Las Patronas: Real Women Look Like Us

Monica: We’re conditioned. I mean, in our culture, we’re conditioned at a very young age to watch what you eat. Don’t eat too much. Te ves gorda, you got your “lonja” you know, and so all of that just travels with us as we become women. And so a play like this is going to resonate with all of the little Latinitas and all of us women who are now grown. I mean, I can remember having this exact conversation with my mom growing up. Ya no te comas eso porque vas a tener otra lonja, se te va a hacer más grande. You know, things like that.

Mary Ann: Mine was, finish your plate, finish your plate. And I got this thing about always having to finish my plate. And then when it starts to show.

Monica: Up. Monica here. Mary Ann with Las Patronas, we are so excited to be here at the Alley Theater. Who’s been around since 1947, and we are getting so excited about promoting our night with Las Patronas. Yes, here at the Alley Theater, Real Women Have Curves, sisterhood, resilience, and Self-acceptance by Josefina Lopez, directed by Lisa Portes. Our night, Las Patronas February 12th. Join us. It’s a vivacious comedy which inspired the hit film. It follows five Latino women navigating the pressures of body image, immigration and cultural expectations as they work to meet an impossible deadline. The women reveal their hopes and struggles, experience the beauty of embracing who you are and don’t forget February 12th, Las Patronas Night. So excited. Okay, we’re going to do a deep dive. Mary Ann.

Mary Ann: Let’s do it.

Monica: Yeah, these questions are designed to spark conversation about the themes of the story, which are sisterhood, body image, and the immigrant daughter experience. So, without giving away the plot, what we talk about and real women have curves. Why do you think that? It’s still very rare to see this type of play on a main stage?

Mary Ann: Well, I mean, it’s still very taboo, you know, to talk about those type of topics. I think you know what I mean? I mean, we’re conditioned. I mean, in our culture, we’re conditioned at a very young age to watch what you eat. Don’t eat too much. Te ves gorda, you got your lonja, you know, and so all of that just travels with us as we become women. And so a play like this is going to resonate with all of the little Latinitas and all of us women who are now grown. I mean, I can remember having this exact conversation with my mom growing up. Ya no te comas eso porque vas a tener otra lonja, se te va a hacer más grande.

Monica: You know, things like mine was finish your plate, finish your plate. And I got this thing about always having to finish my plate and then when it starts to show, it’s like, then it’s like you get punished, you know? So it’s, you know, to me, it’s like a double edged sword or a double edged sword because let me just tell you that.

Mary Ann: Yeah, no te comas ese a taco, porque te vas a poner gorda, por que no estás comiendo, tienes que comer. Alimentate. Well which one is it. It. Do I, do I not eat. Do I do not eat. Like what is it. What do we do.

Monica: Yeah, but I’m just I’m so excited that, this play is, you know, on a main stage and that we’ve got, there’s going to be a night that students can come and see it, which is so important because like we always say, representation matters. So, you know, I just hope they continue that that this, you know, sparks something. And then the next amazing play with a female cast, you know, comes through, so let’s go to the next one. So the next question morning, it says, how does seeing your specific culture, cultural family dynamics, the good, the bad, the loud help other women feel less alone in their leadership journey?

Mary Ann: You know, all I can say to that is, you know, and growing up, you know, it is very chaotic. Or at least my family was, you know, I am Mexican American. My parents were born in the Valley, and I grew up in the 70s, or I was born in the 70s. And, my parents didn’t teach us Spanish because it was frowned upon. So I didn’t get that opportunity, which was, to me, I look at it as a handicap. I hate that I don’t know it fully, but I love hanging out with you and Anjelica because they’re teaching me. They’re teaching me. And I got to joking, joking. I can understand it, but I did see my mom, you know, she was a leader. And, you know, with all the, you know, trials and tribulations that you see her going through as a woman, you know, in front of you, you know, some of that does then wash down on the daughters. And, you know, it’s just about breaking those generational curses and, loving yourself because, you know, like, as it comes down, you know, they were dealing with the same thing, and then they kind of then it comes down, you know, to to your family. And, you know, I’m sure I did the same to my daughter and you, you try not to, you know, and and one thing, I’m still learning to love myself, you know, and and so I try and do that for not only my daughter but my son as well. We only get this life once, so. So you want to try and do it, but we’re all living it for the first time, you know? So we don’t have instruction manual.

Monica: We we don’t.

Mary Ann: But I don’t know if I got off the question a little bit, but, I learned so much from her and from my ideas and my. Well, it does, you know, to be a strong woman and, they didn’t like, you know, as, as you grow, like, there’s things I don’t like, my modern daughter, things that she’s doing because I’m just not used to them, like I’m not. And it was the same for my mother. She. It was new to her things that I was wanting to go out and do and travel and, you know, see the world and, and, so, you know, I think it’s just a learning, it’s just a learning curve. But we try and try and stay true to yourself, be who you are, and just be the best version of you that you can be.

