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| Juliana Awada | |
|---|---|
| Name | Juliana Awada |
| Birth date | 3 April 1974 |
| Birth place | San Isidro, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina |
| Nationality | Argentine |
| Other names | Juliana María Awada |
| Occupation | Businesswoman, First Lady |
| Spouse | Mauricio Macri (m. 2010) |
Juliana Awada is an Argentine businesswoman and public figure who served as First Lady of Argentina from 2015 to 2019 during the presidency of Mauricio Macri. Born into a family of Lebanese and Syrian descent in San Isidro, Buenos Aires Province, she developed a profile in textiles and fashion before moving into public life. As First Lady she engaged in social initiatives, cultural promotion, and international diplomacy, hosting state visits and participating in multilateral forums.
Awada was born in San Isidro to a family with roots in Beirut, Lebanon and Damascus, Syria, and her upbringing intersected with institutions such as the Colegio Nacional de Buenos Aires area and local communities in Buenos Aires Province. Her parents were entrepreneurs involved in the textiles sector, linked to commercial networks in San Isidro and the greater Gran Buenos Aires metropolitan area. Her family connections extended to Lebanese and Syrian immigrant associations and religious communities, including links to Maronite Church and regional cultural organizations. Awada's siblings and relatives were part of social and business circles that intersected with retail centers in Recoleta and Palermo, Buenos Aires.
Awada pursued secondary education at private schools in Buenos Aires and later became involved in the family's textile and retail ventures tied to brands operating in neighborhoods like Puerto Madero and districts such as Belgrano. Her business activities involved management and branding decisions that engaged with designers and firms active on the Argentine fashion circuit, including collaborations with boutiques in Palermo Soho and participation in trade events near the Centro Cultural Kirchner and marketplaces associated with Cámara Argentina de Comercio y Servicios. She worked with manufacturing partners and supply chains connected to small and medium enterprises registered with provincial chambers in Provincia de Buenos Aires and took part in commercial meetings with associations operating in San Isidro Partido.
Awada married businessman Gustavo Capello in 1998 with whom she had a daughter, and later married Mauricio Macri in 2010, joining networks that included the PRO political movement, the Club Atlético Boca Juniors social milieu, and civic organizations centered in Buenos Aires City. As spouse of the President, she fulfilled representational duties at the Casa Rosada presidential residence and participated in official ceremonies tied to national holidays such as events at the Plaza de Mayo and commemorations involving institutions like the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes. Her role brought her into contact with Argentine ministers, provincial governors from Córdoba Province and Santa Fe Province, and leaders of cultural institutions such as the Teatro Colón.
During her tenure she promoted programs linked to child welfare and health services, collaborating with non-governmental organizations, hospitals in Buenos Aires, and philanthropic foundations including groups affiliated with the Cruz Roja Argentina and educational NGOs operating near the Universidad de Buenos Aires campus. She supported campaigns addressing childhood nutrition and early childhood development, partnering with municipal programs in La Matanza and health centers tied to the Ministry of Health initiatives. Awada also backed cultural projects involving museums and galleries, coordinating activities with curators at institutions such as the Museo de Arte Latinoamericano de Buenos Aires and organizers of festivals in Mar del Plata.
Awada accompanied President Mauricio Macri on state visits and summits, appearing at venues including the White House, the Palace of Westminster, and state banquets at Buckingham Palace. She attended multilateral gatherings such as the United Nations General Assembly in New York City and economic forums in Davos at the World Economic Forum. Her diplomatic itinerary included meetings with first ladies and heads of state from United States, China, Spain, France, Germany, Peru, Colombia, and Brazil, and she participated in bilateral cultural exchanges with ministries and institutions such as the Foreign Ministry and national delegations at UNESCO events in Paris.
Awada's public image was widely covered by Argentine and international media outlets including newspaper groups such as Clarín and La Nación as well as fashion magazines and television channels broadcasting from Buenos Aires. Press attention focused on her fashion choices, public appearances at events connected to the Buenos Aires Fashion Week circuit, and her role in state protocol during visits to sites like the Casa Rosada and cultural venues such as the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes. Coverage also examined her influence within political circles tied to the PRO coalition and scrutiny from opposition parties represented in the Argentine Congress and provincial legislatures.
After 2019, Awada reduced public visibility while maintaining involvement with charitable foundations, cultural patronage, and private business interests linked to the textile sector and retail markets in Buenos Aires City and Punta del Este. She remained connected to international cultural networks, participating in exhibitions and donor events alongside figures from diplomatic communities in Montevideo, Madrid, and Paris. Her later activities included engagement with social initiatives and collaboration with civil society organizations in areas linked to child welfare and cultural heritage preservation.
Category:First ladies of Argentina Category:Argentine people of Lebanese descent Category:Argentine people of Syrian descent Category:People from San Isidro, Buenos Aires Province