How a drag queen and mascot have become TikTok megastars in Mexico

During the interview, Turbulence and Brita shared the story and threw the shade by letting Mexican actors, newscasters and performers smack them. Soon after that, their careers took off.

Before Burrita’s first appearance, Turbulence’s YouTube channel had fewer than 5,000 subscribers. Now, after the show’s rebranding, their channel, including Brita’s name, Approximately 375,000. Over 2 million people subscribe to them on Tiktok – Turbulencewith 600,000 followers and 16 million likes. Brita It has 1.5 million followers and 28 million likes. Their “El Podcast Delmomon“There are over 225,000 subscribers.

The two are so popular that corporate sponsors have started to take part in the action. Soliana, a large supermarket chain in Mexico, splashed images of them On the cake line. Netflix Latin America got them to host a series of videos Promote new Korean drama. The media giant Televisa Included as part of turbulence and brita Comedy coverage of the 2024 Parisio Games.

Over the past three and a half years, the YouTube show has added several new characters, including Brita’s mom and on and off love interest, butch lesbian wolves. In addition to the interviews, the characters do comedy cooking segments and sketches. Even today’s fragmented, messy media environment, program It receives approximately 250,000 viewings on a regular basissome episodes reach Over 1 million.

Drug Performers It’s not new in MexicoBrita is like a novelty Drag the mascot. It’s a long part of Mexican commercial culture, but the mascot promotes everything from Soccer Team In pharmacy And it’s a classic Children’s birthday party – Brita is the first thing to do that with a drug.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcmdxen0bly

Discrimination and violence

As Mexican scholar People who specialize in gender and sexuality research, I wonder how these are LGBTQ+ Characters are very popular for what I find relatively conservative, A deep religious country. but, That’s also changing: Mexico is sometimes called today A conservative country with free law. Still, about 5% of the population Self-identify as LGBTQ+the fight for inclusion, and the more diverse expressions of gender and sexuality – is not the end.

In 2023, a conservative group put pressure on Monterrey’s International Book Fair Cancel reading public short stories By the drag queen. Social Media Influencers’ misogyny, homophobia and transphobic remarks in 2024 Running live on national television. In 2024, San Nicolas de los Garza, a city with over 400,000 people, will also be held. Public performance by Drug Queens is prohibited. Ironically, San Nicolas is in the state of Nuevo Leon. The largest LGBTQ+ group in Mexico.

In fact, national policies protecting the LGBTQ+ community are not necessarily equally applicable. Some states are There are more restrictions than others. For example, the Supreme Court of Mexico Same-sex marriage legalized in 2015three states still do so Ratify it in the state constitution.

May 2025, National Institute of Statistics and Geography, Mexico We have reported these findings:60% of the LGBTQ+ community say they are exposed to some form of violence. Almost 30% have the idea of suicide or have attempted suicide. Over 37% say they have experienced some form of discrimination over the past year. Between 2020 and 2025, 25% said they were denied access to healthcare, education or social support. Hate crimes are on the rise 672 was reported for five yearsA major jump from 92 reported in 2023, including 141 in 2024. The 2024 statistics 55 Murders of Transgender Women.

Remove the mask

While the turbulence and Brita’s rapid success are impressive, not all LGBTQ+ citizens in Mexico enjoy the same level of recognition and privilege. And as the fight for equal treatment continues, the politics of the country has changed over the past decade. Left wing Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador in 2018 He was elected president. His successor, Claudia Sheinbaum, a climate scientist and an intimate ally of López Obrador’s, He was selected in 2024.

However, while both López Obrador and Sheinbaum are more progressive than their previous administrations, neither of them have particularly spoken out about their support for the LGBTQ+ community. For example, Sinbaum, Mexico’s first woman and Jewish president, mentioned her support for the LGBTQ+ community during the campaign, but she has Since taking office, I have largely ignored LGBTQ+ issues..

Until recently, few LGBTQ+ people were pitching their products or appearing on television. However, Guzman, the first mascot to perform on drugs, has not hidden his sexuality despite his costume. Rather, he can be read as a symbol of the ongoing pursuit of equality in Mexico. And perhaps his character visibility will allow him to come out with more masks in the community.

Francisco Tigerinadoctoral candidates in Hispanic Studies, Washington University in St. Louis

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