Trans Reality Star Wendy Guevara Finds Her Way With Perdida Pero Famosa

If reality star and influencer Wendy Guevara was ever truly lost, she’s now found her way and she’s landed on the radars of millions of fans who voted for her this summer on the reality series, La Casa de Los Famosos (Mexico’s version of Celebrity Big Brother). Now she’s got her own reality series, Wendy, Perdida Pero Famosa (lost but famous) on ViX. Guevara first garnered a major following in 2017 when she and her friend Paola Suárez posted a now-viral video of being lost in the wild while their companions were in search of water. “¡Estamos perdidas! (We're lost!),” they exclaim repeatedly in the video while bearing big smiles to telegraph that they were not, in fact, in danger.

With her La Casa win, Guevara became the first transgender woman to win a reality show in Mexico. And she did so by a landslide with 18.2 million votes. She won hearts and minds with her charm, sense of humor, and lust for life. For the win, Guevara also took home 4 million pesos (nearly $234,000), according to GLAAD. But that was just part of what came out of the experience. The vivacious cofounder of the art group Las Perdidas and musical artist of EDM and Latin pop songs has been wowing fans around the world. In Wendy, Perdida Pero Famosa, cameras follow Guevara’s career, home life, and the unique connection she’s made with her fans all while she’s creating inroads for trans folks by being herself.

The Advocate spoke with Guevara via an interpreter about life after La Casa and how with Wendy, Perdida Pero Famosa she’s right where she wants to be — for now.

The titleWendy, Perdida Pero Famoso is a nod to your first viral video when you and a friend were literally lost, but it feels like it could also refer to your newfound super fame. What has it been like to be so famous so fast? And how do you navigate your busy schedule and being recognized and adored by fans when you are out in the world?

Well, it has been a very nice experience. Obviously, I had never filmed anything like this. I had never been exposed quite like this. I exposed my life a lot in La Casa de Los Famosos Mexico (aka Celebrity Big Brother equivalent), but I think this is different because the truth is, they were in MY house, with my family, with my friends, in the very personal, it was in real life. Yes, inside La Casa was real life, but we didn’t have any stress, nothing like that. So, it’s something very nice, something very cool done with a lot of dedication and with good vibes and I hope you don’t miss it on ViX.

Wendy Guevara Courtesy ViX

There are film clips of fans who are overwhelmed and crying when they meet you because you have made an impact on them one way or another. What does it mean to you that by living authentically you have touched people so deeply, especially other trans people who are inspired by your honesty, humor, and strength?

Well, I'm super grateful. Look, I don't really know. Sometimes I understand because I also have favorite artists that I see as an example that I admire them a lot, and that girl who is appearing right now in some clips in an upcoming episode, she is a girl from Cuba. Is it in Cuba where we went to record a music video and the girl was passing by in a van and she gets out, starts crying, and I said, “Oh my God, who hit her? Who hit the girl?”

Funny enough, well, I was surprised because I said, “My God, already in another country and people are making a lot of fuss about me.” There is nothing left than to thank life and the people.

You are full of light and life, but it has not been traditionally easy for trans folks in Mexico (and many other countries, including the United States). What do you think the public’s embrace of you means in terms of a shift in how people view LGBTQ+ people there?

I think it helps with visibility, to give us more visibility, and the opportunity for Trans girls to be part of such big platforms like that of television. I think that each of us is doing our bit or as other (trans) girls have done. I think there is still more to fight for. Obviously, there are still people who judge, people who point, but this helps even a little bit. And this is what I am most satisfied with.

Now that you’ve made history in Mexico as a reality star, what else would you like to accomplish in your career?

I don’t know. It depends on what they show me — what they propose to me, to see what show I do next. Because this thing about Wendy, Perdida Pero Famosa, I said “Oh, I had never thought about it nor had it occurred to me.” But then later they showed it to me (the whole concept) and I said, “Of course, of course, I will do the show. And now look at me — all crazy, sleepless and everything.

Wendy, Perdida Pero Famosa is streaming now on ViX. Watch the trailer below.