Few names capture the drama of Mexico’s golden cabaret era like Lyn May. Born Lilia Guadalupe Mendiola Mayares, she rose from a poor village upbringing to become one of the most recognized vedettes of Ficheras cinema, and her story remains one of resilience, reinvention, and controversy decades later.
Biography Table
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Lilia Guadalupe Mendiola Mayares |
| Nickname/Stage Name | Lyn May, “The Goddess of Love” |
| Date of Birth | December 12, 1952 |
| Place of Birth | Tecpan de Galeana, Nuxco, Guerrero, Mexico |
| Age | 73 |
| Nationality | Mexican |
| Ethnicity | Chinese immigrant ancestry (paternal) |
| Profession/Occupation | Actress, exotic dancer, vedette, singer |
| Years Active | 1970s–present |
| Genre/Field | Ficheras cinema, erotic comedy, cabaret |
| Children | Two daughters, one son (accounts vary) |
| Notable Works | Las Ficheras, Noches de Cabaret, Las Cariñosas, Bellas de Noche |
| Social Media | Active on Instagram |
Early Life in Guerrero and a Forced Marriage
Lyn May’s early years were shaped by hardship rather than glamour. Raised in the small village of Tecpan de Galeana near Nuxco, Guerrero, she was the eldest of five children and never attended school, spending her childhood years selling sweets and souvenirs to tourists alongside her grandmother.
Her path changed dramatically when, at just 13 years old, she was pursued by a much older man — accounts describe him as either a 40 or 42-year-old American sailor. This underage, forced marriage led to a relationship marked by domestic violence and, according to her own account, rape, before she left after five years with two daughters.
Following the collapse of this early marriage, she moved to Mexico City to rebuild her life. That relocation would prove pivotal, placing her at the center of the capital’s nightlife scene just as opportunity in dance and entertainment began to open up for her.
Career: From Dancer to Ficheras Cinema Icon
Lyn May’s professional story begins not in film, but on stage. In Acapulco, she trained in tribal, Hawaiian, and Tahitian dance styles, later performing at the cabaret El Zorro and Tropicana cabaret alongside comedian Germán Valdés (Tin Tan). Businessman Enrique Lombardini became her first manager, guiding her early stage career.
Her First Nude Performance and Rise to Fame
Her defining career moment came when Teatro Esperanza Iris hired her, but audiences initially booed her act. A week later, pressured toward more revealing costumes, she gave her first nude performance — a moment that turned into a sensation and launched the stage name Lyn May. Filmmaker Alberto Isaac and TV host Raúl Velasco helped bring her into the spotlight, including an appearance on Siempre en Domingo.
Film and Television Highlights
Between 1977 and 1990, Lyn May became a leading figure of Ficheras cinema, headlining nearly 100 Mexican films. Her breakout role came in 1978’s Carnival Nights, followed by The Loving Ones (1979) and Spicy Chile (1983). Other credits include Las Ficheras, Noches de Cabaret, Las Cariñosas, Burlesque, and Las Muñecas del King Kong. In 1991, she crossed into telenovela with Televisa’s Yo no creo en los hombres.
Later Career Comebacks
Lyn May’s career resurfaced repeatedly in later decades. In 1998, she appeared in Plastilina Mosh’s music video “Mr. P. Mosh,” and in 2016 she featured in Mon Laferte’s “Si tú me quisieras.” She also had a recurring role in the series Tívoli, offering a nostalgic portrayal of 1940s–50s Mexico City nightlife. In 2019, the documentary Bellas de Noche (Beauties of the Night) chronicled her story alongside fellow vedettes Rossy Mendoza, Wanda Seux, and Princesa Yamal.
Personal Life: Marriages, Children and Loss
Accounts of Lyn May’s family life differ between sources, with some citing two daughters and a son, and others describing three children overall from her early marriage. She has spoken openly about the grief of losing a child, reportedly staying beside the corpse before the body was later exhumed.
Her romantic history includes a long relationship and later marriage to Antonio Chi Su, a Chinese restaurant businessman on Mexico City’s Avenida Bucareli, whom she married around 1988–1989. After his 2004 diagnosis of prostate cancer and his death in 2008, she inherited the family restaurant.
