to speak out against abuse, has recounted how challenging it was to get support from her family.
Once your parents support you, other people become irrelevant, they don’t matter anymore. I would go out on the streets and didn’t care if people laughed at me.”
She’s the perfect example of why we should never judge a book by its cover. Sometimes, the happiest people and those who try to cheer others are the ones who have suffered the most. Being able to stay strong, humble, and maintain a positive attitude in the face of adversity is not a common attribute nowadays.
Life After ‘Being Lost’
After the success of their video, Guevara and Suárez received calls for interviews and events. Later on, along with Kimberly Irene, they formed the artistic project ‘Las Perdidas’. Wendy’s journey began to rapidly escalate, and gradually she became a celebrity. Currently, she has over a million followers on Instagram, has released several songs, and participated in various programs.
‘La Casa de los Famosos’
The revamped edition of the show followed the same format as before, resembling a Big Brother-style setup. It gained a lot of attention in Mexico and became one of the most popular shows of the summer in 2023.
In this version, 14 celebrities lived together in one house for several months. They were constantly filmed by over 50 cameras and 60 microphones, capturing every moment of their daily lives, with occasional visits from special guests. All of this was in pursuit of a prize of 4 million pesos (around 230,000 US dollars).
Wendy Guevara won the show and was the most voted-for and beloved celebrity during her 71-day stay. She received over 18.2 million votes from the audience, out of the show’s total of 40 million votes.
In the space that allowed her to be herself, she also explained some of the more fundamental concepts about the transgender community, especially in response to questions from fellow contestants. They asked about changing her name in official records, how her transition process was, and how she feels about her body now, especially after deciding not to undergo vaginoplasty.
I didn’t like my body as a child. I used to look in the mirror and imagine myself differently. But now, people ask me if I’m going to have my male reproductive organ removed, and I tell them no. I like myself the way I am; I feel different.”
We are thrilled that such a beautiful and humorous human being won the show.
Participants
- Wendy Guevara (winner)
- Marie Claire Harp (first eliminated)
- Sofía Rivera Torres (second eliminated)
- Ferka (third eliminated)
- Raquel Bigorra (fourth eliminated)
- Paul Stanley (fifth eliminated)
- Bárbara Torres (sixth eliminated)
- Apio Quijano (seventh eliminated)
- Jorge Losa (eighth eliminated)
- Mariana ‘Barby’ Juárez (ninth eliminated)
- Emilio Osorio (fifth finalist)
- Sergio Mayer (fourth finalist)
- Poncho de Nigris (third finalist)
- Nicola Porcella (second finalist)