For decades, Iris Chacón dazzled Puerto Ricans with her hit TV show, becoming one of the most recognizable Latinas in entertainment. Celebrated for her body and her wit, “La Vedette de América” challenged the beauty standards and expectations imposed on Puerto Rican women at home and abroad. Raquel Reichard traces Iris’ influence through her own family and the new generation of burlesque, drag, and cabaret artists carrying La Chacón forward today.

This episode of American Colony was produced by Raquel Reichard and Locatora Productions. It was edited by Nuria Net.

This episode contains discussions of disordered eating, sexual harassment, and sexual content. Listener discretion is advised.

Credits

American Colony is a production of The Latino Newsletter and Shake It Easy Media

Original Concept by Julio Ricardo Varela

Senior Editor: Nuria Net
Senior Producer: Joaquín Cotler

Hosts: Julio Ricardo Varela and Nuria Net

Producer: Carlos Berríos Polanco
Consulting Producer: Susanne Ramírez de Arellano

Managing Editor: Christina Hernández

Video Producer: Amalia I. Núñez-Pires

Social Media Videos: Anthony Modesto Milián and Aliana M. Bigio

Illustrator: Ricky Rodriguez
Composer: Alain Emile

Additional music courtesy of Soundstripe

Executive Producers: Julio Ricardo Varela, Nuria Net, and Joaquín Cotler

Support for this program comes from the Mellon Foundation, the nation’s largest supporter of the arts and humanities. More at Mellon.org. 

American Colony was also made possible by individual donations. To support the nonprofit work of The Latino Newsletter, click on the Donate tab at The Latino Newsletter.