María Juliana Awada (born 3 April 1974) is an Argentine businesswoman who served as the
First Lady of Argentina
First Lady or First Gentleman of Argentina ( es, Primera dama o Primer caballero de Argentina), also known as First Lady or First Gentleman of the Argentine Nation ( es, Primera dama o Primer caballero de la Nación Argentina), is the unofficial an ...
from 2015 to 2019. She is the first woman in this role to have received the distinction of the
Knight Grand Cross
Grand Cross is the highest class in many orders, and manifested in its insignia. Exceptionally, the highest class may be referred to as Grand Cordon or equivalent. In other cases, there may exist a rank even higher than Grand Cross, e.g. Grand ...
of the
Order of Isabella the Catholic
The Order of Isabella the Catholic ( es, Orden de Isabel la Católica) is a Spanish civil order and honor granted to persons and institutions in recognition of extraordinary services to the homeland or the promotion of international relations a ...
in 70 years and the second in history after
Eva Perón
María Eva Duarte de Perón (; ; 7 May 1919 – 26 July 1952), better known as just Eva Perón or by the nickname Evita (), was an Argentine politician, activist, actress, and philanthropist who served as First Lady of Argentina from June 194 ...
in 1947. In 2016, she was chosen as the most elegant First Lady in the world by ''
¡Hola!
''¡Hola!'' is a weekly Spanish-language magazine specializing in celebrity news, published in Madrid, Spain, and in 15 other countries, with local editions in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Greece, Indonesia, Mexico, Pakistan, Peru ...
'' magazine.
Background
Awada was born in
Villa Ballester
Villa Ballester is a city located in the northern Greater Buenos Aires urban area and it is part of the General San Martín Partido in Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. It is served by the Línea Mitre commuter railway with its station also nam ...
on 3 April 1974, the daughter of Ibrahim Awada, a
Lebanese Muslim
Muslims ( ar, المسلمون, , ) are people who adhere to Islam, a monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic tradition. They consider the Quran, the foundational religious text of Islam, to be the verbatim word of the God of Abrah ...
immigrant from the city of
Baalbek
Baalbek (; ar, بَعْلَبَكّ, Baʿlabakk, Syriac-Aramaic: ܒܥܠܒܟ) is a city located east of the Litani River in Lebanon's Beqaa Valley, about northeast of Beirut. It is the capital of Baalbek-Hermel Governorate. In Greek and Roman ...
, and Elsa Esther (née Baker), of
Syrian
Syrians ( ar, سُورِيُّون, ''Sūriyyīn'') are an Eastern Mediterranean ethnic group indigenous to the Levant. They share common Levantine Semitic roots. The cultural and linguistic heritage of the Syrian people is a blend of both indi ...
descent.
She is the sister of entrepreneurs
Zoraida and
Daniel Awada, artist
Leila Awada, and actor
Alejandro Awada
Alejandro Awada (; December 7, 1961) is an Argentine character actor of Syrian and Lebanese descent. He has appeared in a great number of television series, programmes and onstage.
Personal life
Awada was born on 3 December 1961 in Villa Bal ...
.
During her childhood and adolescence, she repeatedly traveled with her mother to
Europe
Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is also considered a Continent#Subcontinents, subcontinent of Eurasia ...
and the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
, mainly to
Paris
Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), making it the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2020. S ...
,
London
London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...
and
New York
New York most commonly refers to:
* New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York
* New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States
New York may also refer to:
Film and television
* '' ...
, looking for fashion collections. After completing her secondary education at a bilingual
English
English usually refers to:
* English language
* English people
English may also refer to:
Peoples, culture, and language
* ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England
** English national ide ...
school in
Belgrano, the now defunct Chester College, she honed her knowledge of that language in the city of
Oxford
Oxford () is a city in England. It is the county town and only city of Oxfordshire. In 2020, its population was estimated at 151,584. It is north-west of London, south-east of Birmingham and north-east of Bristol. The city is home to the ...
,
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...
.
As soon as she returned to
Argentina
Argentina (), officially the Argentine Republic ( es, link=no, República Argentina), is a country in the southern half of South America. Argentina covers an area of , making it the second-largest country in South America after Brazil, th ...
, she was actively involved in the family business, a textile company set up by her father in the 1960s. In 1997, she married Gustavo Capello, whom she would divorce one year later. Later, she would enter into a relationship with the
Belgian
Belgian may refer to:
* Something of, or related to, Belgium
* Belgians, people from Belgium or of Belgian descent
* Languages of Belgium, languages spoken in Belgium, such as Dutch, French, and German
*Ancient Belgian language, an extinct languag ...
businessman Bruno Laurent Barbier, whom she had met on a flight of
Air France
Air France (; formally ''Société Air France, S.A.''), stylised as AIRFRANCE, is the flag carrier of France headquartered in Tremblay-en-France. It is a subsidiary of the Air France–KLM Group and a founding member of the SkyTeam global air ...
. Despite having lived together for almost ten years, they never married, but had a daughter named Valentina.
First Lady of Buenos Aires
Awada Macri and
Mauricio Macri
Mauricio Macri (; born 8 February 1959) is an Argentine businessman and politician who served as the President of Argentina from 2015 to 2019. He has been the leader of the Republican Proposal (PRO) party since its founding in 2005. He previou ...
began a relationship in 2009. They wed on 16 November 2010 and have one daughter, Antonia, born in 2011. In an interview with ''
La Nación
''La Nación'' () is an Argentine daily newspaper. As the country's leading conservative newspaper, ''La Nación''s main competitor is the more liberal '' Clarín''. It is regarded as a newspaper of record for Argentina.
Its motto is: "''La Nac ...
