A 30-year-old native of Guanajuato state is the first transgender woman to win a reality television series in Mexico.
Wendy Guevara, an influencer with over 6 million followers on Instagram, was one of 14 contestants on “La casa de los famosos México,” a Mexican version of the “Celebrity Big Brother” reality program.
The finale was broadcast Sunday, with Guevara receiving 18.2 million viewers’ votes to win the 10-week contest.
“I’m shaking, … I can’t believe it, my God!” she exclaimed after she was declared the winner.
Guevara, who was born in León, Guanajuato, will take home 2.6 million pesos (US $151,700) once tax is deducted from her 4-million-peso prize, according to a report by the newspaper El Financiero.
In a video posted to Instagram before the inaugural season of the reality program began, she said she would pay off her home and “help my parents and sisters obviously” if she won the top prize.
During the 2 1/2 months that the program went to air, Guevera “won over fans and supporters with her captivating personality,” NBC News reported.
She and her celebrity housemates participated in weekly challenges after which viewers voted to evict one of the tenants of “La casa de los famosos.”
The runner-up was Peruvian TV host, actor and former soccer player Nicola Porcella, who also stayed in the celebrity abode until the 71st and final day of filming. Entrepreneur and influencer Alfonso “Poncho” de Nigris came third and Sergio Mayer, an actor, singer and former lawmaker with the ruling Morena party, finished fourth.
The show was a ratings hit, making Guevara’s victory as a transgender woman even more impactful.
“In a country plagued by prejudice and discrimination, a trans woman today won the most popular reality show with the votes and love of the audience,” said a user of the social media site X, formerly known as Twitter.
The X user @albertxrex, who identifies as non-binary, added that Guevara’s victory should be “an invitation to embrace trans people, listen to their stories and respect their lives.”
With reports from NBC News, El Universal and El Financiero
