Our interview with La Catrina Andante, who features on the cover of June 2026’s Glory Country Edition: Mexico.
Firstly, La Catrina (Andante) – for those that don’t know, what does it mean and represent?
La Catrina Andante is my way of carrying Mexico with me wherever I go. “La Catrina” is one of the most recognizable symbols of Mexican culture and Día de los Muertos, but for me she represents much more than tradition or aesthetics. She represents memory, identity, resilience and the idea that our loved ones are always with us.
The word “Andante” means “walking” or “traveling,” so La Catrina Andante became this cultural ambassador that moves through the world sharing the beauty of Mexican traditions, fútbol culture, music, community and pride. As an immigrant, it was also my way of staying connected to home while helping others feel connected too.
When and why did you start to embody La Catrina?
I started during the pandemic. It was such a painful time for so many people, especially small businesses and immigrant communities. I remember feeling this huge need to create something that could bring hope, culture and visibility during a moment where everyone felt disconnected.
I’ve always loved Día de los Muertos because it’s a tradition that teaches us to celebrate life, memory and love instead of fearing death. So I created La Catrina Andante as a way to support businesses, highlight Mexican culture and remind people of the beauty of our traditions.
What began as a creative project slowly became something much bigger. People connected with the emotion behind it.
You’ve described La Catrina Andante as a fusion of Día de los Muertos and fútbol – what inspired you to merge these two passions?
Fútbol has always felt deeply emotional to me. Especially in Mexican culture, fútbol is not just a sport, it’s family, identity, nostalgia, belonging and community. It reminds many of us of home.
Día de los Muertos also revolves around memory, family and honoring where we come from. When I started attending fútbol matches as La Catrina, I realized both worlds carried the same energy: passion, emotion, colors, chants and collective identity.
I wanted to show that Mexican supporter culture is art too. The flags, the songs, the emotion in the stands, it’s all part of who we are. Combining La Catrina Andante with fútbol felt natural because both represent the soul of our people.
Has fútbol always been a passion for you? If so, where did that come from?
Absolutely!! Fútbol has been part of my life since I was a little girl in Guadalajara. My grandparents used to live right in front of Estadio Jalisco so I got to experience everything first hand growing up.
In Mexico, fútbol is everywhere, in the streets, at family parties, on television, in conversations. It becomes part of your identity very early in life.
But as an immigrant, fútbol took on an even deeper meaning. It became one of the strongest connections to home. Supporting Mexican teams, hearing chants in Spanish, seeing our flags in stadiums abroad... it creates this emotional bridge for people who are far from their country.
That’s why fútbol means so much to me. It’s not only entertainment. It’s culture, memory and belonging.
You’ve learned to play the bombo (drum) and actively participate in supporter culture – why was it important for you to be more than just a visual presence?
Because supporter culture deserves respect. I never wanted La Catrina to feel like a costume or simply something for social media photos. I truly wanted to show the culture from inside the stands.
Learning to play the bombo, traveling to support my teams, helping organize the supporters and standing beside fans for hours taught me so much about passion and community. Supporters sacrifice time, money, energy and so much more, because fútbol genuinely means something to them.
As a woman, it was also important for me to show that we belong in those spaces too, not only as spectators, but as active voices within fútbol culture.
What has been your most meaningful moment as La Catrina – whether online, in a stadium, or during Día de los Muertos?
One of the most emotional moments was seeing people from different countries connect with Mexican culture through La Catrina during the World Cup in Qatar. Watching fans who knew nothing about Día de los Muertos become curious about our traditions made me incredibly proud.
But honestly, some of my favorite moments happen in smaller, more personal settings, when immigrants tell me that seeing La Catrina reminds them of home, their grandparents or their traditions. Those moments mean everything to me because they remind me why I started this journey in the first place.
You helped represent Mexico fans at the 2018 World Cup – what was that experience like?
It was unforgettable. There’s something incredibly emotional about seeing thousands of Mexicans come together in another part of the world carrying flags, singing chants and proudly representing our culture.
What impacted me the most was realizing how fútbol unites people beyond borders. You meet Mexicans from all over the world, all with different stories, but for those ninety minutes everyone becomes family.
It also made me understand the responsibility that comes with representing our culture internationally. People are not only seeing fútbol fans, they are seeing Mexico through us.
I exchanged a piece of Mexico in every match with a fan of the opposite team, it was beautiful!!
Have you noticed differences in how Mexican fans versus international fans respond to your character at matches or events?
Definitely. Mexican fans usually understand the emotional and cultural symbolism immediately because La Catrina is such an important part of our traditions. There’s this instant connection and sense of pride.
International fans are often very curious. They ask questions, want photos and genuinely want to learn more about the meaning behind the character. I love that because it opens conversations about Mexican culture beyond stereotypes.
That’s one of my favorite parts of being La Catrina Andante, creating cultural exchange through fútbol.
As a proud Mexican, what does it mean to be able to experience the World Cup in your home country?
It honestly feels surreal and deeply emotional. As someone who immigrated to the United States at a young age, I know what it feels like to miss home every day. So the idea of the world coming to Mexico to experience our culture, our fútbol passion and our traditions means everything to me.
I think this World Cup will be very special because people are not only going to experience fútbol, they’re going to experience the warmth of our people, our music, our food and our way of celebrating life.
For many Mexican families, fútbol is generational. So hosting the World Cup at home feels personal.
Finally, what can international fans expect if travelling to Mexico for the World Cup?
They should expect passion everywhere. In Mexico, fútbol is lived with emotion. People sing, dance, cry, celebrate and welcome visitors like family.
They should expect incredible food, street celebrations, live music, colorful traditions and stadium atmospheres full of energy. But beyond that, I hope visitors take the time to truly connect with the people because that’s where the magic of Mexico really lives.
Mexicans are incredibly proud of our culture and very warm with visitors. I think fans from around the world are going to leave with unforgettable memories, not only because of fútbol, but because of the love and spirit they will experience in Mexico.
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We were delighted to feature La Catrina on the front cover of Glory Gountry Edition: Mexico - available here.
