Irma Serrano, the Mexican singer, actress, and politician who was known as La Tigresa (The Tigress), died on March 1, 2023, at the age of 89. According to Foro TV, a Mexican news station, she suffered a fatal heart attack in Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas, Mexico. Here is what we know about her life, career, and death.
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A Star of Music, Film, and Theater
Irma Serrano was born on December 9, 1933, in Comitán, Chiapas, Mexico. She began her career as a dancer and a singer of traditional Mexican ranchera music in the 1960s. She had a distinctive voice and style that made her stand out among other performers. Some of her popular songs include Cancion De Un Preso, El Amor De La Paloma, and La Martina.
She also ventured into acting, appearing in several television shows and low-budget movies in the 1970s. She starred in films such as La Tigresa, Lola La Trailera, and La Venganza de Gabino Barrera. She often played strong and rebellious women who defied the norms of society. She also ran the Teatro Fru Fru theater in Mexico City, where she produced and directed several stage plays, such as Lucrecia Borgia, Yocasta Reina, and A Calzón Amarrado.
A Controversial Lover and Politician
Irma Serrano was not only famous for her artistic talents, but also for her personal life. She had a long-running affair with then-President Gustavo Díaz Ordaz, who was married and served as president from 1964 to 1970. Serrano confirmed their romantic relationship in her book A Calzón Amarrado, where she revealed intimate details of their encounters. She also claimed that she influenced some of his political decisions, such as the 1968 Tlatelolco massacre, where hundreds of student protesters were killed by the army.
In the 1990s, Serrano entered politics herself, becoming a senator for her home state of Chiapas. She was a member of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), the dominant party in Mexico for most of the 20th century. She advocated for the rights of the indigenous people and the poor, and opposed the Zapatista uprising that demanded social justice and autonomy for Chiapas. She was also involved in several scandals and controversies, such as being accused of corruption, tax evasion, and fraud. In 2009, she was arrested and taken into custody by federal authorities, but was later released.
A Legacy of Passion and Courage
Irma Serrano died on Wednesday morning, leaving behind a legacy of passion and courage. She was a woman who broke barriers and challenged conventions, both in her artistic and political endeavors. She was a symbol of Mexican culture and identity, and a source of inspiration and admiration for many. She was also a controversial and divisive figure, who faced criticism and backlash for her actions and opinions. She was, in short, a legend who will be remembered for generations.
