Aside from her art, Frida Kahlo was also known for challenging gender norms. But did you know that her penchant for bending the rules of gender and sexuality started early on?
Frida notoriously grew out her eyebrows and was not above sporting a bit of peach fuzz above her red lips.
We recently stumbled upon a treasure trove of Kahlo family portraits. The actual date of the photos is somewhat disputed, though according to Frida Kahlo’s official Facebook page, they were snapped in 1926 by Guillermo Kahlo, Frida’s father, which means that the would-be artist was around 18-years-old.
While her sisters and mother are dripping with jewelry and sporting the wavy, close-cropped hairstyles of the time, Frida looks fearlessly into the camera as she poses in her tailored jacket and trousers. Her sense of confidence is palpable in the photos! We’re guessing that confidence came from her father, who encouraged her to take up sports like boxing and soccer after she contracted polio.
Here’s a closer look at that killer gaze:
Frida Kahlo in Men’s Clothing photographed by her father, Guillermo Kahlo, in 1926 pic.twitter.com/e34zf7rnHQ
Frida Kahlo’s paintings perfectly show the artist’s whirlwind of emotions throughout her life. Her art gives a look into her passions, her pains and her loves, which went far beyond Diego Rivera.
It’s long been known that the prolific artist had many loves throughout her life, both men and women, and including many major personalities of their time. Everyone from Tina Modotti and the politician León Trotsky were on that list in addition to her longtime companion, Diego Rivera. However, one of Kahlo’s great loves and of whom little is said was the singer Chavela Vargas.
Chavela, who was 12 years younger than Frida, spoke on several occasions about the love she had for Kahlo when her musical career began to take off, while she was “a child.” And thanks to recently discovered love letters we have a new perspective on this little known relationship.
New love letters give us details into the romance between Frida Kahlo and Chavela Vargas.
Although Chavela had claimed to have destroyed all of the love letters she received from Frida Kahlo, new love letters have recently been discovered that paint a new light on the romance.
There is one letter Kahlo had written to Carlos Pellicer, a Mexican poet, to express her feelings about the singer. She told him that after meeting Chavela she felt attracted to her from the very first moment – in some pretty steamy language.
“Today I met Chavela Vargas. Extraordinary, lesbian, what’s more, I wanted her erotically. I don’t know if she felt what I did. But I think she’s a liberal enough woman, that if she asks me, I wouldn’t hesitate for a second to undress in front of her. How many times do you not want to get laid and that’s it? She, I repeat, is erotic. Is it a gift that heaven sends me?”, wrote Kahlo.
It was shortly after Kahlo wrote that letter that Chavela went to live with her and Diego at La Casa Azul. In another recently discovered letter, Vargas writes – of her time at Casa Azul – that she felt very happy and in love, as well as loved by Kahlo.
“She taught me a lot of things and I learned a so much. Without giving away too much, I held the sky with my hands, with every word, every morning,” she said.
The lovers had an intense relationship that has fascinated fans to this day.
Chavela, quien era 12 años menor que Frida, habló en varias ocasiones sobre el amor que tuvo hacia Kahlo https://t.co/IZJFsnFfwG
The two had met at one of the many parties Kahlo and Rivera would host at their home in Casa Azul. The couple were prolific entertainers and often threw extravagant parties.
Before her death, Vargas detailed that night’s meeting.
“A painter friend invited me. She said: ‘There’s a party at Frida’s house tonight. Shall we go?’ I went and the atmosphere was full of people. The night passed, we sang, everyone danced, everyone entertained,” Vargas says in the documentary Chavela, released in 2017.
“I was in a daze when I saw her face, her eyes. I thought she couldn’t be a being from this world. Her eyebrows together were a swallow in flight. Without yet having the maturity of a woman in me, since I was a very young girl, I sensed that I could love that being with the most devoted love in the world, the strongest love in the world,” said the singer about Frida.
Although the romance didn’t last long thanks in part to the painter’s relationship with Diego Rivera.
Credit: Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images
Vargas confessed that the romance didn’t last for a long time on the account of having to share the painter’s love with Diego Rivera. According to Vargas, one day Kahlo simply decided to abandon her.
