Arantxa Castilla-La Mancha Explained

Birth Date:1 December 1997
Birth Place:Badajoz, Extremadura, Spain
Nationality:Spanish
Occupation:Podcaster and drag queen
Other Names:Arantxa Méndez García

Arantxa Castilla-La Mancha is the stage name of Arantxa Méndez García,[1] a Spanish drag queen, podcaster, and trans woman.[2] [3]

Early life

Méndez was born on 1 December 1997 in Badajoz, in the municipality of Extremadura in south-west Spain. She was raised in the small town of Jerez de los Caballeros.[4] She claims that she experienced discrimination at an early age due to her sexual orientation and gender expression.

Her favourite television series as a child was Hannah Montana, the premise of which resonated with her and consequently served as an inspiration for both her drag name and her aesthetic. In an interview with the Spanish newspaper La Vanguardia, Méndez claimed that there was no connection between herself and the autonomous community of Castilla-La Mancha other than a penchant for manchego cheese, stating that a drag queen's job is to lie in order to create an illusion.

Méndez moved to Madrid at the age of 17 to study Audiovisual Communication. During her first year of studying, she was involved in class film project in which she portrayed a woman, claiming that this was something that she wanted to continue doing. It was also during her early years in Madrid that she experienced drag culture for the first time by watching a drag show hosted by Supremme de Luxe.

Career

In 2021, Méndez competed in the first season of the reality television series, Drag Race España.[5] After the season aired, she joined the national tour Gran Hotel de las Reinas along with other participants from the series. The tour was hosted by Supremme de Luxe and vedette Paca la Piraña.[6]

Following her appearance on Drag Race, she has worked as an ambassador of the high-heel race at Madrid Pride,[7] and is an hostess for Jerez de los Caballeros Pride, a pride event in her hometown.

On 13 January 2024, it was announced that she would be one of the contestants on the second series of .[8] She was crowned Miss Congeniality in the finale episode of the season.

Méndez also hosts a podcast with fellow drag queen Hugáceo Crujiente, Mientras Te Hacías El Eyeliner (While You Were Doing Your Eyeliner).

Personal life

Despite originally identifying as non-binary, Méndez came out as a trans woman in December 2022.[9] [10] As of 2024 she was based in Madrid.

Controversy

During her appearance on Drag Race España, Méndez received strong criticism from viewers, which led to her receiving abuse and death threats through social media.[11]

In 2022, both she and Hugáceo Crujiente were involved in a public argument with drag queen Sagittaria, who accused both of treating their fans poorly, not having work, and for poor performance in their shows.[12]

Filmography

Television

YearTitleRoleCredits
2021Meet the QueensHerself1 episode
Drag Race EspañaHerself8 episodes
Tras la carreraHerself1 episode
2022Maestros de la costuraHerself1 episode
2024RuPaul's Drag Race: UK Versus the WorldHerself3 episodes

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Así es Arantxa Castilla-La Mancha, la aspirante pacense de Drag Race España . Gálvez Núñez . Celia . lacronicadebadajoz.elperiodicoextremadura.com . 14 June 2021 . Editorial Extremadura S.A. . October 25, 2023.
  2. Web site: 2024-01-15 . Meet the Queens interview with Arantxa Castilla-La Mancha . 2024-01-30 . Spill the Tea . en-US.
  3. Web site: La 'drag' que bebió de Hannah Montana . 2024-04-21 . www.lavanguardia.com.
  4. Web site: 2021-06-14 . Así es Arantxa Castilla-La Mancha, la aspirante pacense de Drag Race España . 2024-04-21 . La Crónica de Badajoz . es.
  5. Web site: 2021-10-19 . ¿Quiénes son las 10 concursantes de Drag Race España? De Killer Queen a Inti y The Macarena Cine y Televisión LOS40 . 2024-04-21 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211019120701/https://los40.com/los40/2021/05/30/cinetv/1622125923_633027.amp.html . 2021-10-19 .
  6. Web site: Una noche en 'El Gran Hotel de las Reinas': lujo, talento y diversidad en el Olympia . 2024-04-21 . www.lavanguardia.com.
  7. Web site: 2022-07-15 . Arantxa Castilla-La Mancha: "Muchas artistas 'drag' solo reciben 50€ por trabajar cuatro horas" . 2024-04-21 . Crónica Global . es.
  8. Web site: 'RuPaul's Drag Race UK vs. the World' season 2 cast announced . 2024-04-21 . EW.com . en.
  9. Web site: LOS40 . 2022-12-20 . Arantxa Castilla-La Mancha (Drag Race) tiene algo que decirnos: "Soy una chica y mis pronombres son ella" Programas . 2024-04-21 . LOS40 . es-ES.
  10. Web site: 2022-12-22 . Arantxa Castilla-La Mancha ('Drag Race España') se presenta como "una chica abiertamente trans" . 2024-04-21 . El Español . es.
  11. Web site: Costas . Nayín . 2021-06-14 . El grito desesperado Arantxa Castilla-La Mancha ('Drag Race') tras recibir amenazas de muerte . 2024-04-21 . elconfidencial.com . es.
  12. Web site: 20minutos . 2022-12-20 . Sagittaria, de 'Drag Race España', vuelve a estallar contra Arantxa Castilla-La Mancha y Hugáceo Crujiente por su pódcast . 2024-04-21 . www.20minutos.es - Últimas Noticias . es.