Doña

If you heard of Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor, and Ava Gardner, then you might of heard of Maria Felix, if not, get ready to be introduced to a woman who was determined and fierce, a true Girlboss.

Maria de Los Angeles Felix Guerrena was a Mexican film actress and singer. She was one of the most successful figures of Latin American cinema in the 1940s and 1950s. Maria Felix was also known as “La Doña “ the character she played in the film Doña Barbara and “Maria Bonita,” thanks to the anthem composed exclusively for her as a wedding gift by her second husband, the Mexican composer Agustin Lara. She completed a film career that included 47 films made in Mexico, Spain, France, Italy, and Argentina.

Maria was born in Alamos Sonora Mexico. Daughter of a military officer, they were not rich but they lived a decent life. Maria had 11 siblings, she was close to her brother Pablo but the mother separated them thinking they had something going on. Since she never had a good relationship with her other sisters (her sisters were blond by maternal inheritance) and Maria being a brunette with a strong personality, it was hard to get along with her. She was an outsiders to them because she enjoyed boyish games and liked to ride horses.

Some time later, the Felix family moved to Guadalajara. When Maria was a teenager, her beauty soon began to attract attention as she was crowned the “Queen of beauty at the University of Guadalajara and it was at this time she meet her first husband Enrique Alvarez, a salesman for cosmetics. After a brief romance the couple married in 1931. In 1935, Maria gave birth to her only child, Enrique Jr. The marriage between Maria and Enrique didn’t last long and they divorced in 1937. After her divorce Maria returned with her family, but people around her began to gossip and made up rumors regarding her divorce. Maria decided to move to Mexico City with her son. Maria worked as a receptionist in a plastic surgeon’s office, and lived in a guest house. One day, the father of her son visited the child, Maria didn’t have a problem for him to visit his kid but he decided that he would not return his child to Maria and took him back to Guadalajara. Maria was crushed but she didn’t give up and with some help from her second husband Agustin Lara she was able to get her kid back.

One day Maria was walking down the street in Mexico City and that’s when director and filmmaker Fernando Palacios approached her asking if she wanted to make films. Her response was “When I want to, it will be through the big door”

The director finally convinced her and he began to train her and introduced her in film circles, even landed her a chance to do movies in Hollywood but she turned down the deal since she wanted to start making movies in her own country. From there she made history. She had a lot of lovers in her life and made sure she was still the one to call the shots. Even for those she did not want to be with, she would make sure they knew it and understood it. For example Maria Felix did modeling for many renowned painters from Jose Clemente Orozco to Diego Rivera, in fact Maria was really good friends with Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera and Diego fell madly in love with her. In my opinion she made sure he did not pass that friendship zone because she respected Frida and she did not like players.

Maria was also known to have excellent style, she was a fashion icon. Maria Felix would be dressed by designers like Christian Dior, Givenchy, Yves Saint Laurent, Chanel, and Balenciaga. She was noted as a collector of fine antiques, favoring pieces like her famous collection of second french empire furniture, and extensive jewelry collection. In 1975 she asked Cartier Paris to create a necklace for her, in the shape of two crocodiles made of gold, diamonds, emeralds, and now you can see these types of bracelets in jewelry shops around the world.

According to Wikipedia, Maria's last years were about social events, tributes, and controversial opinions. She wanted to return to acting, but nothing ever materialized for her. Maria Felix died in her sleep on 8 April 2002 (the day she turned 88 years of age) in Mexico City. Her remains were deposited beside her son Enrique and her parents in the French Cemetery of Mexico City.

Why did I pick Maria Felix? because of her style and how she managed to still surpass her problems and be fierce. She made us brunettes really proud!!

She is the person you didn’t want to mess with. Maria did not let anyone (male or female) treat her like she was nothing. you could say most would think she was stuck up, but she had power over her life and was strong in so many ways!!

In those early days of her career Maria didn’t follow traditions like follow your husband, have no career, and just be a housewife, in fact, getting a divorce made you look bad in society.

In her first marriage she managed to get out of that bad relationship and was able to have control of her own life.

All her life she has been a fighter and in those times it was really hard for women to do something more than just get married. Especially in Mexico with that thing we call “machismo.” Maria surpassed all that even with other previous lovers she made sure she was respected and loved passionately. Maria's last romantic relationship was the Russia French painter “Antoine Tzapoff”. Maria said “I don’t know if he’s the man who's loved me the most, but he’s the one who's loved me better” Maria knew how to pick men that really loved her and if it didn’t work out she would simply move on. Maria has shown us women to be strong, go for what you want, be daring and fierce. Don’t let no man put you down.