She was also linked to film producer Guillermo Calderón Stell in a marriage lasting roughly a decade (2008–2018), and has referenced a past affair with an unnamed former Mexican president, widely believed in public discussion to be José López Portillo.
Lyn May Face: The Plastic Surgery Controversy
Among the most searched topics tied to her name is what happened to Lyn May’s face. In the 1990s, acting on a friend’s advice, she reportedly received facial injections she believed contained collagen — but which allegedly involved substances like water, baby oil, and cooking oil instead.
The result was serious facial abscesses and, ultimately, permanent disfigurement. Lyn May has said the ordeal caused severe physical pain and years of tabloid scrutiny, leading her at one point to contemplate suicide. She underwent over 30 corrective surgeries in the years that followed.
Despite the trauma, she has since said she forgave the person responsible for the botched procedure. Photos comparing her before the incident to her appearance today continue to circulate widely, fueling ongoing search interest in “Lyn May antes y después” and similar queries.
The Pregnancy Announcement at Age 68
In August 2021, Lyn May announced on Instagram that, at age 68, she was three months pregnant — a claim tied to Los Angeles-based musician Marcos Hernández (Markos D1), her partner at the time, whom she met while filming a 2019 music video titled “Drunk” (Borracho).
The announcement referenced a single drunken encounter and initially avoided confirming a romantic relationship, framing the pregnancy as unplanned. A wedding was reportedly planned for February 14, 2022, with a due date around January 12, 2022, but the story never received medical confirmation.
The claim was widely reported partly because, if true, it would have surpassed Maria del Carmen Bousada Lara, who gave birth at 66 years and 358 days — a Guinness World Record. However, the story ultimately fizzled out with no baby ultrasound scan or verified update ever surfacing, and it’s now largely viewed as a publicity angle rather than a confirmed pregnancy.
Social Media Presence and Public Reactions
Lyn May remains active on Instagram, where she posts about dancing, performing, and her vegetarian diet, drawing a mix of reactions from followers. Her follower count has been reported at figures like 163,000 and later around 464,000, reflecting sustained public interest.
Reactions to her online presence are often mixed. Some posts draw sympathy tied to her medical-negligence backstory, while others attract mockery over her appearance, particularly when before-and-after images resurface on X/Twitter and other platforms, reigniting discussion of the 1990s injection incident.
Discography
Beyond film, Lyn May has released music across several decades, blending regional Mexican and norteño styles with earlier studio work.
| Release | Year | Label/Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Infiel | 1979 | Musart/Trébol (Studio album) |
| Pecado | 1984 | Studio album |
| Vividor | 1985 | CBS |
| La Reina del Corrido | 1987 | Studio album |
| La loba | 2021 | Single |
| Qué le pasa a Lupita | 2022 | Single (with “CLARO QUE YES”) |
| El ladrón | 2024 | Single |
| A Bailalar / Envidiosa / La cariñosa | Recent | Regional Mexican/norteño singles |
FAQs
Who is Lyn May’s real name?
Her birth name is Lilia Guadalupe Mendiola Mayares. She adopted the stage name “Lyn May” after her first nude stage performance in the 1970s propelled her to fame in Mexico’s cabaret and Ficheras cinema scene.
What happened to Lyn May’s face?
In the 1990s, she received facial injections she believed were collagen, which instead reportedly involved substances like baby oil and cooking oil. This caused serious facial abscesses and permanent disfigurement, leading to more than 30 corrective surgeries.
Did Lyn May really get pregnant at 68?
In August 2021, Lyn May announced a pregnancy at age 68 on Instagram, tied to partner Marcos Hernández. The claim was never medically confirmed, and no ultrasound or birth was ever verified, leading many to view it as a publicity stunt.
How many children does Lyn May have?
Reports vary, with most accounts citing two daughters and a son from her early marriage, though some sources describe three children in total. She has also spoken publicly about the grief of losing a child.
What did Lyn May look like before plastic surgery?
Before the 1990s facial injection incident, Lyn May was known for a naturally striking appearance that made her a leading sex symbol of Ficheras cinema throughout the 1970s and 1980s, prior to the disfigurement that followed.
Is Lyn May still performing today?
Yes. Lyn May remains active in entertainment and on social media, regularly sharing dance content and updates with fans on Instagram, and continues to release new music, including singles as recent as 2024.
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