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MEET THE MEXICANS SHAPING CONTEMPORARY CULTURE

Luxury tequila is just one thread in the rich tapestry of Mexican history, culture, and innovation. In honor of the 80th anniversary of Tequila Don Julio, founded by one devoted Craftsman in Atotonilco in 1942, we’re celebrating the accomplishments of 80 other Mexican visionaries. Those who lead with the heart and not the head to achieve their incredible endevours. The vibrant legacies of Mexico’s many iconic artists, pioneers and innovators are carried on by Mexico’s brilliant journalists, creatives, public figures and musicians of today.

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Elda Bueno (She/Her),
Captain of Escaramuza Flor de Gardenia
The coach who pours her soul into keeping the Mexican tradition of Escaramuza alive.

ELDA BUENO

Captain of Excaramuza
Flor de Gardenia

Victor Barragán (H3/Him), Fashion Designer
The designer bringing the previously under celebrated elements of Mexican culture into the fashion spotlight.

VICTOR BARRAGÁn

Fashion Designer

Orfeo Quagliata (He/Him), Glass Artist
The self-described alchemist who's constantly pushing the physical constraints of glass art.

ORFEO QUAGLIATA

Glass Artist

Tupac Martir (He/Him), Creative Director
The multimedia artist who's pushing boundaries and going against the grain to create thought-provokng visual art.

TUPAC MARTIR

Creative Director

Lydia Cacho (She/Her), Investigative Journalist
The fearless and courageous journalist who continually strives to help others and uncover the truth.

lydia cacho

Investigative Journalist

Fernando Cattori (He/Him), Directory & Photographer
The photographer who first picked up a camcorder at age 9 and hasn't stopped making videos since.

FERNANDO CATTORI

Director & Photographer

Eunice Adorno (She/Her), Photographer
The photographer who uses imagery to document Mexico's unnoticed communities.

eunice adorno

Photographer

Analuisa Corrigan (She/Her), Ceramicist
The experimental artist who found her true calling in ceramics.

analuisa corrigan

Ceramicist

Sofia Aspe (She/Her), Interior Designer
The passionate designer who has become one of Mexico's most prominent design leaders.

sofia aspe

Interior Designer

Camilo Lara (He/Him), Music Producer
The DJ and producer who has always defied convention to forge his own path.

camilo lara

Music Producer

Sofia Cortina (She/Her), Pastry Chef
The chef who strives to use indigenous ingredients to connect Mexican flavors with classic pastry techniques.

sofia cortina

Pastry Chef

Lila Downs (She/Her), Singer-Songwriter
The award-winning musician who's spent three decades keeping indigenous Mexican music alive.

LILA DOWNS

Singer-Songwriter

Jorge Marín (He/Him), Artist
The well-known sculptor who has spent his life pursuing his artistic endeavours.

jorge marIn

Artist

Montserrat Messeguer (She/Her), Fashion Designer
The fashionista living her lifelong pursuit of becoming a fashion designer, showing another side to Mexico through her clothes.

montserrat messeguer

Fashion Designer

Rafael Micha (He/Him), Hospitality Entrepreneur
The entrepreneur who helped reshape hospitality in Mexico despite no previous hotel experience through sheer will, talent and vision alone.

rafael micha

Hospitality Entrepreneur

Moni Saldaña (She/Her), Music Curator & Events Producer
The pioneer who goes the extra mile to champion new talent and gender equality in music.

moni saldaÑa

Music Curator & Events Producer

Victoria Villasana (She/Her), Artist
The textile and street artist who is dedicated to exploring history, tradition and social issues through her craft.

VICTORIA VILLASANA

Artist

Ana Leovy (She/Her), Illustrator
The illustrator who focuses on empowerment and celebrating diversity through her drawings.

ANA LEOVY

Illustrator

Rodrigo de la Sierra (He/Him), Artist
The sculptor who's committed to spending the rest of his life exploring his craft.

