Irma Segura
Fiesta Singer and Dancer
Mariachi group, with Margaret, aged 22, and Esther, aged 15, 1945. Margaret and Esther were known as Las Hermanitas Ojedas. (Courtesy of Irma Segura)
Irma Herrera Segura, who has long performed in Santa Barbara’s Fiesta, is the daughter of Margaret Ojeda (Herrera). Margaret was a proud first-generation Mexican American, born in 1923 in El Paso, Texas. Her parents, Pantalon and Otilia, migrated from Durango, Mexico, and settled in El Paso, where Margaret was born. Her brother Frank was also born in Texas, and shortly after his birth, the family relocated to Santa Barbara, where Margaret was raised from the age of two. She grew up in a loving home and was later blessed with three siblings born in Santa Barbara: Esther, Pat, and Santos.
Margaret’s love for music began in childhood, inspired by her father, who played both the violin and piano. He taught his children to play instruments, but it was Margaret and her sister Esther who truly excelled at singing.
In their early 20s, Margaret and Esther shared their musical talents on a local Santa Barbara radio station and performed with a Mariachi group that traveled as far as Gilroy.
Singing was Margaret’s lifelong passion, and she passed this love for music on to her daughter, Irma Herrera (Segura). Together, Margaret and Irma performed at weddings, baptisms, birthdays and the annual Fiesta celebrations throughout Santa Barbara, creating a cherished legacy of music and family. Today, Irma continues to honor that tradition, keeping their voices and spirit alive at every Fiesta celebration.
Irma recalls: “You can tell we loved fiestas. From 1923 to the 1970s. My mom & my Tia Esther participated in fiesta singing with mariachi in their younger days in the 1940s. And Olga & I also were in Baile Folklórico in 1968 to the 1970s at the Courthouse. Also I started singing with mom in a duet, then singing by myself at the Old Mission as you can see one of the pictures is on stage with Father Larry. So we have a history of doing fiestas for years. So we do have a lot of history living in beautiful Santa Barbara.”
Margaret and Esther singing together, 1958 (Courtesy of Irma Segura)
Irma, aged 6, with cousin Lisardo, aged 3, 1956 (Courtesy of Irma Segura)
Irma and her friend, Connie, performing at Mission Santa Bárbara during Fiesta, 1970. They were part of the Ballet Folklórico group at SBCC. (Courtesy of Irma Segura)
Irma performing at Fiesta, 2024 (Courtesy of Mary Robles)