'' newspaper in 2012, she stated that her father is a
liberal Muslim
Liberalism and progressivism within Islam involve professed Muslims who have created a considerable body of Progressivism, progressive thought about Islamic understanding and practice. Their work is sometimes characterized as "Progressivism, prog ...
who did not object to one of Juliana's sisters marrying a
Christian
Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρι ...
and the other a
Jew
Jews ( he, יְהוּדִים, , ) or Jewish people are an ethnoreligious group and nation originating from the Israelites Israelite origins and kingdom: "The first act in the long drama of Jewish history is the age of the Israelites""Th ...
.
Role in 2015 Argentine general election
Mrs. Macri played an important role during the campaign of her husband,
Mauricio Macri
Mauricio Macri (; born 8 February 1959) is an Argentine businessman and politician who served as the President of Argentina from 2015 to 2019. He has been the leader of the Republican Proposal (PRO) party since its founding in 2005. He previou ...
, in the
presidential elections
A presidential election is the election of any head of state whose official title is President.
Elections by country
Albania
The president of Albania is elected by the Assembly of Albania who are elected by the Albanian public.
Chile
The pr ...
. At first with an extremely low profile, Juliana always differed from the other wives of the presidential candidates, who had been much more prominent in the campaigns of their husbands. But the campaign advisers sought to turn their profile and make it much more visible for the campaign. She joined the campaign of
Maria Eugenia Vidal in the
Province of Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires (), officially the Buenos Aires Province (''Provincia de Buenos Aires'' ), is the largest and most populous Argentine province. It takes its name from the city of Buenos Aires, the capital of the country, which used to be part of th ...
in a tour of the party of
José C. Paz, where they visited the Zonal Hospital of Agudos Governor Domingo Mercante, and talked with neighbors and merchants in Plaza Manuel Belgrano of that locality. Awada was concerned about the hospital's building situation.
She was present during the
presidential debate that took place in the Law College of the
University of Buenos Aires
The University of Buenos Aires ( es, Universidad de Buenos Aires, UBA) is a public university, public research university in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Established in 1821, it is the premier institution of higher learning in the country and one o ...
, between her husband
Mauricio Macri
Mauricio Macri (; born 8 February 1959) is an Argentine businessman and politician who served as the President of Argentina from 2015 to 2019. He has been the leader of the Republican Proposal (PRO) party since its founding in 2005. He previou ...
against the candidate
Daniel Scioli
Daniel Osvaldo Scioli (, ; born 13 January 1957) is an Argentine politician, sportsman, and businessman. He was Vice President of Argentina from 2003 to 2007 and Governor of Buenos Aires Province from 2011 to 2015. From 2020 to 2022 he was Argen ...
. After the debate, the wives of both candidates came onstage to accompany their husbands, and Awada and Macri performed an intense kiss that was later replicated by the media in Argentina.
Human Trafficking
Juliana Awada, as a textile bussinesswoman, was involved in a human trafficking scandal in 2010. Her companies Awada and Cheeky often buyed their clothes to illegal factories where slavery was commonly used. The first complaint made by the organization La Alameda against the firm Awada in which it is accused of violating the migration law (art 117 to 121) and the home work law (art 4, 35 and 36) in the workshops where they make their garments and for which he is jointly and severally responsible, was carried out on October 18 before the Federal Prosecutor's Office of Patricio Evers and immediately after it fell into the mega-cause that at that time was administered by Dr. Oyarbide.
Given the passivity of the Federal Court in response to the complaint, in March 2008 they decided to film, together with teams from
América TV
América TV (call sign LS 86 TV) is an Argentine television station broadcasting on channel 2 in La Plata, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina, and one of Argentina's five national television networks. It is owned by Grupo América.
América T ...
, a report on various clandestine workshops in the city of
San Martín
San Martín or San Martin may refer to:
People Saints
* Saint Martin (disambiguation)#People, name of various saints in Spanish
Political leaders
*Vicente San Martin (1839 -1901), Military, National hero of Mexico.
*Basilio San Martin (1849 ...
, near Buenos Aires, that worked for major brands, including Awada. These investigations were broadcast on the air on March 12, 2008.
On May 14, 2008, a list of 30 provincial workshops that work for major brands were denounced before the Deputy Minister of Labor Gastón Guarracino, which included the two Awada workshops in Villa Ballester that had already been denounced and filmed in 2006 and 2008.
Most of these denounces fell moot after Awada became the wife of Mauricio Macri, which was then Buenos Aires head of government, and later president of Argentina, and has causes including pressures and links meddling with the Judicial Power in Argentina.
First Lady of Argentina
In the
2015 presidential elections held on 25 October,
Mauricio Macri
Mauricio Macri (; born 8 February 1959) is an Argentine businessman and politician who served as the President of Argentina from 2015 to 2019. He has been the leader of the Republican Proposal (PRO) party since its founding in 2005. He previou ...
, candidate of the alliance
Cambiemos
( en, Together for Change) is a centre-right political coalition in Argentina. It was created in 2015 as Cambiemos ( en, Let's Change), and renamed in 2019. It is composed of Republican Proposal, Radical Civic Union, Civic Coalition ARI and ...
''(Let's Change)'', formed by the
Republican Proposal
Republican Proposal ( es, link=no, Propuesta Republicana) is a centre-right
political party in Argentina. It is usually referred to by its abbreviation, PRO. PRO was formed as an electoral alliance in 2005, but was transformed into a national p ...
, the
Radical Civic Union
The Radical Civic Union ( es, Unión Cívica Radical, UCR) is a centrist and social-liberal political party in Argentina. It has been ideologically heterogeneous, ranging from social liberalism to social democracy. The UCR is a member of the So ...
and the
Civic Coalition ARI
Civic Coalition ARI ( es, Coalición Cívica ARI, CC-ARI), until October 2009 known as Support for an Egalitarian Republic ( es, Afirmación para una República Igualitaria, ARI), is a centrist political party in Argentina founded in 2002 by Eli ...
