Regional/grupero singer Alicia Villarreal lit up the Plaza on Saturday, September 6th, as part of her Donde Todo Comenzó 2.0 Tour. The night was filled with nostalgia and undeniable matriarch energy as La Güerita Consentida reminded fans why she remains an icon in regional Mexican music.
The Plaza was filled with dazzling cowgirl outfits, creating a sea of sparkle and Tejana hats that matched Villarreal’s own stage presence. The crowd gathered multiple generations, from women of all ages, seniors, couples and even children, all coming together, perhaps as fans from Alicia’s origins in Grupo Límite in the ’90s and stardom in the 2000s. Undeniably, the audience embodied how Villarreal’s music continues to resonate across generations, turning the Plaza Theatre into a space of nostalgia and celebration of a powerful voice in regional music.
The show began with a lively introduction by a host who stirred up the crowd with a playful women vs. men cheering contest. It was no surprise that the women’s voices roared the loudest. The host welcomed the audience to a magical night, thanked them for supporting a woman who has carried Mexico’s name with pride, and even announced a special meet-and-greet opportunity after the show for every fan who wanted to take a photo with Alicia Villarreal herself.
The stage set the tone with multiple platforms, a live band at the bottom, towering screens, and a golden throne. The show opened with“Ojo Por Ojo”, as Villarreal appeared at the very top platform wearing a stunning custom pinktraje de charraadorned with rhinestones, a custom belt with her name, and a flowing cape. After thanking the audiencefor years of unwavering support, Alicia Villarreal transitioned into“La Que Baje La Guardia.”
Alicia Villareal then dedicated the moment to the women she has interpreted throughout her career. Draped in a white rebozo, she introduced“Insensible a Ti ”for the third act, a song about a woman celebrating her infidelities.
Villarreal called it one of her personal favorites, admitting with a mischievous tone that even though she had never done it, she had certainly thought about it, saying:“ aunque no lo hice, lo pensé.”It was proof that liberation lies at the heart of her lyrics. Villarreal first rose to fame in the mid-1990s as the lead vocalist of Grupo Límite, a Monterrey-based norteño band that quickly became one of the era’s biggest acts. With hits like“Te Aprovechas”and“Solo Contigo”, her sweet yet intense powerhouse voice set her apart in a male-dominated genre. By the early 2000s, she launched a successful solo career, earning multipleBillboard Latin Music Awards and aLatin Grammy along the way. She became a sensation with the anthem “Te Quedó Grande la Yegua, ”which solidified her as a symbol of women’s empowerment.
Known for blending traditional norteño and tejano sounds with a pop sensibility, Villarreal carved a path for women in regional Mexican music while maintaining a loyal following on both sides of the border. With her Donde Todo Comenzó 2.0 Tour stop in El Paso, Alicia Villarreal not only revisited the songs that defined her career but also reaffirms her status as one of Mexico’s most iconic female voices in regional music.
Photography and story by Viridiana Villa @aynomija