RODRIGO DE LA SIERRA

Artist

Carlos Gaytán (He/Him), Chef
The chef who is re0introducing what Mexican food means to the world through unexplored fine dining concepts.

carlos gaytÁn

Chef

Saskia Niño

de Rivera

Saskia Niño de Rivera is the co-founder and spokesperson of Reinstera un Mexicano, a non-profit organization that works with children and adolescents who have been traumatized or scarred by early exposure to the penitentiary system. Niño de Rivera’s own experience with the Mexican criminal justice system as a teenager helped inspire her lifetime of dedication to reforming the system. For her work as an activist, speaker, and author, Niño de Rivera has been honored with numerous awards and accolades.

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Enrique Acevedo (He/Him), Journalist
The Journalist who has covered the most important news around the world, with a commitment to raising the voices of immigrants.

ENRIQUE ACEVEDO

Journalist

Jesus Martinez (He/Him), NFT Artist
The up-and-coming artist who is passionate about the potential for storytelling through NFT art.

jesus martinez

NFT Artist

Diana Zendejo (She/Her), Conservation Scientist
The biologist who has dedicated her life's work to saving Mexico's black bears.

Diana zendejo

Conservation Scientist

Michel Rojkind (He/Him), Architect
The architect who pushes boundaries and the expected by constantly questioning current practices and ways of living.

michel rojkind

Architect

Saskia Niño de Rivera (She/Her), Activist
The activist helping women re-enter society after incarceration.

saskia niÑo de rivera

Activist

Amaranta Gómez Regalado (She/Her), Activist & Social Anthropologist
The trailblazer driving forward human rights and equality for minority communities.

amaranta gÓmez regalado

Activist & Social Anthropologist

Raúl de Nieves (He/Him), Craft Artist
The self-taught artist who celebrates queer culture through life-sized sculptures.

raÚl de nieves

Craft Artist

Alejandro Cartagena (He/Him), Photographer
The photographer who uses his immense talent to investigate social, urban and environmental issues in Latin America.

alejandro cartagena

Photographer

Fernando Martínez Zavala, Chef
The self-taught chef who is dedicated to painstakingly preserves and modernizes traditional Mexican dishes.

fernando martÍnez zavala

Chef

Emma Boomkamp (She/Her), Textiles Designer
The true creative who lives to make things purely for the love and sense of the craft.

emma boomkamp

Textiles Designer

Ferny Ruiz Aguilar (She/Her), Disability Activist & Motivational Speaker
The activist who defied expectations to use her voice to fight for the inclusion of people with disabilities.

ferny ruiz aguilar

Disability Activist & Motivational Speaker

Amaury Barrera (He/Him), Filmmaker
The filmmaker who is constantly searching for ways to transcend himself and his art.

Amaury barrera

Filmmaker

Cecy Young (She/Her), Photographer
The photographer who strives to invent something new each time she picks up the camera.

cecy young

Photographer

Daniel Alonso Rodriguez (He/Him), Activist
Since childhood, Daniel has been focused on making positive changes in the world.

daniel alonso rodriguez

Activist

Rodrigo Feliz (He/Him), Art Promoter
The art promoter who's devoted to creating spaces for emerging artists in Mexico.

rodrigo feliz

Art Promoter

Dulce Ramirez Islas (She/Her), Animal Rights Activist
The activist tirelessly dedicated to ending cruely to farm animals.

dulce ramirez islas

Animal Rights Activist

Fernanda Canales (She/Her), Architect
The architect committed to applying big budget residence approaches to the creation of low-income social housing.

fernanda canales

Architect

Esperanza Rosas (Runsy) (She/Her), Visual Artist
The artist who's committed to challenging Mexican stereotypes.

eSperanza rosas

Visual Artist

Maria Esther Orozco (She/Her), Scientist
The award-winning scientist who has dedicated her career to the study of cellular and molecular biology of pathogens.

maria esther orozco

Scientist

Daniela Villegas (She/Her), Jewelry Artist
The designer who uses jewelry to explore her deep fascination with the world around her.

daniela villegas

Jewelery Artist

Lydia

Cacho

Lydia Cacho has been described by Amnesty International as “perhaps Mexico's most famous investigative journalist and women's rights advocate.” Her fearless reporting, even when it involved some of Mexico’s most powerful business leaders and politicians, has earned her numerous international awards, including being named a World Press Freedom Hero of the International Press Institute in 2010. She has also been recognized for her work as a speaker and activist. Even though her work has also made her the target of violence and threats from those she works to expose, she has not slowed in her mission.