, came second with 34.33% of the vote, while the candidate of the
Front for Victory
The Front for Victory ( es, Frente para la Victoria, FPV) was a centre-left Peronist electoral alliance in Argentina, and is formally a faction of the Justicialist Party. Former presidents Néstor Kirchner and Cristina Fernández de Kirchner wer ...
,
Daniel Scioli
Daniel Osvaldo Scioli (, ; born 13 January 1957) is an Argentine politician, sportsman, and businessman. He was Vice President of Argentina from 2003 to 2007 and Governor of Buenos Aires Province from 2011 to 2015. From 2020 to 2022 he was Argen ...
, it outstripped by little difference. In a
historic ballotage, the first to be held in
Argentina
Argentina (), officially the Argentine Republic ( es, link=no, República Argentina), is a country in the southern half of South America. Argentina covers an area of , making it the second-largest country in South America after Brazil, th ...
, Mauricio Macri won with 51.34% of the votes, becoming the successor of
Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner
Cristina is a female given name, and it is also a surname. Notable people with the name include:
Given name
*Cristina (daughter of Edward the Exile), 11th-century English princess
*Cristina (singer), Cristina Monet-Palaci (1956–2020), American s ...
, and Awada consequently, in the
First Lady of Argentina
First Lady or First Gentleman of Argentina ( es, Primera dama o Primer caballero de Argentina), also known as First Lady or First Gentleman of the Argentine Nation ( es, Primera dama o Primer caballero de la Nación Argentina), is the unofficial an ...
.
On 10 December 2015, Macri accompanied her husband during his
inauguration as President. The ceremony starting from their apartment in the neighborhood of
Recoleta at the corner of
Avenida del Libertador and Cavia at 11:00am to the
National Congress of Argentina
The Congress of the Argentine Nation ( es, Congreso de la Nación Argentina) is the legislative branch of the government of Argentina. Its composition is bicameral, constituted by a 72-seat Senate and a 257-seat Chamber of Deputies. The Senate, ...
where Macri delivered a speech of 27 minutes. Later they went to the
Casa Rosada
The ''Casa Rosada'' (, eng, Pink House) is the office of the president of Argentina. The palatial mansion is known officially as ''Casa de Gobierno'' ("House of Government" or "Government House"). Normally, the president lives at the Quinta de ...
, where Macri received the presidential attributes in the White Hall of the
Casa Rosada
The ''Casa Rosada'' (, eng, Pink House) is the office of the president of Argentina. The palatial mansion is known officially as ''Casa de Gobierno'' ("House of Government" or "Government House"). Normally, the president lives at the Quinta de ...
. After being anointed President, she and her husband gave a reception at the
San Martín Palace
San Martín Palace (''Palacio San Martín'') is located facing Plaza San Martín in the Retiro neighbourhood of Buenos Aires, Argentina and serves as the Ceremonial Headquarters for the Ministry of Foreign Relations.
History
The Beaux Arts ...
of Argentina Foreign Ministry to all the heads of state present:
Michelle Bachelet
Verónica Michelle Bachelet Jeria (; born 29 September 1951) is a Chilean politician who served as United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights from 2018 to 2022. She previously served as President of Chile from 2006 to 2010 and 2014 to 201 ...
from
Chile
Chile, officially the Republic of Chile, is a country in the western part of South America. It is the southernmost country in the world, and the closest to Antarctica, occupying a long and narrow strip of land between the Andes to the east a ...
,
Horacio Cartes
Horacio Manuel Cartes Jara (born 5 July 1956) is a Paraguayan businessman and politician who served as the president of Paraguay from 2013 to 2018. He is a member of the Colorado Party. Cartes owns about two dozen businesses in his Grupo Cart ...
from
Paraguay
Paraguay (; ), officially the Republic of Paraguay ( es, República del Paraguay, links=no; gn, Tavakuairetã Paraguái, links=si), is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to th ...
,
Juan Manuel Santos
Juan Manuel Santos Calderón (; born 10 August 1951) is a Colombian politician who was the President of Colombia from 2010 to 2018. He was the sole recipient of the 2016 Nobel Peace Prize.
An economist by profession and a journalist by trade, ...
from
Colombia
Colombia (, ; ), officially the Republic of Colombia, is a country in South America with insular regions in North America—near Nicaragua's Caribbean coast—as well as in the Pacific Ocean. The Colombian mainland is bordered by the Car ...
,
Rafael Correa
Rafael Vicente Correa Delgado (; born 6 April 1963), known as Rafael Correa, is an Ecuadorian politician and economist who served as President of Ecuador from 2007 to 2017. The leader of the PAIS Alliance political movement from its foundation ...
from
Ecuador
Ecuador ( ; ; Quechua: ''Ikwayur''; Shuar: ''Ecuador'' or ''Ekuatur''), officially the Republic of Ecuador ( es, República del Ecuador, which literally translates as "Republic of the Equator"; Quechua: ''Ikwadur Ripuwlika''; Shuar: ''Eku ...
,
Evo Morales
Juan Evo Morales Ayma (; born 26 October 1959) is a Bolivian politician, trade union organizer, and former cocalero activist who served as the 65th president of Bolivia from 2006 to 2019. Widely regarded as the country's first president to co ...
from
Bolivia
, image_flag = Bandera de Bolivia (Estado).svg
, flag_alt = Horizontal tricolor (red, yellow, and green from top to bottom) with the coat of arms of Bolivia in the center
, flag_alt2 = 7 × 7 square p ...
