On International Women’s Day, which takes place on March 8, we celebrate and highlight the voices, creativity, and struggles of women who have left their mark on Baja California. From art to science, from politics to social activism, these 20 women have broken barriers and paved the way for future generations.
Today is the perfect day to get to know them!
Alexa Moreno
Hailing from Mexicali, she has been a key figure in Mexican gymnastics and a reference point for Baja Californian sports. She became the first Mexican gymnast to receive a medal at the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships, winning bronze at Doha 2018 in vault. This achievement not only marked a milestone in the country’s history but also put Baja California on the map of international gymnastics.
Her discipline and perseverance have inspired new generations while contributing to the growth and recognition of gymnastics in the region.
Jackie Nava
This Tijuana native woman is one of the most important boxers in Mexico’s history and a pioneer of national women’s boxing. Her impact on the sport has been crucial in paving the way for new generations of women in the ring. In 2005, she became the first World Boxing Council (WBC) world champion by winning the super bantamweight title, a feat that marked a turning point in women’s boxing.
She has built a legacy throughout her career by obtaining over 40 victories, earning recognition as one of the greatest Mexican boxers of all time.
Julieta Venegas
Born in Long Beach, California, but considered 100% a Tijuana native, she is one of the most influential singer-songwriters in Spanish-language music. Her unique style—blending pop, rock, and alternative music—has made her as one of the most representative voices in Latin music.
Despite her international success, she has always stayed true to her Tijuana roots, influenced by Mexican music and alternative rock. A multiple Latin Grammy winner, she has also stood out for her social commitment, supporting causes such as women’s rights. Her ability to innovate and adapt to new musical trends keeps her relevant on the global stage.
Bárbara Colio
The renowned playwright and theater director from Mexicali studied engineering at Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, where she also began her theater career in the 1980s.
She abandoned her engineering career to study playwriting in Madrid, Spain, under the guidance of acclaimed playwright José Sanchis Sinisterra. In 2000, she was invited to the Royal Court Theatre’s International Playwrights Program in London.
More than 30 of her plays have premiered in countries such as Spain, Portugal, France, the United States, England, Italy, Argentina, Peru, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, and several parts of Mexico. They have been translated into English, Portuguese, Galician, Italian, and French. Her works explore themes of identity, relationships, and social issues.
She has received several national and international awards, including the 2004 María Teresa León International Award for Female Playwrights in Spain, the 2017 Juan Ruiz de Alarcón National Award for her theatrical career, and the 2024 Dolores Castro Award for her first novel.
She runs her own company, BarCoDrama, where she creates creative, editorial, and theater outreach projects.
Bárbara Colio, a prominent Baja California woman, began doing theater in the 1980s “with whatever she could find,” as she puts it.
And to this day, she continues to leave her mark.
Lupita D’Alessio
Born in Tijuana, Baja California, she is a renowned singer and actress in Mexican television and film. Her career took off after her participation in the OTI Festival in Mexico City in 1978, which led to her representing Mexico at the OTI International in Santiago de Chile, winning third place.
With her strength, personality and persistence, Lupita D’Alessio has been a role model for women worldwide, representing personal rebirth, self-love, emotional maturity, and vulnerability through her songs.
She has sold over 40 million records in her career, starred in 11 telenovelas, and maintained a career spanning five decades. Combined with her love for music, this has made her a source of pride for Baja California.
Vianka R. Santana
From Tijuana, Baja California, Vianka R. Santana has become a one-woman benchmark in culture, education, and art in the border city. She assumed the role of General Director of Centro Cultural Tijuana (CECUT) in January 2018, where she promotes a humanistic and inclusive vision.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in Educational Sciences, a master’s in Educational Development, and a doctorate in Educational Sciences. She also has specializations in Educational Evaluation, Artistic Education and Citizenship, and International Cultural Relations.
During her tenure, she has stood out for promoting the inclusion of migrants and indigenous peoples and strengthening the exhibition of local artists’ work through several different initiatives.
Marina del Pilar
Originally from Mexicali, Marina del Pilar became the first woman to govern Baja California in November 2021, a role she has taken on with determination and commitment.
From a young age, she grew up in an environment where law and politics were part of her life. Her love for ballet, charrería, and music helped her develop discipline and teamwork, values that have defined her career.
She holds a law degree from Centro de Enseñanza Técnica y Superior (CETYS Universidad) and two master’s degrees: one in Public Law from the Government and Public Policy Graduate School at Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey (ITESM) and another in Public Administration from the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences at Universidad Autónoma de Baja California (UABC).
In 2018, she served as a federal deputy, during which she promoted key initiatives, such as addressing migration crises in Mexicali, establishing the Municipal Women’s Institute, and securing funds for the renovation of the city’s international port of entry.
She becoming state governor marked a turning point in Baja California’s political history.
During her administration, she has implemented policies supporting women entrepreneurs, strengthening security, and providing support programs for working mothers, as well as strategies to protect women victims of violence.
Governor Marina del Pilar’s leadership has been key in promoting gender equality and access to opportunities for women in public and professional life.
