shedding its ultra-religious machista image

[Ju]

• That hasn't stopped gay rights groups in Mexico from celebrating. They've heralded the approval of the bill as an important sign that the traditionally Catholic country was shedding its ultra-religious machista image.

Kindly explain the phrase with underline.

Thanks

[RonBee]

shedding its ultra-religious machista image

shedding - getting rid of
ultra-religious - excessively or extremely religious
machista image - an image that is stereotypically male (ultra male)

~R

[BobK]

'machista' is derived from the Spanish macho, and is pronounced with a /tʃ/. I've heard a hypercorrect form, which treats the 'chi' sound as if it were Italian - /k/.

b