,
Dilma Rousseff
Dilma Vana Rousseff (; born 14 December 1947) is a Brazilian economist and politician who served as the 36th president of Brazil, holding the position from 2011 until her impeachment and removal from office on 31 August 2016. She is the first w ...
from
Brazil
Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is the largest country in both South America and Latin America. At and with over 217 million people, Brazil is the world's fifth-largest country by area ...
, and representatives of other countries attending the inauguration. Buenos Aires Governor
María Eugenia Vidal
María Eugenia Vidal (born 8 September 1973) is an Argentine politician who served as Governor of the Buenos Aires Province, being the first woman in the office, and the first non- Peronist since 1987. A member of Republican Proposal (PRO), she ...
confirmed that the First Lady is her personal advisor regarding her wardrobe. Awada and President
Mauricio Macri
Mauricio Macri (; born 8 February 1959) is an Argentine businessman and politician who served as the President of Argentina from 2015 to 2019. He has been the leader of the Republican Proposal (PRO) party since its founding in 2005. He previou ...
alongside her daughters Antonia and Valentina lives in the Presidential Residence of
Quinta de Olivos
The Quinta presidencial de Olivos, also known as Quinta de Olivos, is an architectural landmark in the north side Buenos Aires suburb of Olivos and the official residence of the President of Argentina.
It is one of the President's official res ...
.
On 23 March 2016, she gave her first speech at the Metropolitan Design Center (CMD) of the
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires ( or ; ), officially the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires ( es, link=no, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires), is the capital and primate city of Argentina. The city is located on the western shore of the Río de la Plata, on South ...
neighborhood of
Barracas, where she presented her counterpart
Michelle Obama
Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama (born January 17, 1964) is an American attorney and author who served as first lady of the United States from 2009 to 2017. She was the first African-American woman to serve in this position. She is married t ...
. Both First Ladies gave a talk to teens to raise awareness about the importance of education. This speech was held during the official visit made by the
Obama family
The family of Barack Obama, the 44th president of the United States, is a prominent American family active in law, education, activism and politics. Obama's immediate family circle was the First Family of the United States, first family of the ...
to Argentina on 23–24 March 2016, where they also visited the city of
Bariloche
San Carlos de Bariloche, usually known as Bariloche (), is a city in the province of Río Negro Province, Río Negro, Argentina, situated in the foothills of the Andes on the southern shores of Nahuel Huapi Lake. It is located within the Nahuel ...
, in the
Argentine Patagonia
Patagonia () refers to a geographical region that encompasses the southern end of South America, governed by Argentina and Chile. The region comprises the southern section of the Andes Mountains with lakes, fjords, temperate rainforests, and gl ...
.
In June 2016, the first lady welcomed the
Second lady of the United States
The second gentleman or second lady of the United States (SGOTUS or SLOTUS respectively) is the informal title held by the spouse of the vice president of the United States, concurrent with the vice president's term of office. Coined in contrast ...
,
Jill Biden
Jill Tracy Jacobs Biden (born June 3, 1951) is an American educator and the current first lady of the United States since 2021, as the wife of President Joe Biden. She was the second lady of the United States from 2009 to 2017 when her hus ...
, and emphasized her commitment to education and her work in defense of equal rights for women. Awada received the wife of
Vice President of the United States
The vice president of the United States (VPOTUS) is the second-highest officer in the executive branch of the U.S. federal government, after the president of the United States, and ranks first in the presidential line of succession. The vice ...
,
Joe Biden in the
Presidential Residence of Olivos and shared with her then the visit to a Space of First Childhood in the locality of
San Martin, Buenos Aires. After a talk they kept in the presidential villa, she invited her to visit the fifth and the organic garden that she cultivates herself in the gardens of the residence. The first lady and Minister,
Carolina Stanley explained to Biden details of the objectives and role of these centers in the framework of the policy of comprehensive care for children carried out by the Government with the National Early Childhood Network. "Jill Biden is an incredible woman, who is always thinking of improving the future of the people in her community," said Awada. She emphasized that she has made "great contributions and was able to promote many positive changes from her vocation and commitment to education, her experience as a combatant's mother, her role in helping women prevent cancer and their participation for women's equality ".
In November 2016, the first lady received the spouse of the
Prime Minister of Japan
The prime minister of Japan (Japanese: 内閣総理大臣, Hepburn: ''Naikaku Sōri-Daijin'') is the head of government of Japan. The prime minister chairs the Cabinet of Japan and has the ability to select and dismiss its Ministers of Stat ...
,
Akie Abe
Akie Abe (, ''Abe Akie''; née Matsuzaki; born 10 June 1962) is a Japanese radio DJ and the widow of Shinzo Abe, who served as Prime Minister of Japan from 2006 to 2007 and again from 2012 to 2020.
Early life
Abe was born . She is from a wea ...
in
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires ( or ; ), officially the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires ( es, link=no, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires), is the capital and primate city of Argentina. The city is located on the western shore of the Río de la Plata, on South ...
. They shared various activities in the
Buenos Aires Japanese Gardens
The Buenos Aires Japanese Gardens ( es, Jardín Japonés de Buenos Aires; ja, ブエノスアイレス日本庭園) are a public space administered by the non-profit Japanese Argentine Cultural Foundation in Buenos Aires, Argentina. They are amo ...
, located in the neighborhood of
Palermo
Palermo ( , ; scn, Palermu , locally also or ) is a city in southern Italy, the capital (political), capital of both the autonomous area, autonomous region of Sicily and the Metropolitan City of Palermo, the city's surrounding metropolitan ...