Sandra Equihua
Born in Tijuana, she is a creator, illustrator, and designer. In 2008, she became the first Mexican animator to receive a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Achievement.
She studied Graphic Design at Universidad Iberoamericana Tijuana. Later, she moved to Los Angeles, where she established her artistic career and collaborated with prestigious companies such as Netflix, Google, Sony Pictures, Disney, and Nickelodeon.
As a true border native, her inspiration comes from both American and Mexican cultures, creating a rich blend of art and diversity.
Patricia Aubanel
Dr. Patricia Aubanel is a prominent cardiologist from Tijuana, a pioneer in interventional cardiology in the border city, and the founder of the Madre Teresa Cardiovascular Institute at Hospital del Prado. Under her leadership, this institute has become a regional benchmark, offering advanced interventions with top-tier standards.
Recognized internationally, Dr. Aubanel had the privilege of treating Mother Teresa of Calcutta, who entrusted her with her heart care during the last seven years of her life.
With over 35 years of experience in prestigious institutions, she graduated from Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) and completed postgraduate studies at some of the most renowned medical institutions in the United States, including the University of Miami, Saint Vincent Hospital, Mount Sinai Hospital, and Harvard.
Throughout her career, Dr. Aubanel has not only transformed cardiovascular care in Baja California but has also fostered the development of new generations of specialists, leaving a legacy of innovation and medical excellence in the region.
Chef Bianca Castro-Cerio
When it comes to influential women in Baja California’s gastronomy, Chef Bianca Castro-Cerio is undoubtedly a name to remember. Originally from Mexicali and inspired by her Italian roots, she grew up surrounded by flavors, desserts, and culinary traditions.
Her grandmother, Norma Trenti, started baking at a young age and trained Bianca, laying the foundation for her to become one of the great representatives of pastry arts.
Although she studied administration, her passion for cooking led her down a different path. She honed her craft with certification courses from prestigious institutions such as The Culinary Institute of America, Culinary Art School, La Postrería, Espaisucre, and Escuela de Pastelería del Gremio BCN in Puebla.
Her creations have transcended borders, and even Pope Francis had the opportunity to taste her desserts during a Mexican Christmas gala dinner.
During the 2020 pandemic, she provided support together with local brands to hospital doctors and taught cooking classes on Instagram for over six months, donating the prepared meals to medical staff.
Rosina Conde
A woman who undoubtedly deserves a mention is Rosina Conde, who has become one of the most vibrant voices in contemporary Mexican literature. Born in 1954 in Mexicali, her work intensely reflects life on the border, a space where identities intertwine and social contrasts become evident.
She also explores themes such as identity, gender violence, and the inequalities women face, always with a direct, critical style and flashes of humor that make her writing both powerful and relatable.
Her literature reflects life in northern Mexico, where colloquial language and references to popular culture intertwine with a feminist and combative perspective. Among her most well-known books are “Cuerpo de mi soledad” (1984), “La genara” (1988), and “Querida amiga” (1995), works that have left a mark on Mexican literature.
But Conde is not only a talented writer; she has also been an academic and researcher, focusing on literature written by women and gender studies.
Alejandra Yépiz Portillo
From Ensenada, she is a prominent comic and storyboard artist, recognized for her expressive style and engaging narratives. With a degree on Fine Arts from Universidad Autónoma de Baja California (UABC), she has built a career in illustration and sequential art, specializing in creating storyboards and backgrounds for several different productions.
In 2017, alongside Sergio Zamora Ramos, she launched the mystery and comedy webcomic Mystery Time Escape, published under the Periferia Press label. Her work has been praised for its ability to blend humor with suspense, creating engaging stories with a distinctive graphic style.
Additionally, Yépiz has developed self-contained comics available online, including:
- Algo sobre Myrna, an introspective story with an intriguing atmosphere.
- El día que dejé de dibujar, a tale exploring the relationship between art and identity.
Her talent has been recognized at renowned events such as the San Diego Comic-Con, where she has participated as an artist. In 2024, she achieved a significant milestone as one of three Baja Californian artists to exhibit her work at the Comic-Con Museum in Balboa Park, a space dedicated to the history and evolution of comics internationally.
Ariana Escudero
A Tijuana-born artist who leaves her mark on every wall she touches. As a muralist, educator, and visual artist, she has brought her vision to life in several different large-scale murals, which has allowed her to bring art to public, private, and institutional spaces. Her work is not only aesthetic but also a cry for identity, a tribute to feminist struggles, a reflection on migration, and a sensitive look at parenting.
Her brushes have brought to life portraits of local and international figures, celebrating both artistic personalities and those who shape history from urban spaces. Her murals can be found across Baja California and Mexico City and have become visual landmarks that engage with the community and the environment. With each stroke, Ariana transforms walls into extraordinary narratives that invite reflection and connection with our own stories.
Sofia Márquez
Tijuana native activist Sofía Márquez is one of the women we highlight in this list, in honor of March 8th, a date that commemorates the fight for equality and the eradication of gender-based violence.
She is the creator of the virtual group “We Are Women on Fire,” the largest feminist outreach and cyber-activism account in Latin America, with a global presence and nearly 1 million followers on Instagram.