“My words possibly hurt her a lot when I told her I was leaving and she told me: ‘I know. It is impossible to tie you to anybody’s life. I can’t tie you to my crutches or to my bed. Go away!’ And one day I opened the door and didn’t come back,” Vargas said.
Although the singer never spoke about whether she had intimate relationships with the painter, the romance, as well as the great love and attraction they felt for each other is something that cannot be denied.
It’s safe to say that pretty much anything sparkly is having a moment. What started off as the sparkling water craze a few years ago with brands like LaCroix and Bubly, has now moved onto hard seltzer.
With all the commotion it’s hard not to miss the fizzy drink sensation taking over our mini-fridges and supermercados across the country. Now, Coca Cola (which owns iconic the iconic Mexican brand, Topo Chico) is getting in on the trend with its own Topo Chico hard seltzer.
And although I’m not one to usually follow trends, this one seems like one that many of us will want to get behind.
Topo Chico is stepping it up with a new line of alcoholic hard seltzers.
¡Las Hard Seltzer de @topochicohsmx ya están aquí! Y Diego Boneta lo descubrió con un monumental unboxing en su cumpleaños número 30. 🎁🎉 https://t.co/NjOBJegKXX
Following in the footsteps of hard seltzer mega weights like White Claw and Truly, Topo Chico is hoping to capitalize on its cult like status with the release of its new hard seltzer lineup.
The iconic Mexican brand (based out of Monterrey but now owned by Coca Cola Co.) has officially launched its debut line of hard seltzer drinks in several countries around the world.
It’s also worth noting because this marks the first time time in years that Coca Cola will be selling alcoholic beverages. The soda giant sold off its wine business in 1983, per the Wall Street Journal. This will be the first time in decades that the beverage giant sells alcohol in the U.S. — and what a fitting time to do so.
So far, the hard seltzer is available in Brazil and Mexico and will hit U.S. shelves in early 2021.
Rightfully so, Topo Chico is initially rolling out the product in Latin America with Mexico City, Puebla, Acapulco, Tijuana, Guadalajara and Monterrey getting the product in Mexico; while Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo will get it in Brazil.
As far as flavors, we’re looking forward to three gluten-free ones, including Tangy Lemon Lime, Strawberry Guava, and Pineapple Twist. The packaging is cool too: the hard seltzer ships in sleep aluminum cans.
And the new drinks are expected to live up to their namesake with a 4.7% alcohol by volume (which is higher than most beers) and just 100 calories per can.
A Coca Cola spokesperson said in a statement that “Topo Chico Hard Seltzer will appeal to drinkers who are looking for a refreshing, lighter alternative to other higher-calorie, higher-sugar alcoholic beverages. Most hard seltzer fans are migrating from beer, so this growth will be incremental to our business.”
Topo Chico only just recently expanded across the U.S. but it’s long been a favorite in Mexico.
Lanzan Topo Chico Hard Seltzer en Puerto Rico. Una opción liviana y refrescante, con solo 2 gramos de azúcar, 100 calorías por lata, libre de gluten y 4.7% alcohol por volumen.https://t.co/bmnMDRBIzLpic.twitter.com/WOnEfjUq2b
Topo Chico has long been a popular water brand across Mexico and in a handful of U.S. states. It’s already carved out a niche market that has made it a cult favorite in places like Austin, TX. Popular for it’s “throwback image” and cool design, Topo Chico has seen massive growth, over the last year U.S. sales jumped 39 percent to nearly $130 million, according to data from IRI, a Chicago-based market research firm.
The secret behind Topo Chico is its mythical origins. The water is sourced from a limestone spring concealed under a mountain in northeastern Mexico. The drink was built on a legend of the thermal waters of the Cerro del Topo Chico, which is where the drink got its name. The story goes that the hidden spring water cured an Aztec princess’ illness. While there’s no way to verify the myth, Topo Chico indeed does come from the same underground spring since 1895.
And as the brand gains recognition across the U.S., it seems only natural that the company would start to add more products to its lineup. In fact, recently the company also released a “lemon-lime” version of its water that’s very much like a limonada.
