Elsa Aguirre felt excluded in childhood for darker skin: 'My mom said, I think they switched her'

Mexican cinema icon Elsa Aguirre, celebrated for her beauty during the Golden Age of Mexican film, recalled feeling set apart during her childhood because she was the only sibling with a darker skin tone. This distinction led to her feeling a sense of exclusion within her own family.

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I think they switched her; this is not my daughter.

In an interview conducted a few years prior, Aguirre shared an anecdote from her mother, Emma Juárez. Her mother, upon seeing Aguirre as a baby, expressed surprise at her darker complexion, jokingly remarking, "I think they switched her; this is not my daughter." Aguirre noted that her mother used to affectionately call her "la negrita" (the little dark one).

Aguirre's parents came from different backgrounds: her mother hailed from a wealthy family, while her father's origins were humble. The actress remembered that the distinctions her parents made between her and her siblings made her feel segregated. She described living in a separate world, unsure if she was distancing herself or if her family was creating that separation.

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That 'negrita,' they called me, 'la negrita.'

Despite these feelings of separation, Aguirre emphasized that she always maintained respect and obedience towards her parents. The actress, who passed away at 95, was known for her roles in films like "Cuidad con el amor" and "Una mujer decente."

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They separated me a little... I felt, either I separated myself or I separated myself from them, but without ceasing to respect and obey my parents, above all things.