Hello there! I’m Independent Photographer David Tesinsky from Prague and I’ve photographed a day in life of the first Cuban trans star and drag queens.
Before Night Falls – story of the Cuban transformers:
Pabo is a boy who sells the fruits in a poor suburb of Havana in a daytime and turns to a charming dancing lady and a queen of the stage at night.
Natasha and Alina, identify as gay men. Still, both challenge gender stereotypes in their own right, making a second living as drag performers in Havana nightclubs.
Malu is a transgender and is homeless. He occasionally earns money by cleaning the streets of Sancti Spiritus in a day and performing as a beautiful singer and dancer in the night. He was sold by his parents at the age of 3. He was a very first transgender person in Cuba and was arrested several times for dressing as a woman.
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Pabo, left, sells fruits and vegetables during the day (Havana)
Pabo is friendly but prefers to be low profile
At night, Pabo slowly transforms into singer “Natasha,” who performs at a Havana nightclub
Pabo is becoming Natasha with the help of his partner and flatmate
Natasha gets inside a taxi as she’s ready for the show
Natasha backstage with other performers
Natasha shortly before the show
Natasha is very popular
Performer “Alina” holds a photo before their transformation
Alina, left, in a duet with Natasha
Malu, who has endured stints of homelessness, is very popular in the town
Malu earns money by cleaning the entire theater before the show
Malu prepares for the show
Malu performs in a Sancti Spiritus club
Malu, who identifies as transgender, has achieved somewhat of a celebrity status in Cuba
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