Illustration by Ricky Rodriguez
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.
Durante décadas, Iris Chacón cautivó a los puertorriqueños con su exitoso programa de televisión y se convirtió en una de las latinas más reconocidas del entretenimiento, tanto dentro como fuera del archipiélago. Con su cuerpo e ingenio, "La Vedette de América" desafió el ideal de belleza y las expectativas sociales sobre el comportamiento de las mujeres puertorriqueñas. Raquel Reichard explora esa influencia a partir de su propia historia familiar y de la nueva generación de artistas de burlesque, drag y cabaret que mantienen vivo el legado de La Chacón.
Raquel Reichard y Locatora Productions produjeron este episodio de American Colony. Nuria Net lo editó.
Este episodio contiene referencias a trastornos alimentarios, acoso sexual y contenido de naturaleza sexual. Se recomienda discreción.
About the Producers
Raquel Reichard is a Puerto Rican journalist, producer, author, and speaker based in Orlando, Florida. Her first book, Self-Care for Latinas, was published in 2023. She is currently the Deputy Director of Somos, Refinery29’s channel for Latinas, and her memoir, Best Friends Forever, about friendgrief, is set to publish in July 2027.
Locatora Productions is a multimedia production company that makes meaningful, value-driven podcasts and films. After the success of their flagship podcast, Locatora Radio, co-founders Diosa and Mala formally launched their boutique production house in 2021. Together, they launched the Gotham Award-winning show, Marijuanera: A Podcast for Potheads, a comedy and interview podcast hosted by Mala Muñoz. In partnership with iHeartRadio’s My Cultura Podcast Network, they launched Señora Sex Ed, a podcast breaking the stigma and silence around sex and sexuality in the Latinx Community.
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
Episode Producers: T.J. Raphael; Alana Schreiber; Raquel Reichard with Diosa Femme and Mala Muñoz from Locatora Radio; Juan Diego Ramírez; Camille Padilla Dalmau, Frances Medina, and 9 millones; Joaquín Cotler; and Amalia Núñez-Pires
Managing Editor: Christina Hernández
Video Producer: Amalia Nuñez-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.
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