King/Queen Ugly

Amazing stiltwalker

These are two of 20 something photos taken at the Fat Tuesday parade, part of the local Carnaval celebration. This area has it's own set of traditions - one is the crowning of King Ugly who has a beautiful, young female counterpart who is crowned queen.  The parade is unique in that it plays out a very old legend of the "sayacas".
They are men dressed as women using balloons strategically placed to fill out their dresses.  They go to great lengths, using wigs, makeup or masks, gloves and carrying handbags that have confetti and flour in them.  The legend is that a deranged old woman once escaped from a hospital and chased young men around town, trying to kiss them and asking them to dance.  When they refused her, she would throw face powder at them from her purse.  Now the parade starts with young boys running in advance, being chased by the sayacas with the flour-filled purses.  Women also dress up as men in suits, hats etc. and will occasionally stop and dance with the men to the music of the bands playing in the parade.  As you can imagine, bystanders are also floured and confettied profusely as well as pelted with beads and candy. There are floats and the parade finishes up with charros on horseback. It was great fun!