Sofía is part of the 20th generation of the Tijuana Walk of Fame and has closely collaborated on the gender-based violence council at the Municipal Citizen Consultation Forum in Tijuana, where she meets several women and proposes strategies to address inequality, lack of opportunities for women, and the eradication of violence.
She has also collaborated with platforms such as Netflix, Uber México, and TED in powerful activism campaigns and has become a spokesperson for University of Oxford’s “Global Women’s Narratives”.
Adria Marina Montaño
Tijuana-born chef Adria Marina Montaño has made her mark with her participation in several TV and streaming programs such as Top Chef VIP, Iron Chef México, and Master Chef Celebrity Colombia, among others.
Whether as a contestant or judge, her cooking has impacted some of the most important culinary reality shows nationwide and internationally. Marina Montaño has crossed borders with dishes that combine emblematic Baja flavors and experiments with innovative ingredients and techniques.
She studied at Culinary Art School and worked together with Chef Javier Plascencia before launching her own gastronomic projects. In 2018, she opened Georgina, a fine dining restaurant in Tijuana. Two years later, she received the National “Nemesio Diez Riega” Award for Restaurant Entrepreneurial Merit for Young Restaurant Entrepreneur of the Year.
Carla Morrison
An artist who has impacted multiple generations through her lyrics and powerful voice is singer-songwriter Carla Morrison from Tecate.
She is a three-time Latin Grammy winner—twice for Best Alternative Song and once for her debut album “Déjenme llorar”, certified platinum by the Mexican Association of Phonogram and Videogram Producers. She has also been nominated for the Grammy Awards twice for Best Latin Album.
At just 38 years old, Carla Morrison has performed in major international festivals such as Coachella in the United States and Lollapalooza in Chile.
Notably, Forbes named her one of the 100 most powerful women in Mexico in 2018. She was also part of Coldplay’s tour in Mexico and participated in the Girls’ Lounge at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in France.
Dr. Liza Pompa
With an impressive medical career, Dr. Liza María Pompa González is not only brilliant in the operating room but also has an extensive teaching background at institutions such as Universidad Autónoma de Baja California (UABC) and the Tijuana General Hospital.
Dr. Pompa is a highly skilled bariatric surgeon. She graduated with honors from the postgraduate Surgical Leadership Certification program at Harvard Medical School. Additionally, she is the first Latina woman to be a fellow of the American College of Surgeons.
Originally from Tijuana, she is a professional with a broad medical career. She is also the founder, director, and lead surgeon at LIMARP, one of Mexico’s most important bariatric surgery centers.
Recently, she achieved a significant milestone in her academic career by earning the “Summa Cum Laude” distinction upon graduating as a Doctor of Education.
Denisse Marina Alcántar
A Tijuana native writer who couldn’t be left off this list is Denisse Marina Alcántar, who holds a bachelor’s degree in Hispanic American Language and Literature from Universidad Autónoma de Baja California (UABC).
Her professional career reflects her love for literature. She has dedicated her talent to several different outlets, including magazines, newspapers, and online websites. Currently, she is part of the editorial team and works as a writer for San Diego Red.com.
In addition to her work in media, Denisse shares her knowledge and passion by teaching classes and workshops on writing and creative writing.
The publication of her first book, “El Despertar del Gato Tuerto”, marked a turning point, as its success motivated her to publish her second book, “El Despertar del Lobo Plateado”. Both works have been enthusiastically received by readers and have achieved notable sales on Amazon Mexico.
Rosalva Aída Hernández Castillo
An Ensenada native and a source of pride for Baja California, Rosalva Hernández Castillo is an academic, researcher, and holds a doctorate in Anthropology from Stanford University.
With a distinguished career as a researcher, she honed her writing skills through journalism and has combined her academic work with feminist activism since her student years.
Her notable research projects have focused on defending women’s and indigenous people’s rights in Latin America. She has published over 20 books as both an author and editor.
She is the founder of “Colectiva Editorial Hermanas en la Sombra” and a member of “Red de Feminismos Descoloniales”.
In 2024, she received the Harvard Radcliffe Fellowship, awarded by Harvard University, and, in 2014, she was awarded the Simón Bolívar Chair for Academic Excellence by the University of Cambridge, UK.
Marilyn Uribe
Tijuana-born actress Marilyn Uribe made the decision years ago to leave the city and immigrate in pursuit of her dreams. Today, she shines in the film industry and has made her mark as a director, writer, and protagonist of the short film “Apenas son las 4:00.”
A graduate from Universidad Autónoma de Baja California (UABC), Marilyn Uribe has appeared in several different films, series, and television programs.
Among her most notable roles is that of Alicia Arellano Félix, a character featured in seasons 2 and 3 of the Netflix series “Narcos: Mexico”. She also stood out in the Amazon Prime Video film “A Million Miles Away”, which tells the true story of the first Mexican astronaut, José Hernández. Uribe has also delivered standout performances in Mexican productions such as “Esta historia me suena” and the telenovela “Te acuerdas de mí”.