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Jorge Tellaeche (He/Him), Artist
The artist who has been exploring different art forms for years, using his work to evoke dialogue.

JORge tellaeche

Artist

Alfredo Martínez (He/Him), Fashion Designer
A leader in contemporary design, Alfredo is committed to putting Mexican fashion on the map.

alfredo martínez

Fashion Designer

Lupe Mendez (He/Him), Poet
The performance poet who has devoted his life to the spoken word for the past 20 years.

lupe mendez

Poet

Marina de Tavira (She/Her), Actor
The actress wh ouses her craft to create powerful storytelling through film and theater.

marina de tavira

Actor

Alejandro Sandler ​ (He/Him), Fashion Designer, Maker & Creative
The duo behind Hermanos Koumori, a creative project that's devoted to storytelling through fashion, art, and design.

alejandro sandler

Fashion Designer,
Maker & Creative

Gabriela Lopez (Rodrigo y Gabriela), Musician
From busking to world tours, the acoustic guitar duo has turned their deep love for music into an award-winning venture.

gabriela lopez

Musician

Rodrigo Sanchez (Rodrigo y Gabriela), Musician
From busking to world tours, the acoustic guitar duo has turned their deep love for. music into an award-winning venture.

rodrigo sanchez

Musician

Alex Leon (He/Him), Fashion Designed, Maker & Creative
The duo behind Hermanos Koumori, a creative project that's devoted to storytelling through fashion, art, and design.

alex leon

Fashion Designer,
Maker & Creative

Nadio Albertini (She/Her), Fashion Designer
The designer who honed her craft learning embroidery and textiles from her grandmother in Mexico City.

nadia albertini

Fashion Designer

Adriana Barraza (She/Her), Athlete
The triathlete who has dedicated her life to her sport.

ADRIANA BARRAZA

Athlete

Alejandra Quesada (She/Her), Fashion Designer
The pioneering designer who brings innovative technology and new techniques to the Mexican market.

Alejandra quesada

Fashion Designer

Max Barrera (He/Him), Skateboarder
The pro skateboarder who has spent decades immersed in his love for the sport.

max barrera

Skateboarder

Sofia Elías (She/Her), Artist & Designer
The experimental designer who dismisses the rulebook to express herself through miniature sculptures for the body.

sofía Elías

Artist & Designer

Diego Alcalá (He/Him), Activist
The entrepreneur and activist who is determined to give second chances to Mexico's prisoners.

diego alcalá

Activist

Carmen Felix Chaidez (She/Her), Astronaut
The Astronaut and scientist who is living her childhood passion for reaching the stars.

carmen felix chaidez

Astronaut

Santiago Sierr Soler (He/Him), Photographer, Filmmaker, and Creative Director
The creative who marries groundbreaking techniques and a fascination with culture, nature, and indigenous traditions.

Santiago sierra soler

Photographer, Filmmaker,
and Creative Director

Mariana Ruenes (She/Her), Activist
The NGO Founder who will stop at nothing to eradicate human trafficking in Mexico.

mariana ruenes

Activist

Karina Sanchez Huitron (She/Her), Global Brand Ambassador for Tequila Don Julio
The ambassador with a deep-rooted connection to tequila.

karina sanchez

Global Brand Ambassador for Tequila Don Julio

Ximena Neri Barrion (She/Her), Conservation biologist
The conservationist working tirelessly to ensure the revival of Mexico's wolf population, once extinct in the wil.d

Carmen Ximena neri barrios

Conservation biologist

Mónica G. Carter (She/Her), Director
The director driven by a desire to tell visually rich stories with every film she creates.

monica gonzalez carter

Director

SOFIA

REYES

Sofia Reyes is a pop singer and songwriter whose collaboration with Jason Derulo on the song, “1,2,3,” in 2018 catapulted her to international fame. Today, Sofia is a regular on the Latin Billboard charts and just released her second album, Mal Des Amores. With her creative collaborations, and infectious bilingual pop tracks, the young artist is committed to broadening the reach of Latin music to reach a global audience.

