Chavela Vargas

Chavela Vargas is a Mexican singer of rancheras, traditionally sung by men about their desire for women. She dressed as a man, smoked cigars, drank heavily, carried a gun and was known for her characteristic red poncho. In a Colombian tele

Chavela Vargas is a Mexican singer of rancheras, traditionally sung by men about their desire for women. She dressed as a man, smoked cigars, drank heavily, carried a gun and was known for her characteristic red poncho. In a Colombian television interview in 2000, she openly admitted she was a lesbian.

Vargas was born in Costa Rica in 1919. At only 14, she fled the country because of its lack of opportunities for starting a musical career, seeking refuge in a more sophisticated Mexico. For many years she sang on the streets but in her thirties she became a professional singer.