Inside the Magnificent World of Luchadoras

On an August night in Aguascalientes, Mexico, Lady Shani dons a floor-length, glittering boxing robe with skulls hanging off each shoulder like armor. Her black-and-gold unitard peeks through, matching her traditional máscara, or mask, emblazoned with a bedazzled, obsidian S on the forehead. Although she usually coordinates her makeup with her mask, for this match Lady Shani has opted to use contrasting blue and silver shadow with a shield of false lashes. It gives the desired effect: transforming her from her everyday self into a fearsome luchadora, or female wrestler, whose costume and makeup are as fierce as her wrestling moves.

If there’s one truth in the magnificent world of lucha libre, or Mexican freestyle wrestling, it’s that the aesthetics and theatrics go hand in hand. The sport is full of telenovela-worthy scripted fights that inspire a loyal fan base to travel from far and wide to view the performances live. Adopted from Greco-Roman wrestling in the mid-1800s, the sport gained traction with the rise of iconic masked wrestler El Santo in the 1940s. Donning a silver mask with only his eyes and mouth visible, El Santo maintained his anonymity until his death in 1984. Since then, the sport has become synonymous with spectacular aerial moves and the dazzling costumes of its secretive performers, evolving from a regional interest into a worldwide phenomenon.

While Mexican wrestling is historically a men’s sport, female leagues are quickly popping up across the country, Lucha Libre AAA being the most popular since its founding in 1992. Its luchadoras take traditional costuming one step further in the ring, donning multicolor eye makeup, faux lashes, and bright lipstick under their intricate leather masks, more gussied up than the barefaced competitors of MMA (Mixed Martial Arts), and even more vibrant than the ladies of the U.S’s World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). For luchadoras like two-time AAA Reina de Reinas Championship winner Lady Shani, the use of makeup under the mask isn’t just about looking good or establishing a brand. It represents the aesthetic, tradition, and history of Mexican wrestling through a feminine lens. 

“I started training when I was 15 years old,” the Mexico City native tells Allure. “I was the only woman [at these wrestling classes] and men underestimated me and tried to discourage me. That made me discover a part of myself that I didn’t know I had, [something] that only the magic of wrestling could bring out. It taught me not to give up or let anyone stop my dreams.” Lady Shani made her professional debut at 17. Her costuming is heavily influenced by Egyptian culture and Mortal Kombat characters, but it’s her mask that allows her to truly shift into her luchadora alter ego.

Masks are a traditional part of lucha libre culture, dating back to the sport’s origins in the early 20th century. While some luchadoras reveal their identities, Lady Shani has yet to be unmasked, with her true identity completely hidden from the public. We don’t even know her real name. When a luchadora is unmasked in the ring it is considered the ultimate defeat: They must show their face and state their name, age, and birthplace. Once unmasked, a luchadora can never don this mask again, as they’ve lost the power that comes with it. 

Unmaskings are dramatic moments that can also signify a wrestler’s retirement or that they’re moving on from their current branding, which only means that Lady Shani is here to stay — and so is the makeup that acts as an extension of her mask.

“It is very important for me to give the public a beautiful image,” she says. “Something that captivates and reflects that you care about your work, since it is something you do for people who pay for a ticket. It’s important for the public to see me shining.” Since her eyes are the
only facial feature visible while she’s in the ring, it’s where Lady Shani focuses, with shadows, lashes, and perfectly sculpted brows. 

Kira Magnin-Forster, a.k.a. Taya, has been using makeup to fuel her persona in the ring for more than 12 years. The Canadian professional wrestler, who is the reigning AAA Reina de Reinas champion, can be seen in amped-up iterations of Old Hollywood glam to mimic the characters that have inspired her alter ego.