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Antonio Abarca (He/Him), Tequila Distiller
The tequila distiller who has dedicated his life to both preserving and pushing the boundaries of his craft.

antonio abarca

Tequila Distiller

Alejandro Jimenez (He/Him), Spoken Word/Performance Poet
The writer using his poetry to humanize immigrant narratives and explore intersectionality.

Alejandro jimenez

Spoken Word/
Performance Poet

Carlos Amorales (He/Him), Multidisciplinary Artist
The artist who develops his own languages to push the limits of communication.

Carolos amorales

Multidisciplinary Artist

Mau Sierra (He/Him), Director & Photographer
The multidisciplinary artist who uses intuition and experimental techniques to create groundbreaking visuals.

mau sierra

Director & Photographer

Othón Nolasco & Damian Diaz (He/Him), 501c3 nonprofit Co-Founders
The entrepreneurs who have made it their mission to provide food security to undocumented workers across Los Angeles County.

othón nolasco

501c3 Nonprofit Co-Founders

Othón Nolasco & Damian Diaz (He/Him), 501c3 nonprofit Co-Founders
The entrepreneurs who have made it their mission to provide food security to undocumented workers across Los Angeles County.

Damian diaz

501c3 Nonprofit Co-Founders

Claudio Limon ​ (He/Him), Artist
The artist committed to approaching art in his own way through a process of "unlearning."

claudio limon

Artist

Fany Gerson ​ (She/Her), Chef & Entrepreneur
The chef who has turned her lifelong sweet tooth into thriving, iconic New York businesses.

Fany gerson

Chef & Entrepreneur

Marisol Catchings (She/Her), Fashion Designer
The self-taught artist and designer committed to representing Afro-Latinx heritage in fashion and art.

marisol catchings

Fashion Designer

Bianca Kea (She/Her), Business Owner
The entrepreneur determined to acknowledge and celebrate Afro-Latinidad.

bianca kea

Business Owner

Maria Mejia (She/Her), Hat Designer
The designer whose love for the art of hat making has never waned.

maria mejia

Hat Designer

Maya Jacquez (She/Her), Food Business Owner
The entrepreneur who is driven by reinvigorating an ancient Aztec meal for the 21st century.

maya jacquez

Food Business Owner

Eric D-Lux (He/Him), DJ
The songwriter, producer and DJ who has dedicated his life to music.

Eric d-lux

DJ

Hector Saldivar (He/Him), Founder & Business Owner
The entrepreneur so enamored with his mother's homemade hot sauce, he's now sharing it with the world.

hector saldivar

Founder & Business Owner

Julio Xoxocotla (He/Him), Bartender
The mixologist with an unwavering desire to innovate.

julio xoxocotla

bBartender

Sofía Reyes ​ (She/Her), Recording Artist
The pop star whose talents are taking the world by storm.

sofía reyes

Recording Artist

Kaia Lana ​ (She/Her), Singer
The singer who is living her childhood goal of expressing herself through song.

kaia lana

Singer

Lucy Angel Camarena (She/Her), Entrepreneur
The entrepreneur committed to spurring economic growth and investment withing the Mexican community.

lucy angel camarena

Entrepreneur

Miguel Cervantes (He/Him), Design Researcher
The Design Researcher who highlights and promotes Mexican design & creatives through art, stories & events.

miguel cervantes

Designer Researcher

Marco Aurelio Dorantes (He/Him), Bartender
The bartender whose fascination for flavor and gastronomy has turned him into an award-winning mixologist.

marco aurelio dorantes

Bartender

don julio

gonzalez

Don Julio Gonzalez began distilling tequila in his hometown of Atotonilco, Jalisco. Don Julio spent 40 years cultivating and perfecting his craft, and as the quality of his product grew, so did its popularity. What began as a few bottles shared amongst friends & family eventually became the global brand we know today, still produced in the highlands of Jalisco.

80 YEARS OF DEVOTION

Honoring the Mexicans leading with the heart to achieve their true potential.

Learn More

PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY

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