, as part of the official visit by the Prime Minister,
Shinzo Abe
Shinzo Abe ( ; ja, 安倍 晋三, Hepburn romanization, Hepburn: , ; 21 September 1954 – 8 July 2022) was a Japanese politician who served as Prime Minister of Japan and President of the Liberal Democratic Party (Japan), President of the Lib ...
to
Argentina
Argentina (), officially the Argentine Republic ( es, link=no, República Argentina), is a country in the southern half of South America. Argentina covers an area of , making it the second-largest country in South America after Brazil, th ...
. They witnessed a musical show of the Group of Japanese Drums-Buenos Aires Taiko of which took part members of the Band Tacuarí of the
Regiment of Patricians
The 1st Infantry Regiment "Los Patricios" (''Regimiento de Infantería 1 "Los Patricios"'') is the oldest and one of the most prestigious regiments of the Argentine Army. The title is often shortened to the Patricians' Regiment (''Regimiento de ...
. Later, they participated in the tea ceremony, essence of the Japanese cultural manifestations, and finally visited an exhibition of Bonsai in the facilities of that thematic garden. It was 130 years since the arrival of the
Japanese community in Argentina and next year will be the 120th anniversary of the establishment of
diplomatic relations
Diplomacy comprises spoken or written communication by representatives of states (such as leaders and diplomats) intended to influence events in the international system.Ronald Peter Barston, ''Modern diplomacy'', Pearson Education, 2006, p. 1 ...
.
Foreign trips
Awada made her first international trip as
First Lady of Argentina
First Lady or First Gentleman of Argentina ( es, Primera dama o Primer caballero de Argentina), also known as First Lady or First Gentleman of the Argentine Nation ( es, Primera dama o Primer caballero de la Nación Argentina), is the unofficial an ...
to
Davos
, neighboring_municipalities= Arosa, Bergün/Bravuogn, Klosters-Serneus, Langwies, S-chanf, Susch
, twintowns =
}
Davos (, ; or ; rm, ; archaic it, Tavate) is an Alpine resort town and a municipality in the Prättigau/Davos R ...
,
Switzerland
). Swiss law does not designate a ''capital'' as such, but the federal parliament and government are installed in Bern, while other federal institutions, such as the federal courts, are in other cities (Bellinzona, Lausanne, Luzern, Neuchâtel ...
to accompany her husband during the 2016
World Economic Forum
The World Economic Forum (WEF) is an international non-governmental and lobbying organisation based in Cologny, canton of Geneva, Switzerland. It was founded on 24 January 1971 by German engineer and economist Klaus Schwab. The foundation, ...
. She and her husband met with
Queen Máxima of the Netherlands
Máxima (born Máxima Zorreguieta Cerruti; 17 May 1971) is Queen of the Netherlands as the wife of King Willem-Alexander.
Argentine by birth, she worked in marketing when she met Willem-Alexander, eldest son and heir apparent of Queen Beatrix, ...
and the
Prime Minister of the Netherlands
The prime minister of the Netherlands ( nl, Minister-president van Nederland) is the head of the executive branch of the Government of the Netherlands. Although the monarch is the ''de jure'' head of government, the prime minister ''de facto'' ...
,
Mark Rutte
Mark Rutte (; born 14 February 1967) is a Dutch politician who has served as Prime Minister of the Netherlands since 2010 and Leader of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) since 2006.
After a business career working for Unilever ...
, in a meeting that lasted about 30 minutes. At the meeting, there was a commitment to relaunch the bilateral relationship and to expand flights between the two countries.
On 27 February 2016, she met with
Pope Francis
Pope Francis ( la, Franciscus; it, Francesco; es, link=, Francisco; born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, 17 December 1936) is the head of the Catholic Church. He has been the bishop of Rome and sovereign of the Vatican City State since 13 March 2013. ...
at the
Vatican City
Vatican City (), officially the Vatican City State ( it, Stato della Città del Vaticano; la, Status Civitatis Vaticanae),—'
* german: Vatikanstadt, cf. '—' (in Austria: ')
* pl, Miasto Watykańskie, cf. '—'
* pt, Cidade do Vati ...
where she and her husband, President Macri were invited. It was the second time Awada met with the Pope, the first was in 2013 when she was the First Lady of Buenos Aires. The next day she attended a meeting between her husband and the
Italian President
The president of Italy, officially denoted as president of the Italian Republic ( it, Presidente della Repubblica Italiana) is the head of state of Italy. In that role, the president represents national unity, and guarantees that Italian poli ...
,
Sergio Mattarella
Sergio Mattarella (; born 23 July 1941) is an Italian politician, jurist, academic and lawyer who has served as the president of Italy since 2015.
A Christian leftist politician, Mattarella was a leading member of the Christian Democracy par ...
at the
Quirinale Palace
The Quirinal Palace ( it, Palazzo del Quirinale ) is a historic building in Rome, Italy, one of the three current official residences of the president of the Italian Republic, together with Villa Rosebery in Naples and the Tenuta di Castelporziano ...
in
Rome
, established_title = Founded
, established_date = 753 BC
, founder = King Romulus (legendary)
, image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg
, map_caption ...
.
In July 2016, The First Lady and the President Macri started a European tour that took them to
France
France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...
,
Belgium
Belgium, ; french: Belgique ; german: Belgien officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. The country is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to th ...
and
Germany
Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...
, where the President sought to project his international leadership as a political and commercial partner of the
European Union
The European Union (EU) is a supranational political and economic union of member states that are located primarily in Europe. The union has a total area of and an estimated total population of about 447million. The EU has often been des ...
. Macri and Awada held in
Paris
Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), making it the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2020. S ...
a meeting with French President
Francois Hollande, and
Berlin
Berlin ( , ) is the capital and largest city of Germany by both area and population. Its 3.7 million inhabitants make it the European Union's most populous city, according to population within city limits. One of Germany's sixteen constitue ...
with German Chancellor
Angela Merkel
Angela Dorothea Merkel (; ; born 17 July 1954) is a German former politician and scientist who served as Chancellor of Germany from 2005 to 2021. A member of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), she previously served as Leader of the Oppo ...
