Cristina Sanchez
Cristina Sanchez the first woman bullfighter in modern times. She debuted as a bullfighter in Madrid on February 13, 1993. Christina took her alternativa in Nimes (France) on the 25 May 1996, being sponsered by Curro Romero and whitnessed by José María Manzanares. This was confirmed in Las Ventas de Madrid bullring on the 12 May 1998, by Curro Vázquez y David Luguillano. She was very popular with the spectators.
In 1999 she announced her retirement at the end of the season, complaining that male prejudice against her was so strong she was unable to get the top billings she deserved. Some bullfighters have publicly declared that they would not fight on the same billing as her.
She is married the Portuguese banderillero Alexandre da Silva in 2000 has two sons and runs a family hotel in Portugal and from time to time appears on television as a Bullfighting consultant.
