machado

It’s been nearly a decade since the infamous Miss Universe pageant of 1996, where the Venezuelan beauty queen Alicia Machado was crowned. But it wasn’t until 2016 that she became a household name in the world of internet memes.

For those who are not familiar with the story, Alicia Machado became the center of a political scandal during the 2016 US presidential campaign. The then-candidate, Donald Trump, was accused of calling her “Miss Piggy” and “Miss Housekeeping” after she gained weight following her pageant win. Machado later became a vocal critic of Trump and campaigned for his opponent, Hillary Clinton.

The Birth of “Memes de Alicia Machado”

It all started with a tweet from the Mexican journalist Carlos Loret de Mola in September 2016. He shared a photo of Machado with a caption that read: “Alicia Machado after eating all the tacos in Mexico.” The tweet went viral, and soon people all over Latin America were sharing their own versions of the meme.

Some of the most popular memes featured Machado eating, surrounded by tacos, or with her face photoshopped onto different characters. They were often accompanied by captions that made fun of her weight or her perceived lack of intelligence.

The Backlash Against “Memes de Alicia Machado”

As the memes gained popularity, so did the backlash. Many people criticized them for being sexist, fat-shaming, and disrespectful towards Machado. Some even accused them of perpetuating the same kind of bullying that Trump was accused of.

But despite the criticism, the memes continued to spread. They became a cultural phenomenon, with celebrities like Lin-Manuel Miranda and Salma Hayek sharing their own versions on social media.

The Legacy of “Memes de Alicia Machado”

Today, “memes de Alicia Machado” are no longer as popular as they once were. But they still serve as a reminder of the power of social media to both create and destroy public figures.

For Machado, the memes were a painful reminder of the bullying she had experienced at the hands of Trump. In an interview with The New York Times, she said: “Those memes were like a knife in my heart. They made me feel like I was back in high school, being bullied all over again.”

But for others, the memes were a way to express their political views and to criticize Trump. They were a way to take back the power and turn Machado into a symbol of resistance.

Comments from People Who Know It

Lin-Manuel Miranda

“I remember seeing those memes and feeling so angry. It’s one thing to criticize someone’s political views, but to make fun of their weight or their appearance is just cruel. I wanted to show my support for Alicia by sharing a meme of my own.”

Salma Hayek

“I think the memes were a reflection of the times we were living in. People were frustrated and angry, and they wanted to express that in any way they could. But I also think it’s important to remember that behind every meme, there’s a real person with real feelings.”

Alicia Machado

“I never asked to be famous for this. I never wanted to be a meme. But I also know that I have a responsibility to speak out against bullying and to stand up for what I believe in. I hope that someday, people will remember me for more than just those memes.”