, in this case in the context of a two-day official visit. In addition to meeting with the two leaders brunt of the European Union, the President was received in
Brussels
Brussels (french: Bruxelles or ; nl, Brussel ), officially the Brussels-Capital Region (All text and all but one graphic show the English name as Brussels-Capital Region.) (french: link=no, Région de Bruxelles-Capitale; nl, link=no, Bruss ...
by the European Council President
Donald Tusk
Donald Franciszek Tusk ( , ; born 22 April 1957) is a Polish politician who was President of the European Council from 2014 to 2019. He served as the 14th Prime Minister of Poland from 2007 to 2014 and was a co-founder and leader of the Civic Pla ...
, the
High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs
The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (HR/VP) is the chief co-ordinator and representative of the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) within the European Union (EU). The position is currently held b ...
,
Federica Mogherini
Federica Mogherini (; born 16 June 1973) is an Italian politician who served as High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission from 2014 to 2019. She previously served as I ...
. The President and the First Lady were received by
King Philip and
Queen Mathilde at the
Royal Palace of Brussels
The Royal Palace of Brussels (french: Palais royal de Bruxelles, , nl, Koninklijk Paleis van Brussel , german: Königlicher Palast von Brüssel) is the official palace of the King and Queen of the Belgians in the centre of the nation's capita ...
.
In September 2016 Awada accompanied her husband to the
G-20 Summit
The following list of G20 summits summarizes all G20 conferences held at various different levels: summits of heads of state or heads of government, ministerial-level meetings, Engagement Group meetings and others.
Summits of state leaders
...
held in
Hangzhou
Hangzhou ( or , ; , , Standard Mandarin pronunciation: ), also romanized as Hangchow, is the capital and most populous city of Zhejiang, China. It is located in the northwestern part of the province, sitting at the head of Hangzhou Bay, whi ...
. During the summit, she fulfilled a personal agenda, on her first day visited a
buddhist temple
A Buddhist temple or Buddhist monastery is the place of worship for Buddhists, the followers of Buddhism. They include the structures called vihara, chaitya, stupa, wat and pagoda in different regions and languages. Temples in Buddhism represen ...
and a pedestrian street of handicrafts. At the next day she visited the
Zhejiang University
Zhejiang University, abbreviated as ZJU or Zheda and formerly romanized as Chekiang University, is a national public research university based in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China. It is a member of the prestigious C9 League and is selected into the na ...
and participate in an activity at the
China Academy of Art
China Academy of Art (), also translated as China National Academy of Fine Arts, was founded in Hangzhou in 1928 by the government of the Republic of China (1912–49), Republic of China and the renowned educator Cai Yuanpei. It was the first a ...
.
In February 2017, President
Mauricio Macri
Mauricio Macri (; born 8 February 1959) is an Argentine businessman and politician who served as the President of Argentina from 2015 to 2019. He has been the leader of the Republican Proposal (PRO) party since its founding in 2005. He previou ...
and the First Lady began a state visit to Spain. The First Lady and
Queen Letizia spoke about the ties that unite both countries and agreed on the importance of working in the care of children and the integral development of women. "I am very grateful to have the opportunity to come to this country with Mauricio representing Argentina. It is an honor and a great responsibility that I take with great enthusiasm, "said Awada after his meeting with the Queen, in the
Palace of Zarzuela
The Zarzuela Palace ( es, Palacio de la Zarzuela ) is the residence and working offices of the reigning monarch of Spain (King Felipe VI), although the official residence of the Spanish royal family is the Royal Palace of Madrid. The Zarzuela Pal ...
. The meeting between Awada and Letizia took place in parallel to the meeting of the Head of State with
King Felipe VI of Spain
Felipe VI (;,
* eu, Felipe VI.a,
* ca, Felip VI,
* gl, Filipe VI, . Felipe Juan Pablo Alfonso de Todos los Santos de Borbón y Grecia; born 30 January 1968) is King of Spain. He is the son of former King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofía, and ...
. The President's wife brought the Queen a bracelet inspired by Pampa, silver-plated, by designer Federico Álzaga. "We talked about our roles, our countries with so much history and ties in common, and also about what we live as women and as mothers of two girls. I felt very comfortable and the conversation flowed naturally", she said.
In March 2017, President Macri and the First Lady began a state visit to the Netherlands. During their stay in
Amsterdam
Amsterdam ( , , , lit. ''The Dam on the River Amstel'') is the Capital of the Netherlands, capital and Municipalities of the Netherlands, most populous city of the Netherlands, with The Hague being the seat of government. It has a population ...
were received by King
Willem-Alexander
Willem-Alexander (; Willem-Alexander Claus George Ferdinand; born ) is King of the Netherlands, having acceded to the throne following his mother's abdication in 2013.
Willem-Alexander was born in Utrecht as the oldest child of Princess Beatri ...
and
Queen Máxima
Queen or QUEEN may refer to:
Monarchy
* Queen regnant, a female monarch of a Kingdom
** List of queens regnant
* Queen consort, the wife of a reigning king
* Queen dowager, the widow of a king
* Queen mother, a queen dowager who is the mothe ...
in the
Dam Square
Dam Square or the Dam () is a town square in Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands. Its notable buildings and frequent events make it one of the best-known and most important locations in the city and the country.
Location and description
...
. Macri and Awada, accompanied by Queen Maxima, visited the
Anne Frank House
The Anne Frank House ( nl, Anne Frank Huis) is a writer's house and biographical museum dedicated to Jewish wartime diarist Anne Frank. The building is located on a canal called the Prinsengracht, close to the Westerkerk, in central Amsterdam ...
