“Without Breast There Is Paradise” more famously known as “Sin Senos Si Hay Paraiso” is changing the game in the world of spanish novellas. Shockingly, it is taking a stand against the world of aesthetic enhancement, one that I feel as become a standard on this platform. It tackles the cruel reality that women across the world have to deal with in order to rise out of poverty in their youth by means of prostitution and plastic surgery. At first the theme, may not have seem appealing to the general public but as the novella continues to unravel we begin to understand that the decision to sell your body is one full of temptation and a commonality in the area. The protagonist Catalina Marin (Young) knows this reality all too well however she is determine to achieve her goals by means of her ambition and intelligence rather than her body and sex appeal unlike her sister who crumble in the world of beauty.
Catalina (Young)
The prequel to this novella was “Sin Senos No Hay Paraiso” translated to “ Without Breast There Is No Paradise”. Originally released on June 16, 2008, the novella told the tragic life Catalina Marin (La Grande). Her dreams were very simple yet it guided her to her death. She just wanted to leave the slums she lived in behind and become a Beauty Pageant Queen. For this dream, she gave away body, for this dream she gave away her dignity, for this dream she gave away her life. After her first breast augmentation, Catalina thought she had the world at the tip of her fingers. Powerful men both in politics and in narcotics drool over her. They waited in line for their turn to have her at a very high price. The dark truth is that she didn't get there by herself but by means of her best friend, La Diabla, who sold her at the highest bidder. Catalina (La Grande) became notoriously known as one of the most high requested prostitutes in Colombia. This world of materialism consume her to the extend of depressing. Once she lost her family, friends, her breast, and the one men she swore to love: she made shocking decision to kill herself.
Catalina (La Grande)
Furthermore, the prequel is highly influential to “Without Breast There Is Paradise” by justifying the actions of Catalina (Young). She has to be strong headed in order to carry out her goal which is to annihilate “La Diabla”. “La Diabla” has her eyes on Catalina and is determine to make her life impossible. This anger towards the Marin family is derived from her jealousy of their natural beauty. Unlike her sister, Catalina (Young) has no interest in the extravagance of the world. Her only desire is to finish the tyranny that the Diabla in her home. Her devotion and motivating are admirable on their own but it's her self confidence in herself and her body that shyness. She could have easily gotten some breast implant paid by a Narco and followed the path of her sister. Yet she refuses to indulge into the world aesthetic enhancements in order to stay true to herself.
Catalina’s message is groundbreaking. You don’t need to have the biggest breast or a million plastic surgeries to make it out of poverty. What you need is self-confidence and intelligence to obtain your goals. It is not that I don't support plastic surgery, but I do strongly believe that you should never get an enhancement to please others when you are perfectly fine in your own skin. Remember your beautiful the way you are.