Monica: Yeah. Question. Next question please. The play is set in a garment factory where women are working toward a deadline. How does the hustle culture they face in the 80s mirror the pressure we feel today as Latina leaders? Are you kidding me right now? You were a baby.

Mary Ann: And then. Well, I was born in the 80s. But if if we’re trying to relate how that hustle mentality back in the 80s, that they were kind of living through how that relates to right now, well, it’s very relevant because I literally was just telling you how I’m yawning all over the place is I’m tired, but that’s because I don’t know how to stop. I don’t know how to stop. I it’s, you know, you wanted it’s like you’re an overachiever. You want to conquer the world. You want to do all of these beautiful things. And then it doesn’t help that you’re surrounded by amazing people that have the like minded, that set that mindset, that also want to do that. And it’s like you have a conversation with someone and they’re like, well, I want to do x, y, z. So do y, you know, let’s join forces. And there goes another project. And so you’re constantly on the go. And it’s like because you on your grandmother, your grandmother was the one that got you started.

Monica: Yeah.

Mary Ann: And and you know, giving giving back. My grandmother always said, you know, if you have the opportunity and make someone smile, do it because you don’t know what they’re going through, which I’m, I typically I live my life like that, you know, if you you can make someone smile, do it. But my grandma always like she always took in every neighborhood kid, you know, even, you know, the the at risk youth. Right. Or the opportunity youth, which we, you know, we call the term is kind of changed a little bit. She would take them in, she’d no questions us and she would find or give them something productive to do. And, you know, several of them to this day still, you know, contact my dad who’s on hospice, you know, and, you know, they live all over the country now, but they remember my grandmother and they remember how she was that positive force that they needed, you know, that just there was no judgment. There was no there was no, you know, you’re you’re you’re cutting up and you’re no good like, none of that. It was like, we love you anyways.

Monica: Let like lifting them up. Yeah.

Mary Ann: We love you. Anyways, let’s figure something out for you. What do you like to do? You like sports? Okay. Well, let’s. She would let them play football in the backyard. You know, it was just she always found something for them to do. Yeah. And so that was very inspiring for me. And she was, you know, one of the reasons that motivated me to start my own nonprofit, Raices Unidas. But, you know, I had my grandmother, but I will say that I didn’t grow up, you know, I didn’t realize that until I was older in life. You know, I was already an adult. I was already a mother. I was already married when I realized, you know, that my grandmother really was my inspiration to create my nonprofit, which is still grassroots in a baby. It’s only six years old. But growing up, I didn’t have, I didn’t. I saw my mother, who was undocumented, who worked in a factory and, she came here at 15 by herself. Nobody, no family whatsoever. And I remember growing up seeing her come home tired from working, you know, whether it’s a shift, double shift in the factory, but also when they would have immigration raids, she would come home and, you know, she would be crying, you know, talking and telling us, my dad, you know, stories of, you know, they took so-and-so and, you know, so-and-so had to hide in one of the the barrels where they because it was a tortilla factory, where they had like the flour and stuff. Like I would hear stuff like that or, or I would remember my mom, you know, because at that time, you know, I’d get off of school like a three or whatever. I was home by 330, but my mom wouldn’t get home till like later. And there was times when my mom would come home early from work and, you know, I would hear her, you know, talking to one of my teachers over the phone. No immigration. And they had to cut early, you know, she had to come home early. I remember hearing all of those stories growing up and just, you know, helping my mom study for her, for her, citizenship test, you know, you know, helping her learn the sentences, memorize the sentences, learn how to write them. You know, all of that just resonates with me now, just with our current political climate, you know, and even just, you know, at my in my past job where I would interact with, you know, families who are in similar situations and then just thinking, oh my gosh, these students, they don’t know if they’re going to go home and they’re not going to have their parents there. You know, those those are still problems that we face today that I faced growing up.

Monica: It’s not pretty. And and I think that’s why you work so hard. You you know, you do you hustle in your nonprofit and your and your daily life. And we’re conditioned that way. It’s nonstop. Yeah. And I think I think it’s because we know how, appreciative we are of this life and how hard our families work validating those people where we are.

Mary Ann: Yeah, validating this job I love it.

Monica: All right. Money. The next question it says body image is a huge part of this of this show. Why do you think it’s so important for us as Patronas to talk openly about self appearance or self acceptance and redefining beauty standards?

Mary Ann: Oh, that’s a big one. That’s a loaded one.

Monica: Yeah, that is a loaded.

Mary Ann: I’m still dealing with body image, but, you know what? I can say has helped me with that. Is the internet like, you see so many different women just out there, like loving themselves at all body types. And I’m just like, she can do it. I can do it. I know I love it, I know what I can do and that I you should love yourself and in any form, you know, and I just. Yeah, with all the magazines, with all the, everything, out there, all the, you know, surgeries and things, which, hey, if that’s for you, that’s for you. I might look into that in the future, but, you know, you should just feel good about yourself, right? You know where you are now. What? You know, all the. You know, because we had babies like your body changes. Like, that was crazy when I was pregnant. You know, but, you know, I think loving yourself is so important, but. And and just try and, like, drown out what society tries to put in is that you have to be one certain way. I mean, there’s some were also different, you know, and you should love who you are. And I think that’s so important. And I work on it every day. I want to hear you answer that question.

Monica: I think that, I struggle with it every day. Every single day I wake up in the in and I’m like, I talk to myself. I have to talk to myself. You know? I have to, you know, get it together. You know, I’m brushing my teeth and I’m looking at like, oh my God, I have I’m struggling guys. Okay. So this year, not 2025 is when I started noticing my gray hairs. Oh, I started noticing the club.

Mary Ann: Yeah.

Monica: You know, and my hair is jet black. I that’s when it hit me. Mary Ann, you’re you’re getting older and I see that. I struggle with that, guys. I mean, yes, you know what everything else. You know, I always teeter totter between 10 to 15 pounds. You know, one day you’ll see me, and I’m like 15 pounds heavier, like model esq.

Mary Ann: Yeah.

Monica: You’re always model at the next, you know, a month later you’ll see me and I’m like 10 pounds lighter. That’s just me. I’ve always, you know, I’ve always teeter totter between those 10 to 15 pounds. Always. That does not bother me. These gray hairs are kick in my behind guys and I don’t know why.

Mary Ann: I know because I could just, you know, I could just throw some highlights in my hair and call it a day, you know, like, blend them in, it’s tough. And then you know why? With men, they’re just like, they look sexier. Yeah. I don’t get it. I don’t get well. So actually some of my because, you know, I do eye color on the regular and it’s, so much maintenance. But so people are like, oh, go gray. And I’m like, no, I’m no, I’m not ready. You know, my hair. So I had a few health issues, you know, you know, throughout the years I’ve had some health issues. And, you know, I lost a lot of hair. And so my hair now, you know, yes, I do wear extensions, but my natural hair is virgin hair I have indicted in years and it’s jet black. And so I am super straight and very limp. Straight limp straight like it has no like I’m just here. I’m just there like, that’s my hair. But you know, with these grays wanting to, you know, show their appearance, I’m like, what am I going to do. Would be beautiful. And with. So that’s what I, that’s what I struggle with guys. It’s not all of the damn road maps that I have on my belly or the logos here and there. No, it’s the grays that I cannot deal with. But we, you know, we have to learn to own it. We I have to own it. But that’s what. That’s where I struggle. I have to own it. Yeah. So I mean, I think that’s all of the questions. We’re going to do like some, some tours around and see what, what the alley has to offer. We’re so excited. So February 12th. Yes. And we’re so grateful to the alley. Our partners, for just allowing us and opening up their doors to host a Las Patrones night on such an iconic film that is now going to be on the stage and open to the public and to our audience. So thank you so much. To the Alley Theater, to Elena for just, you know, coordinating all of this and we’re super excited.

Mary Ann: Oh, one more thing. So Project Prom, one of the reasons all of this came about was because Alley Theater, who partners up with raises money, has, for the last four years for our holiday experience, wanted to join forces for Project Prom because, you know, the idea of of what role women have curves and dresses factory body image. So we collect dresses for Project Prom. So, all sizes, all types of styles. It does not matter because there is a perfect dress out there for every young lady. You know, financial situation should not matter. This is an iconic moment in a young lady’s, history. So yeah, it’s not only dresses, it’s shoes, accessories, glam. It’s also slacks, coats for for our for our young men as well. But yeah, we’re going to do a prom dress stripe, wear a prom attire, drive here at the alley Theater. So if you have any gently used dresses or, you know, slacks, accessories, shoes that you would like to donate, please contact the Alley Theater or contact us on, inbox us and we can give you directions on where to, you know, drop off any donation or you can reach out on our website. We are Raicesunidas.org, but the best way would be to get tickets to the show for February 12th. So use promo code less patron on us. Yes Las Patronas. And yeah. So February 12th and we are going to have a VIP reception. So you could bring the dresses and any of the accessories, accessories, shoes and Marianne can you know, show we for that. So yeah, it’ll be here in the VIP section. So we’re super excited about that. We’re super excited about you joining us for this amazing night. It’s going to be.

Monica: And then there’s going to be a post a post show with the iconic also doctor Laura Murillo. So she is an amazing amazing author leader community leader. So so show with Las Patronas post show with Laura Murillo, a doctor, Laura Murillo. So hopefully you can join us. It’s going to be an eventful night out in the town with Las Patronas and Doctor Laura. Yeah, so we’ll see you there by.