Written by BLANCA Rios Montes• 6 March, 2025• 14:06• Curiosities, José Miguel Arruego

Female Bullfighting: Authenticity and Overcoming Barriers

HomeCuriosities, José Miguel ArruegoFemale Bullfighting: Authenticity and Overcoming Barriers

The history of women in bullfighting is a tale of struggle, sacrifice, and survival in a world traditionally dominated by men. This is a brief look at the influence of women in bullfighting on foot.

Women in the world of bullfighting

Despite bans, criticism, and the difficulties faced throughout the history of bullfighting, women have always been present in the arena. However, their role has consistently been subject to social rejection and various prohibitions depending on the era.

As early as the 17th century, records show several women facing bulls, though always on horseback, as it was deemed ‘indecorous’ for them to do so on foot. In the following century, Francisca García and Nicolasa Escamilla, known as La Pajuelera, became the first well-documented female bullfighters. The latter was even immortalised by Francisco de Goya in an engraving from the La Tauromaquia collection (1816), now housed in the Prado Museum.

The 19th century saw the emergence of female bullfighting troupes that achieved considerable success in various arenas. The first of these was led by Francisca Coloma, who acted as a picadora and banderillera around 1840, alongside Jorja García and Ramona Castelló. Later came banderillera Martina García, La Maestra, considered the first woman to fight wild bulls, followed by a troupe led by Lolita Petrel and Angelita Pagés, who made their debut in Madrid’s old bullring on 12 September 1895.

Other prominent names of the era included Dolores Sánchez La Fragosa, Dolores Pretil Lola, Ignacia Fernández La Guerrita, María Salomé Rodríguez La Reverte, Adelaida Ángela Pagés, and Tomasa Prieto. However, the early 20th century saw growing opposition to women becoming professional bullfighters, particularly from male matadors.

On 2 July 1908, Juan de la Cierva, Minister under Antonio Maura’s government, issued a Royal Decree banning women from bullfighting, arguing that it was an ‘improper’ spectacle that opposed ‘culture and all delicate sentiment’. Some, like La Reverte, continued in disguise—adopting the name Agustín Rodríguez to remain in the arena.

In 1934, with the arrival of the Second Republic, the ban was lifted, partly due to a petition led by Juanita Cruz, the era’s leading female bullfighter and one of the most important in history. She gained the support of Marcial Lalanda, fought alongside Manolete, and performed over 50 times in 1934 and 1935. However, following the Civil War, the ban was reinstated in 1940 and remained until 1974.

During this period, Conchita Cintrón became a key figure. Restricted by post-war laws, she could only perform in Spain as a rejoneadora (horseback bullfighter), yet abroad she showcased exceptional skill on foot. She made her debut in Lima’s Acho bullring in 1936 and participated in nearly 800 events across Colombia, Mexico, France, Venezuela, Peru, and Portugal. Though in Spain she was limited to charity festivals, La Diosa Rubia (The Blonde Goddess) shared the bill with legends such as Juan Belmonte, Antonio Ordóñez, Antonio Bienvenida, and Manolo Vázquez.

Another pivotal name in the fight for women’s bullfighting was María de los Ángeles Hernández, known as Ángela, from Alicante. In 1972, she led the struggle to abolish the ban on women wearing the traje de luces (suit of lights). On 10 August 1974, the Ministry of the Interior repealed the prohibition, allowing Ángela to become Spain’s first officially licensed female matador. She made her debut on 15 September 1974.

Her fight paved the way for others, including Rosarito from Colombia, Alicia Tomás (recently deceased), Mari Fortes (mother of matador Saúl Jiménez Fortes), and above all, Maribel Atiénzar from Albacete. Atiénzar fought six times in Madrid’s Las Ventas and five times in Seville, cutting ears in both arenas, before moving to Mexico to take her alternativa (professional bullfighter status). In the early 1980s, she became a key figure in female bullfighting, leading up to one of the most significant moments in its history: the rise of Cristina Sánchez.

Trained at Madrid’s Bullfighting School, where other female novices such as Yolanda Carvajal had also emerged, Cristina made an impact from her earliest public appearances in the 1990s. She won several novice competitions, made her debut with picadores, and triumphed in her first Las Ventas appearance on 8 July 1995. Her alternativa on 25 May 1996 in Nîmes, under the mentorship of Curro Romero and with Manzanares as witness, was a major event broadcast live by Spanish national television.

During her early years as a professional, she participated in numerous bullfights in Spain and Latin America, where she was highly regarded. She performed in Seville’s Maestranza, confirmed her alternativa in Mexico, and shone at Madrid’s San Isidro Fair in 1998. However, she later faced resistance from male colleagues and struggled to secure spots in major fairs. This led to her retirement announcement in 1999, with her final fight taking place in Las Ventas on 12 October.

While Cristina was the first woman to receive her alternativa in Europe, Málaga’s Mari Paz Vega became the first to do so in Spain. Moreover, she was also the first woman to be granted alternativa by another female matador—Cristina Sánchez herself—in Cáceres in 1997. In 2005, she confirmed her status in Las Ventas, becoming the second and, to date, the last woman to do so. A solid and courageous bullfighter, she faced powerful bulls in arenas such as Málaga and Zaragoza, where she achieved triumphs. She also found success in Venezuela, Peru, and Mexico, where she confirmed her alternativa at the monumental Plaza México.

In the 21st century, more women have taken the alternativa, including Raquel Sánchez, Sandra Moscoso, Peru’s Milagros Sánchez, Conchi Ríos—who made history as the first woman to cut two ears from the same bull in Las Ventas as a novillera—Rocío Romero, and, in Latin America, Marbella Romero, Hilda Tenorio, Lupita López, and Karla de los Ángeles. However, none have reached the heights of their male counterparts.

Today, the legacy of female bullfighters continues through promising talents such as Raquel Martín from Salamanca, Estrella Magán from Toledo, and Olga Casado from Madrid. These women aspire to carry forward this story of authenticity and perseverance, keeping alive a centuries-old struggle in a world still largely dominated by men.