Question. On July 6, she will become the first woman to perform at the San Fermín Bull Fair. Year 25 of the 21st century. It was about time.
Answer. It is a historic event. It represents a shake-up in the bullfighting world and also for the advocacy of women's place in this world.
Q. She already led the ranking of rejoneadores in 2017 and 2018. She keeps breaking barriers.
A. I have no limits. I bullfight like a bullfighter, not like a woman.
Q. I recently asked Cristina Sánchez about sexism in the bullfighting world and its opposite, positive discrimination.
A. I can speak about our time. There was sexism in Cristina's time, but currently, I have not noticed any kind of sexism. I am fully dedicated to my profession, work hard, have sacrificed my whole life, and professionals respect me a lot. I feel supported and enjoy the competition. As for positive discrimination, it's a double-edged sword. If you do things well, people may show more support. But when things don't go so well, it's the opposite. I have experienced tough situations with audiences and the press. They highlight mistakes that wouldn't be emphasized with a man. And vice versa, they treat me like a goddess. Everything is amplified at the extremes.
Q. Her workplace, her estate in Huelva bordering Doñana, is a paradise where others dream of vacationing.
A. [Laughs]. Yes, I have achieved one of my dreams. There I have my independence, my stable, my little house, all very humble but in an unbeatable environment, with a natural park and a privileged atmosphere. Everything comes in life. I worked very hard for it.
Q. What is your real summer like and your dream summer?
A. My mind is programmed to live through these tough working summers. I trained with the Peralta brothers, and Don Ángel instilled in me rigor, philosophical rules regarding priorities and values. I don't want the beach, I don't want gin and tonics on a terrace with 20 friends, I hate it. I don't want a life of umbrellas and coolers on the beach. I wake up in the morning, read about geopolitics in the newspapers, cross-check, and then I go ride between 5 and 12 horses daily. I am passionate about DIY. I might fix a chainsaw or build a chicken coop or read Dostoevsky. My mental activity is very high. I am solitary but very free.
Q. You are a multifaceted woman.
A. A little. But with clear ideas.
Q. Is having character confused with having a bad temper?
A. Having character is an advantage. It makes life easier; having a bad temper is a lack of education.
Q. How is your ego and self-esteem?
A. I see myself as a normal person. When someone calls me a master, I tell them not a master, Léa. People are surprised by my simplicity. I am the same as when I was in university.
Q. You studied Biology.
A. Exactly. At the University of Sciences in Montpellier.
Q. Does your love for animals come from there?
A. It comes from my whole life. It is an unconditional passion for all animals. I live surrounded by them. I watch over their well-being.
Q. You tell this to the anti-bullfighting activists, and they don't believe you.
A. There is a lot of ignorance in anti-bullfighting unfortunately. Ignorance is the downfall of our society. In a cultured world, there wouldn't be so many conflicts or inequalities: culture creates wealth. It is a global defeat.
Q. Is doubt the necessary torture for professional growth?
A. The pursuit of unattainable perfection. I say it in French: je me remets toujours en question. Meaning, I always question myself. I am a perfectionism fanatic. One should never believe that things are fine, but that they can be better, as Don Ángel Peralta used to say. In all areas.
Q. What would happen in your native France if cases of corruption surrounding Sánchez were to surface around Macron?
A. The French people would start a revolution. It's in our genes. Either Macron would leave. He would have that dignity that the Spanish Prime Minister lacks. I am apolitical.
THE LAST ONE...
Question. What is the most impertinent question you have been asked? And how did you respond?
Answer. I was asked if I was a lucky person. I replied that if luck is synonymous with dedication, sacrifice, discipline, and years of preparation, then I am a fortunate person.