Lyn May, a Chinese-Mexican showgirl and actress, rose to fame in the 1970s and ‘80s, becoming a legend in Mexico with nearly 100 films and a reputation for captivating both audiences and powerful men. Known as “The Goddess of Love,” her journey is full of drama, fame, and personal challenges.
Born in Acapulco in 1952 as Lilia Guadalupe Mendiola Mayares, Lyn began working young to support her family. She met her first husband, a much older American sailor, while working as a waitress. They had two daughters but divorced after Lyn accused him of abuse.
After the divorce, Lyn began dancing in Acapulco, eventually becoming a burlesque star and TV personality. She gained national fame after appearing on the popular show Siempre en Domingo and became a major figure in Mexican cinema’s “Ficheras” genre.
Lyn later married Chinese businessman Antonio Chi Su, and they ran a restaurant together until his death from cancer in 2008. In a shocking confession, Lyn admitted to exhuming his body and sleeping beside his remains out of grief, a decision that led to family conflict until her mother convinced her to let go.
Throughout her life, Lyn has been surrounded by controversy. She once claimed to have had an affair with a former Mexican president—rumored to be José López Portillo. She also married film producer Guillermo Calderón Stell in 2008, who passed away in 2018.
In 2021, Lyn made headlines again by announcing she was pregnant at 68 with her 29-year-old fiancé Markos D1. However, it was later revealed the pregnancy was a publicity stunt to promote her farewell tour, with Markos denying a real relationship.
Lyn’s appearance changed drastically after a botched cosmetic procedure in the 1990s. Hoping for collagen injections, she was instead injected with baby oil or cooking oil by a scam artist. The damage left permanent lumps on her face, and later surgeries could only do so much to repair it.
Despite personal tragedies, failed relationships, and a disfiguring beauty treatment, Lyn May remains a resilient and iconic figure in Mexican pop culture. Her story reflects both the glamour and the dark side of fame, beauty, and survival.
