Female fighters often face unique challenges that go beyond the octagon. Tracy Cortez, a rising star in the flyweight division, recently highlighted one of these challenges during her appearance on the JAXXON Podcast – the double standard where female fighters are criticized for caring about their appearance.
“Absolutely. Like, yeah, I’m a fighter but I’m a woman,” Cortez explained. “People like, ‘Ah, she cares too much about her lips.’ It’s like, you guys. Like, yeah, I want to look pretty and why? Like, I’m a woman.”
Cortez, who currently competes in the UFC’s 125-pound division, revealed that she regularly faces criticism for embracing her femininity alongside her fighting career. Critics often suggest that her attention to her appearance somehow detracts from her dedication to the sport.
“I wear lashes. I have hearts on my braids. It’s like, I’m a woman. I want to go in there looking pretty. I don’t want to look like a man,” she continued. “There’s anything wrong with that? Like, no, but I get a lot of for like, ‘She cares more about how she looks than her fights.’ It’s like, because I want to go in looking good to my fight.”
What many fans might not realize is that Cortez even wears eyelashes during her fights – a small but meaningful expression of her identity as both a fighter and a woman. During her fight with Rose Namajunas, one of these false eyelashes famously flew off during the action, becoming a meme. Rather than being embarrassed by the incident, Cortez takes it in stride.
“I still went five rounds with her on a two-week notice,” Cortez pointed out. “It’s like, I still did my thing.”
For Cortez, the ability to express herself as a woman while competing at the highest level of mixed martial arts is important. She explained that after grueling training camps where she’s pushed her body to the limit, fight week and media appearances represent a brief window to reconnect with her femininity.
“For me, it’s just like, yo, I just busted my ass. I look like a bum. My hair was messed up. I was too tired to put on makeup and just dress like a woman, feel feminine,” she said. “For eight, nine, however long it took weeks. It’s like, I want going into my media day, I want to feel my best. I want to dress like a woman. I want to have lashes. I want to wear makeup. It’s like, this is my 24 hours of media day to feel like a woman in my work environment.”
Despite the criticism, Cortez has built an impressive fighting career and a substantial social media following. She’s known for her relentless work ethic, dedication to training, and ability to perform under pressure.
Cortez’s stance highlights an ongoing challenge for women in combat sports: balancing the expectations of a traditionally male-dominated field while maintaining their sense of self and femininity. It’s a reminder that female fighters shouldn’t have to choose between being respected as athletes and expressing themselves as women.
Cortez prepares for her upcoming bout against Viviana Araújo, she continues to push back against these double standards while focusing on her ultimate goal – climbing the UFC’s flyweight rankings and eventually securing a rematch with Rose Namajunas.
