The Ludmila Confessions

Saying hasta pronto to Agustin Lara, photo by the paparazzi

This is how I became a high fashion model.

My desire to savor life was like a flickering light that I may never see again: to feel satisfaction instead of anger, to laugh instead of crying, to be courageous instead of hiding, to face the world, to not fear anyone, and with a new curiosity to respect only death, which then was so far away.  Life! What a magic gift from God. But I was abusing it, and then I became a selfish, self centered person.

No one could tell me what to do, or when, or how.  My father was gone but I possessed some inner elegance, with the pride of my blood, a charismatic charm and the courage to enjoy life, that gift from my Creator.  That made it possible for many men to love me… or did they?  I had no one to back me, except my God.

After the show mama called me at the Channel 2 studio and was very excited: “calm down!” I said, “What’s going on? who died?” Of course that was a joke! When we arrived at the apartment mama was at the door. El Maestro knelt in front of her and kissed her hand, then asked her if he could take me out to dinner and dancing… When he left, I ran to see the dozens of roses of all colors and read the gift card  (which I still have and cherish). It said “These roses will die of envy, with devotion, Agustin Lara.”
My glamorous life continued, of course: T.V. Shows, commercials, presentations, social and charitable events, polo matches, scuba diving, night clubs, cabarets (this was something from the past, especially in Latin countries, where there were cabaret shows of “rumberas” like the most famous Tanco Lely, with striptease but in the most beautiful settings, finely decorated and very artistic, sensual and romantic). We all stayed until sunrise then went on to the Cafe Paris for onion soup, then home, or for some of us to work!

My Italian hairdresser one day offered me a deal: let me cut your long hair and make it very blond and then turquoise with a gigantic oyster shell with pearls in it, for a world hairdressers competition, and you will not have to pay me for your treatments in my salon as long as you live!  I said okay, but not until tomorrow, I am going to the aeropuerto to see off el maestro, mi “esqueleto perfumado”– the perfumed skeleton– Agustin Lara is going back to Mexico.

At the plane side there were photographers (we only start calling them paparazzi after seeing “La Dolce Vita”).  The very next day a telegram arrived: “Missing you terribly, tickets ordered, pick them up when you can. Agustin.” In that time the only fast way to communicate was by telegrams.

My hairdresser won the first prize! I remember my first step on a runway (today they call it catwalk), I moved with a breeze, it was after sunset and the stars were peeking out. The music of the orchestra was playing a sexy, languid gentle rhythm, with violins. I wore my chiffon silk white dress with big handmade black roses on it, oh how vividly I remember that dress! I had black silk high heel sandals on, and the big oyster pearl on my undulating hair was turquoise blue. My make up was shining like a pearl and the dress looked like the waves of the sea.

The applause…That applause, was sweet and addictive, and it went to my head! I was floating on a cloud with no pain, no worries, everything was just fine and good. I had my drink from the chalice of the nectar of the gods.

Horacio came by to bring mama a present for the coming holidays, candelabras (candlesticks) from the house of Cartier, pure silver, each about a foot tall.  How sweet of him, usually the presents are for me! That weekend we did not go to Puerto Cabello with Oscar and the others from the Polo game. Instead, I went down to the Avenue Miranda shopping with Maruza my best friend. There we saw Horacio with his houseboy and maid coming out of Edificio Galipan with lots of presents for everybody. In that time it was a most expensive, elegant little shopping center down on street label, the upper floors had very exclusive apartments. Well, it was the 13th of December and Walter was out of town. He had told me to go out and “don’t feel bad”, since I was young and he was too old for me he would say, “you must enjoy life while you can.”

When I met Horacio, he said “there is a group of my friends going to a private beach, would you like to come with me?” He had been courting me for a while by this time, and so I said yes!
On that Friday we rode in two Cadillacs with two couples in each. We arrived early and unpacked, everyone was very happy and full of joy. Our boutique bedroom was decorated with candles, a table with a bucket of ice for the champagne and crystal glasses, palm plants and fans, like Casablanca! It was private with big windows to see the Beach, what a view! Then we all went swimming and afterward we got into some comfortable clothes. We had lots of cocktails and an exquisite dinner. Afterward one couple went horseback riding by the sea, others went in their room, while we went for a evening walk.
The moon was rising at the horizon of the beautiful tropical beach. As we walked, the waves were breaking under our feet, then rolling back, and we could see the moon reflecting upon the wet sand.
We listened to the surf and admired the view, feeling on our warm bodies the tropical breeze, slightly hot but soft, caressing our skin.