, where they were received by the Deputy Mayor of Amsterdam, Kasja Ollongren; The director of the Anne Frank Foundation, Leonard Leopold; And by the director of the Foundation in Argentina, Hector Shalom. "I am very touched by the story of Anne Frank. It is always an inspiration to work for a better life and for human rights," wrote the first lady, Juliana Awada, in the House of Honor book of honor where the Jewish girl hid from The Nazi persecution with his family.
Argentine art promoter
The First Lady is a promoter of Argentine art in the world. Since her time as First Lady of Buenos Aires she has been involved in exhibitions at the
Latin American Art Museum of Buenos Aires and in the
Buenos Aires Museum of Modern Art
The Buenos Aires Museum of Modern Art known locally as the Museo de Arte Moderno de Buenos Aires or MAMBA is a modern art museum located in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
History
The museum opened on April 11, 1956, and resulted from an initiative b ...
. As First Lady of Argentina, she promoted Argentine art in the Latin American region as well as in
Europe
Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is also considered a Continent#Subcontinents, subcontinent of Eurasia ...
.
In March 2017, President
Mauricio Macri
Mauricio Macri (; born 8 February 1959) is an Argentine businessman and politician who served as the President of Argentina from 2015 to 2019. He has been the leader of the Republican Proposal (PRO) party since its founding in 2005. He previou ...
and the first lady, participated in the opening ceremony of the new Güemes Museum in honor
Martín Miguel de Güemes
Martín Miguel de Güemes (8 February 1785 – 17 June 1821) was a military leader and popular caudillo who defended northwestern Argentina from the Spanish royalist army during the Argentine War of Independence.
Biography
Güemes was born in Sa ...
, together with the
Governor of Salta,
Juan Manuel Urtubey
Juan Manuel Urtubey (born September 6, 1969) is an Argentine politician, lawyer, university professor and former governor of Salta Province. Formerly a senior figure in the ruling Front for Victory faction of the Justicialist Party (PJ) in the ...
, and his wife,
Isabel Macedo
María Isabel Macedo (born August 2, 1975) is an Argentine actress and singer. She was the First Lady of Salta Province from September 24, 2016 until December 10, 2019.
Biography
María Isabel Macedo was born in San Salvador de Jujuy, Argen ...
. The restoration and reconstruction work of the National Historical Monument, which contains the Museum, in the city of
Salta
Salta () is the capital and largest city in the Argentine province of the same name. With a population of 618,375 according to the 2010 census, it is also the 7th most-populous city in Argentina. The city serves as the cultural and economic ce ...
, maintains the original premises and the different materials and technologies of the building. The content of the Museum was agreed with institutions and specialized researchers, and its result is the result of the creation of more than 100 people among filmmakers, screenwriters, actors, sculptors, musicians, designers, technicians and assistants. Visiting the museum, visitors can meet the "gaucho hero" through modern audio-visual resources and exhibition techniques, including scenic effects, lighting and multimedia programs.
Awada inaugurated the ARCO Fair ''(Feria Internacional de Arte Contemporáneo)'' of Madrid 2017 with
Queen Letizia in
Madrid
Madrid ( , ) is the capital and most populous city of Spain. The city has almost 3.4 million inhabitants and a metropolitan area population of approximately 6.7 million. It is the second-largest city in the European Union (EU), and ...
, where
Argentina
Argentina (), officially the Argentine Republic ( es, link=no, República Argentina), is a country in the southern half of South America. Argentina covers an area of , making it the second-largest country in South America after Brazil, th ...
was the guest country of honor. "The fact that Argentina is the guest country of honor in this new edition of ARCO is a huge pride and a further demonstration of the stage we are going through," said First Lady Awada, visiting the contemporary art fair together to President
Mauricio Macri
Mauricio Macri (; born 8 February 1959) is an Argentine businessman and politician who served as the President of Argentina from 2015 to 2019. He has been the leader of the Republican Proposal (PRO) party since its founding in 2005. He previou ...
and King
Felipe VI of Spain
Felipe VI (;,
* eu, Felipe VI.a,
* ca, Felip VI,
* gl, Filipe VI, . Felipe Juan Pablo Alfonso de Todos los Santos de Borbón y Grecia; born 30 January 1968) is King of Spain. He is the son of former King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofía, and h ...
. She was in charge of choosing all the
Argentine art
The culture of Argentina is as varied as the country's geography and is composed of a mix of ethnic groups. Modern Argentinian culture has been influenced largely by Italian, Spanish, and other European immigration, while there is still a less ...
ists who will have a place in the exhibition. "I am sure that this participation will be a milestone in the history of our culture because it will position us in the world in a new and much stronger way. And the most beautiful thing is that Madrid was full of Argentine artists" she emphasized.
The First Lady completely remodeled the
Presidential Residence of Olivos, choosing as part of the decoration works by different artists from all over
Argentina
Argentina (), officially the Argentine Republic ( es, link=no, República Argentina), is a country in the southern half of South America. Argentina covers an area of , making it the second-largest country in South America after Brazil, th ...
, especially an artist from the
Province of Salta
Salta () is a province of Argentina, located in the northwest of the country. Neighboring provinces are from the east clockwise Formosa, Chaco, Santiago del Estero, Tucumán and Catamarca. It also surrounds Jujuy. To the north it borders Bol ...
, named Mariano Cornejo.
