(reviewed by JD Jung)
#CommissionsEarned
Upon arriving in New York City from Chile, Iván became Monalisa and worked the streets of New York City. She befriended other Latin American transgender prostitutes, and though they were from different countries of origin, they understood each other and held a unique bond.
Though this is a work of fiction, these fourteen stories are based on Monalisa’s life and those of her friends. They take place over a span of several decades and each from a particular perspective of a character. These are stories of survival, drugs, violence and even death, but also of dreams, hopes and sisterhood.
As Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar states in the introduction (which, by the way, is a must-read), the author doesn’t portray these women as victims. I agree, as I feel that though they face hardships and danger which she doesn’t sugarcoat, she characterizes them as women of strength and determination.
I can’t pick a favorite story, as I found all of them captivating. Iván Monalisa takes us into a world that few of us ever see, with authenticity and grit, and some humor sprinkled in.
Las Biuty Queens is for those interested in exploring the human condition, and reading about the lives of those who have chosen a particular path that we may not quite understand but are willing to learn about.
