HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH
PERFORMER SPOTLIGHTS
KARMEN
Seattle, WA | 32
Itsmo de Tehuantepec, Oaxaca
Karmen is the combination of my own femininity and the feminine influence of my sisters and mother. I used to be at odds with my feminine side, but since I started doing drag and wearing makeup, I’ve experienced that side of myself more and learned to appreciate it. Karmen loves the color red, whereas the male version of me—Carmen—hates wearing red in his everyday life. Karmen has empowered me and, above all, kept me alive.
WHO IS KARMEN?
TELL US ABOUT YOUR TRADITIONAL OUTFIT
This traditional outfit comes from the Isthmus of Tehuantepec region in Oaxaca—specifically Juchitán de Zaragoza—and consists of a *huipil*, a skirt (*enagua*), an underskirt (*refajo*), and a headdress (*resplandor*). It features two types of embroidery: *cadenilla* (chain-stitch work done on a treadle sewing machine) and hand-embroidered flowers. While the traditional version is made of velvet, other, cooler fabrics are now commonly used.
To me, being Mexican means being everything—being a total badass at whatever you set your mind to and doing it with a hell of a lot of love. Being Mexican means loving maximalism and vibrant colors, loving the music and the food; it means loving with every single cell in your body. The mere fact of being Mexican fills me with pride—my culture, the food, the celebrations, the sense of brotherhood—for all that and so much more, I am proud to say I am Mexican.
WHAT MAKES YOU PROUD TO BE HISPANIC?
Music and food—Regional Mexican music or mariachi—give me goosebumps; they make me feel as though I never left Mexico and keep me connected. And the food—because whenever I cook a dish my mom used to make, I feel like I’m nourishing my soul, not just my stomach. The flavors of Mexico are an unparalleled explosion.
