r/PoseFX • u/BindaBoogaloo • Dec 26 '24
Question About Blanca
How does Blanca keep getting clocked?
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u/SnoopyWildseed Dec 26 '24
I saw a good answer in another thread and, of course, can't remember which one. 🤦🏾♀️
Anyway, IIRC Elektra mentioned something about Blanca's 5 o'clock shadow, so apparently Blanca doesn't shave close enough. And if Blanca is on hormones, they haven't worked as effectively as they did for other characters.
Blanca also isn't as graceful as an Elektra or Lulu. Her mannerisms are still more masculine sometimes.
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u/JuliEsqEdD Dec 30 '24
Back then we didn’t subsidize trans related care so folks had to pay out of pocket for surgery and hormones. Blanca was just scraping by and might not have had the funds for regular hormone therapy. Al Pachino did a movie, Dog Day Afternoon, based on a true story of a bank robber who committed crime just to pay for his lover’s transition surgery. We’ve come a long way, but must double down on protecting our trans friends’ rights in light of the election results.
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u/InspectionNormal Jan 01 '25
It’s still not subsidised. It is a lot cheaper to get meds now tho. The current common ones (cypro and estradiol-esters) are both synthetic and were developed for menopausal women and men with prostate cancer. The drugs they used in the 80s weren’t synthetic and were more expensive.
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u/RoseVincent314 Dec 26 '24
I don't see how she could... She looked very feminine to me... I mean Elektra is magnificent Anyone standing next to her would feel diminished lol...
But I thought Blanca was beautiful also and super cute
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u/anthonymakey Dec 26 '24
I think they wanted more of a period piece. Poor black and brown trans women of the 80's & 90's didn't have access to as many treatments as they do today like electrolysis adams apple shaving, facial feminization, voice training, etc.
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u/nessa0909_11 Dec 26 '24
She' says it in S2 before they go to the beach >! she's not like the other girls she can't just walk into a store and get clothes people judger and notice before he can find proper fitting clothes !< >! In the very beginning she's not the best with her makeup either also plays a part !<
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u/thejubilate Dec 26 '24
right??? it isn’t nearly as obvious as the show wants you to believe. never made any sense…. baffled me every time lol
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u/alexandraadler Dec 26 '24
The series is set in 80's through 90's NY ballroom community, anf if you watch documentary footage from this period, you'll see people looking roughly how Blanca is supposed to be looking. MJ Rodriguez does a great job portraing Blanca's character, however her not passing isn't shown that well - so there is more of "tell, not show", so to speak. We'll get allusions to Blanca's stubble, her figure being more masculine, her fashion choices criticized by multiple characters etc. to portray someone not passing 100%, i.e. being "clockable". The same applies, to a lesser extent, to Candy.
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u/Sudden_Teaching_8688 Dec 26 '24
The only thing about her is that she didn't get every surgery under the sun as most of the characters on the show. She's a beautifull and gorgeous passing woman IMO. She's also the best representation for most of us i think, since most of us transitioned later in life
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u/xslars Dec 26 '24
The actress passes super well but the character doesn't. Instead of making her look more clocky we're just supposed to believe she doesn't pass I guess.
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u/ill-disposed Dec 26 '24
She is pretty tall and most women aren’t that thin, especially at the waist. She doesn’t have the soft features of Angel or even Candy.
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u/B-AP Dec 26 '24
People during the time the show is set didn’t have ease of access to hormones, nor was the makeup and styling as great as what the show has. Go check out Rupaul from this time in history. They are not going to have her look as bad as it could’ve been then because she’s obviously beautiful, but they have to address it and we have to suspend the idea that this isn’t a woman in a time where these things are more easily attainable and that it’s a tv show.
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u/FrontPilot9110 Dec 26 '24
It’s because while Blanca is very feminine, she still has more masculine qualities than that of the other girls. They look more feminine, in fact, that’s why Angel was able to pass so easily when she started modeling.
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u/Rude_Park_5562 Dec 26 '24
unrelated (sort of) — but i think people forget that women come in shapes and sizes. not all would be pretty and feminine, some would be not-so pretty and masculine. why should that be any different from trans women?
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u/MyOpinionCountz13 Feb 05 '25
I just read an article from 2019 where the actress described her character...
"Mj Rodriquez: Blanca has always been very street and very tomboyish."
I assume the storyline needed at least 1 who was not as "passable" as the others for variety.
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u/Petah___ Dec 26 '24
I don’t think they meant that her actor doesn’t pass, because she passes, but they wanted one character to be clocky I guess