Mexico's dwarf wrestlers fight back against mockery to become stars

Mexico's "lucha libre," a wildly popular mix of sport and entertainment, long featured midgets and dwarves in a deeply demeaning role: they were "mascotas" -- a word that can mean both "mascot" and "pet" -- for full-size wrestlers (Photo: AFP)

They do not earn a regular salary, but they get medical care, health insurance and a guarantee of at least two events per month, according to the CMLL (Photo: AFP)

Microman greets supporters at the Arena Mexico -- dwarf wrestlers do not earn a regular salary, but they get medical care, health insurance and a guarantee of at least two events per month (Photo: AFP)

The dwarf wrestlers have attracted a loyal following at the Arena Mexico, the high cathedral of lucha libre (Photo: AFP)

Mexican dwarf wrestler Microman is the son of Kemonito, who was also a midget fighter but had a very different career as a "mascota," a sidekick for full-size wrestlers (Photo: AFP)

The eight Micro Stars debuted in April 2017 as the third weight category in the CMLL (Photo: AFP)

Working conditions and the level of respect have improved dramatically since then in the Mexican professional wrestling league, the World Lucha Libre Council (CMLL), says Catalina Gaspar, an activist for little people's rights (Photo: AFP)