Exoticos: most easily described as male luchadores in drag, exoticos are characterized by their flamboyant attitudes and their feminine attire. In matches, exoticos are most often found often found prancing around the ring or trying to kiss other male wreslters.
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| Exotico Pimpinela Escarlata |
Some exoticos such as Cassandro are openly gay, while other such as Maximo are heterosexual in real life, but act gay in their performances (Maximo is married to luchadora India Sioux and has a child with her).
Maximo in action
The role of the exotico on the ring is a complicated one. Often acting in an undignified manner, it is easy to mistake Exoticos for clowns, and while this role is not denied, some argue that Exoticos serve as social clowns, highlighting the tensions between machismo and homosexuality in lucha libre and Mexican culture. In her book, The World of Lucha Libre, Heather Levy argues that, "the parodic wrestling performance of the exotico can also be understood as a challenge to the discourse of the degraded maricon (p.153)." She adds that, "the performance of exoticos can be read in a variety of ways. It gives the audience a chance to abuse them and give delighted vent to their homophobia. They do nothing to challenge the notion that a maricon is a bad thing to be. On the other hand, by their very presence in the ring, they mock the system that they are supposed to ground. (p.157)"
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| Click on the image to check out the Exoticos Luchador Profiles on My Lucha Libre Life |
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