Social work
In November 2016, Awada and the Minister of Social Development,
Carolina Stanley visited in the
province of Córdoba an Early Childhood Space, a social dining room and a family enterprise. "Something I learned from Mauricio and the people he works with is the importance of being close to, caring for, always accompanying those who need it the most," said the First Lady. Awada also internalized on the projects of complementary financing that executed the social portfolio in order to improve the building situation and to provide equipment and supplies. President Mauricio Macri's wife stressed that the teams of workers who support these initiatives "leave everything to hundreds of children and families to have better opportunities." "Their work is very valuable. I deeply admire people who live to help others", she said.
In March 2017, the first lady alongside the
Ministry of Social Development,
Carolina Stanley, visited the property of the Civil Walking Association, which, assisted by the Government, works to generate opportunities for people with disabilities. "Here the children start projects, learn trades, hold workshops and discover what they like to do," said the wife of President
Mauricio Macri
Mauricio Macri (; born 8 February 1959) is an Argentine businessman and politician who served as the President of Argentina from 2015 to 2019. He has been the leader of the Republican Proposal (PRO) party since its founding in 2005. He previou ...
. Awada and Stanley toured the Andar Organization, located in the Buenos Aires district of
Moreno
Moreno may refer to:
Places Argentina
*Moreno (Buenos Aires Metro), a station on Line C of the Buenos Aires Metro
*Moreno, Buenos Aires, a city in Buenos Aires Province, Argentina
*Moreno Department, a depatnent of Santiago del Estero Province, A ...
, where for two decades groups of professionals have promoted social inclusion through work, sport, art, culture and health. She also highlighted the work of social organizations of this type that "help raise awareness and make a great contribution for people with
Down syndrome
Down syndrome or Down's syndrome, also known as trisomy 21, is a genetic disorder caused by the presence of all or part of a third copy of chromosome 21. It is usually associated with physical growth delays, mild to moderate intellectual dis ...
to be part of society, without taboos and without limits, as it should be." In that context, he remarked that "there is much that can be achieved when children are stimulated from childhood, given an inclusive education and, above all, when they are shown confidence." The Ministry of Social Development collaborates with ''Andar Organization'' through the food security program and provides infrastructure and machinery through the institutional strengthening program. In addition to providing microcredit, she joined the institution in the ''Pro Huerta Plan'', which provides tools for setting up organic gardens in their own spaces. The organization develops a therapeutic program to help young people with various disabilities and conducts workshops to improve their quality of life, achieve more autonomy. The young people also participate in a productive program that includes work at the ''"Pan de Esperanza"'' bakery.
Public image and style
In 2016 she was named one of the "best dressed" women in the world according to
Vogue magazine
''Vogue'' is an American monthly fashion and lifestyle magazine that covers many topics, including haute couture fashion, beauty, culture, living, and runway. Based at One World Trade Center in the Financial District of Lower Manhattan, ''Vogue ...
. Her current style has been compared with other famous First Ladies such as
Jacqueline Kennedy
Jacqueline Lee Kennedy Onassis ( ; July 28, 1929 – May 19, 1994) was an American socialite, writer, photographer, and book editor who served as first lady of the United States from 1961 to 1963, as the wife of President John F. Kennedy. A po ...
.
Vogue
Vogue may refer to:
Business
* ''Vogue'' (magazine), a US fashion magazine
** British ''Vogue'', a British fashion magazine
** ''Vogue Arabia'', an Arab fashion magazine
** ''Vogue Australia'', an Australian fashion magazine
** ''Vogue China'', ...
Spain
, image_flag = Bandera de España.svg
, image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg
, national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond")
, national_anthem = (English: "Royal March")
, i ...
prepared a special issue for April issue with a particular coverage on
Argentine
Argentines (mistakenly translated Argentineans in the past; in Spanish (masculine) or (feminine)) are people identified with the country of Argentina. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Argentines, s ...
fashion
Fashion is a form of self-expression and autonomy at a particular period and place and in a specific context, of clothing, footwear, lifestyle, accessories, makeup, hairstyle, and body posture. The term implies a look defined by the fashion in ...
, Awada which was the main protagonist. The interview was conducted in the middle of what was
BAFWEEK
BAFWEEK (abbreviation for Buenos Aires Fashion Week, also stylized as BAFWeek) is a biannual clothing trade show held mainly in La Rural fairgrounds, Buenos Aires. Argentina's most important fashion event, BAFWEEK showcases both leading brands and ...
. The production was done in the
Teatro Colón
The Teatro Colón (Spanish: ''Columbus Theatre'') is the main opera house in Buenos Aires, Argentina. It is considered one of the ten best opera houses in the world by National Geographic. According to a survey carried out by the acousti ...
of
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires ( or ; ), officially the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires ( es, link=no, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires), is the capital and primate city of Argentina. The city is located on the western shore of the Río de la Plata, on South ...
. Awada chose to wear national and Spanish designs.
Mrs. Macri appeared on the cover and in a photo spread in the June 2016 issue of ''
Vogue Latin América''. In the magazine, the First Lady declared: "The Argentines have to be united, working together to have the country we deserve" and she declared that her husband works close to people inviting all to move the country forward, respecting the differences and similarities.
She was chosen the most elegant First Lady in the world in 2016 according to the magazine ''
¡Hola!
''¡Hola!'' is a weekly Spanish-language magazine specializing in celebrity news, published in Madrid, Spain, and in 15 other countries, with local editions in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Greece, Indonesia, Mexico, Pakistan, Peru ...
''.
Honors
References
External links
, -
{{DEFAULTSORT:Awada, Juliana
Argentine women in business
Living people
Argentine people of Lebanese descent
Argentine people of Syrian descent
Businesspeople from Buenos Aires
1974 births
First Ladies and Gentlemen of Argentina
Argentine Roman Catholics
Argentine former Muslims
Converts to Roman Catholicism from Islam
Dames Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic
Grand Crosses of the Order of the Crown (Netherlands)
Knights Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic