Lyn May, the remarkable Chinese-Mexican showgirl who captivated presidents and starred in nearly 100 films, experienced a sudden and dramatic turn of events that forever altered her life and career. During the early 1990s, what should have been a routine Botox appointment went terribly wrong, leaving her with permanent changes to her appearance. This incident marked a profound shift in the life of a woman celebrated for her beauty and charisma.
While you may not immediately recognize Lyn May, she is an icon in Mexico, often referred to as “The Goddess of Love.” Her life story, filled with triumphs and challenges, is as compelling as her illustrious career in the entertainment world. From enchanting audiences to making headlines for her controversial personal life, Lyn’s tale is one worth telling.
Born in 1952 in Acapulco, Mexico, Lyn May, whose real name is Lilia Guadalupe Mendiola Mayares, has Chinese heritage that influenced her exotic beauty. From a young age, Lyn understood the value of hard work, contributing to her family’s income by selling trinkets to tourists. As a teenager, she took a job as a waitress, a decision that would lead to life-changing encounters. It was during this time that she met her first love, an American sailor three decades her senior. Despite their significant age difference, the couple shared a deep bond and eventually moved to Mexico City, where they welcomed two daughters. However, after five years, Lyn left the marriage, citing abuse and mistreatment of their children.
Following her divorce, Lyn returned to Acapulco and began working as a dancer. Though lacking formal training, her captivating performances in miniskirts quickly garnered attention. Her natural talent led to appearances on Siempre en Domingo, a popular Latin American television program that catapulted her to fame. This newfound recognition caught the eye of businessman Enrique Lombardini, who invited Lyn to join his burlesque shows at the renowned Teatro Esperanza Iris. Initially hesitant, Lyn faced criticism from audiences for her conservative performances. Determined to succeed, she embraced the burlesque scene fully, earning wild acclaim for her daring performances. Lombardini crowned her “Lyn May: The Goddess of Love,” solidifying her status as a star of the Ficheras films—raunchy comedies popular in the 1970s and 1980s.
As the popularity of Ficheras films waned, Lyn faded from the limelight. However, the late 1990s saw her triumphant return to television, where her bold personality and fearless actions continued to captivate audiences. She appeared in music videos, hit TV shows, and documentaries, ensuring her legacy as a cultural icon.
After enduring an abusive first marriage, Lyn found love again with businessman Antonio Chi Su. The couple married in 1989 and opened a Chinese restaurant in Mexico City. Their relationship remained strong until Chi Su’s battle with prostate cancer ended in his death in 2008. Grief-stricken, Lyn revealed in a heartfelt interview that she had exhumed her husband’s body and brought it home, even sleeping beside his remains. Her candid confession underscored the depth of her love and the struggle to let go. Eventually, with her mother’s support, Lyn said a final goodbye.
Lyn’s personal life has often been a subject of fascination, including her claim of a romantic relationship with a former President of Mexico. While she never disclosed his identity, speculation linked her to José López Portillo. Later, Lyn married film producer Guillermo Calderón Stell, remaining with him until his death in 2018.
In 2021, Lyn shocked the world with the announcement of her pregnancy at age 68. She claimed her fiancé, 29-year-old Markos D1, was the father, sparking widespread curiosity and skepticism. Although Lyn shared ultrasound images and detailed her journey on social media, doubts arose about the authenticity of her claims. Markos later revealed that their relationship had been fleeting, suggesting Lyn fabricated the pregnancy to gain attention for an upcoming farewell tour.
Lyn’s appearance, another cornerstone of her public identity, has also been a topic of discussion. Early in her career, Lyn sought cosmetic procedures to enhance her beauty. However, a tragic encounter with a fraudulent practitioner left her with disfiguring injections of substances like cooking oil and baby oil instead of collagen. Despite attempts to correct the damage through surgery, the results were only partially successful. This experience serves as a cautionary tale about the risks of chasing perfection.
Despite her struggles, Lyn May’s resilience and unapologetic individuality have solidified her place as a cultural icon. Her story, marked by fame, love, loss, and reinvention, is a testament to the complexities of personal and professional life. Lyn May remains a figure of fascination, her life an enduring reflection of the pursuit of beauty, success, and self-acceptance.
