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Clowns gather in Mexico City for annual convention

The 21st Latin American convention comes amid reports of clown attacks that has brought bad name to professional clowns.

Latin American clown convention in Mexico City/ Please Do Not Use — Jose Antonio Larraga Montes, 'clown Leperony Bombom', looks at his Facebook account to see the latest threats put out by clown-hunting groups. He's afraid they'll try to hurt him and says that now going out in his clown costume has become stressful. [Natasha Pizzey/Al Jazeera]

By Natasha Pizzey

Hundreds of clowns have donned their biggest shoes to join the 21st Latin American clown convention in Mexico City.

The convention has attracted participants from 14 countries around the region to take part in events such as make-up competitions and to learn extreme balloon twisting.

But there’s a shadow hanging over their painted smiles this year: the trend of menacing clowns threatening the public around the US, Canada and the UK has now hit Mexico.

People dressed as sinister clowns have been spotted scaring the public in various spots around the country.

In retaliation, groups of clown hunters have cropped up on social media, sometimes writing aggressive threats to all clowns.

Al Jazeera caught up with the clowns to find out more.

Latin American clown convention in Mexico City/ Please Do Not Use — Four hundred and fifty clowns gathered this year for the Latin American annual convention. [Natasha Pizzey/Al Jazeera]

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Latin American clown convention in Mexico City/ Please Do Not Use — The clown community uses the event as a time to trade tricks of the trade and show off their costumes. [Natasha Pizzey/Al Jazeera]

Latin American clown convention in Mexico City/ Please Do Not Use — A clown displays Mexican clown feet. [Natasha Pizzey/Al Jazeera]

Latin American clown convention in Mexico City/ Please Do Not Use — Many of the clowns have family members in the same profession and brought their clown-clad children along. [Natasha Pizzey/Al Jazeera]

Latin American clown convention in Mexico City/ Please Do Not Use — A prestigious highlight of the annual clown convention is the make-up and costume competition. Clowns watch each other parade and explain their personas. [Natasha Pizzey/Al Jazeera]

Latin American clown convention in Mexico City/ Please Do Not Use — Clowns come to Mexico from 14 countries in Latin America to take part in the annual convention. Alvaro Patzan, 'Yompiss', travelled from Guatemala to join the festivities for the first time. [Natasha Pizzey/Al Jazeera]

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Latin American clown convention in Mexico City/ Please Do Not Use — Although clowns may have gone out of fashion in many parts of the world, it's not uncommon to see clowns performing around the streets of Mexico City. [Natasha Pizzey/Al Jazeera]

Latin American clown convention in Mexico City/ Please Do Not Use — They often do tricks at traffic lights or on public buses. During a mini-parade around central Mexico City, some of the clowns broke off to walk around and chat with members of the public. [Natasha Pizzey/Al Jazeera]

Latin American clown convention in Mexico City/ Please Do Not Use — This year their worries about the 'killer clown' fad affecting their livelihood has been a dominant theme. Here they're posing for a group photo. [Natasha Pizzey/Al Jazeera]

Latin American clown convention in Mexico City/ Please Do Not Use — Some of the clowns broke off to walk around and chat with members of the public. [Natasha Pizzey/Al Jazeera]

Latin American clown convention in Mexico City/ Please Do Not Use — Mexican clown shoe made of leather. [Natasha Pizzey/Al Jazeera]