Maribel Guardia

Who Is Maribel Guardia?

Maribel Guardia is a Costa Rican-Mexican actress, singer, model, and television personality. She was born Maribel del Rocío Fernández García on May 29, 1959, in San José, Costa Rica.

Her career spans nearly five decades. It includes beauty pageant titles, iconic telenovela roles, norteña music albums, film appearances, and live theater. Furthermore, she has become a beloved cultural icon across Mexico, Central America, and the broader Latin diaspora worldwide.

She has faced extraordinary personal challenges. Despite heartbreak and loss, she has never stopped working. That resilience, above everything else, defines Maribel Guardia.

Early Life: From San José to the World Stage

Growing Up in Costa Rica

Maribel Guardia was born and raised in San José, Costa Rica. She grew up in a modest family with a strong connection to the arts from an early age.

She attended the University of Costa Rica, where she studied communications. This academic foundation sharpened her instincts as a communicator — a skill that would serve her well on television, in film, and on stage for decades to come.

The Road to Miss Costa Rica

Her life changed direction in 1978. She won Miss Costa Rica 1978 and went on to represent her country at the Miss Universe 1978 beauty pageant, where she did not place but was selected as Miss Photogenic. She also competed at the Miss World 1978 beauty pageant, where she placed as a top 15 semi-finalist.

The Miss Universe pageant was held in Acapulco. Therefore, her first major step into the spotlight happened on Mexican soil — a sign of things to come.

These two international pageants gave her global visibility. They also opened the door to the Mexican entertainment industry.

The Move to Mexico

Guardia received offers from Televisa producer Sergio Bustamante to explore a career in show business.

Since 1980, she has worked in Mexico, appearing in numerous telenovelas, fichera films, and variety shows. That decision — to leave Costa Rica and build a life in Mexico — defined the next forty-plus years of her career.

Career Highlights: A Legacy Built Over Four Decades

The Fichera Film Era (1980s)

Maribel Guardia burst onto the Mexican film scene in the 1980s. She became one of the defining faces of the cine de ficheras genre — a style of Mexican comedy film known for bold humor and charismatic leading women.

She starred in films like Pedro Navaja alongside Andrés García, which solidified her status as a sex symbol and leading lady.

During her career as an actress, Guardia starred alongside big names in the industry such as Luis de Alba, Aida Pierce, Hernaldo Zúñiga, Andrés García, Joan Sebastian, and Pedro Navaja.

Additionally, in 1987 she won a Silver Ariel Award for Best Actress, one of Mexico’s most prestigious film honors.

Telenovela Queen: The Television Years

After her film success, Maribel became one of Mexico’s most beloved telenovela stars. Her range was impressive. She played romantic leads, dramatic heroines, and comedic characters with equal skill.

Her notable telenovelas include Serafín, Aventurera, Tú y Yo, and Prisionera de Amor. She also appeared in Muchacha Italiana Viene a Casarse — a beloved production that introduced her to a new generation of Latin American viewers.

From 2012 to 2013, Guardia starred as Julieta Vázquez in the TV series Corona de Lágrimas. Since 2014, she has starred as Julieta in the series Italian Bride.

Her most recent major television appearance came in 2025. She appeared as herself in Laura Bozzo in 2025, one of the most recent titles in her filmography.

Music Career: The Norteña Albums

Beyond acting, Maribel Guardia built a parallel music career. She released a series of norteña music albums that connected deeply with Mexican and Latin American audiences. Her warm vocal style and stage presence made her a natural performer on concert stages as well as television sets.

Her music career further cemented her status as a complete entertainer — not simply an actress, but a true multimedia star.

Theater: The Stage That Never Stopped Calling

Live theater has been a constant in Maribel Guardia’s life. Even in 2023, she was performing in a play on the very night her son Julián passed away — a devastating reminder of her absolute dedication to her craft.

She has performed in theatrical productions throughout Mexico, consistently drawing large audiences who admire her presence and energy on stage.

Personal Life: Love, Loss, and Resilience

Marriage to Joan Sebastian

Her first marital relationship began in 1992 with Mexican singer and songwriter Joan Sebastian. Together they had one son, Julián Figueroa.

Joan Sebastian, born José Manuel Figueroa, was one of Mexico’s most celebrated singer-songwriters. His father, Joan Sebastian, was a popular singer who won five Grammy Awards and seven Latin Grammys. He died in 2015 at age 64 of bone cancer.

Their relationship gave Maribel the greatest joy of her life — and also led to one of its greatest sorrows.

Marriage to Marco Chacón

Following the breakup of her first relationship, Maribel began another relationship with Marco Chacón. They later married. Marco has stood steadfastly by her side through years of personal turmoil, including the death of their son and the subsequent custody dispute.

The Tragic Loss of Julián Figueroa (2023)

The most devastating chapter in Maribel Guardia’s life came on April 9, 2023. Julián Figueroa was found unconscious in his Mexico City home. They called 911, and when the ambulance and police arrived, they found him already lifeless, with no trace of violence.

The medical report indicates that he died of an acute heart attack and ventricular fibrillation. He was 27 years old.

Figueroa was a singer-songwriter and actor on the Univision primetime telenovela Mi Camino Es Amarte. He had also appeared in Por Siempre Joan Sebastián, in which he portrayed his own father, José Manuel Figueroa.

Julián Figueroa is survived by his wife of six years, Imelda Tuñón, with whom he shares son José Julián Figueroa.

Maribel said publicly: “I’m sorry to have to report the departure of my beloved son Julián Figueroa, who unfortunately has left us.” She requested a private funeral attended only by those closest to him.

The Custody of Grandson José Julián (2025)

In early 2025, Maribel Guardia became the center of a highly publicized legal dispute. After a complaint that Maribel Guardia filed against her daughter-in-law, Imelda Tuñón, the minor was temporarily placed in the actress’s care, pending a new custody resolution.

Maribel said in a statement: “My grandson is with me. But it is my duty to protect my grandson’s well-being and health. In this process, we will leave the solution in God’s hands and the corresponding authorities, always respecting their judgment, in the best interest of my grandson.”

The legal process continued through mid-2025. By July 2025, news reports indicated that both sides were navigating the situation through Mexican family courts, with the child’s welfare remaining the central focus throughout.

Maribel Guardia Day: A National Recognition

One of the most remarkable recognitions of her career was the official proclamation of “Maribel Guardia Day.” This accolade underscores her impact not just in Mexico and Costa Rica, but across the entire Latin American community in the United States.

Few entertainers receive this kind of civic recognition. However, Maribel Guardia’s four decades of consistent excellence made her worthy of exactly this honor.

Filmography and Television: A Career at a Glance

Selected Telenovelas

Year	Title	Role
1994	Prisionera de Amor	Cristina Carbajal / Florencia Rondán
1996	Tú y Yo	—
2004	Misión S.O.S	Ximena Lozano
2012–2013	Corona de Lágrimas	Julieta Vázquez
2014–present	Muchacha Italiana Viene a Casarse	Julieta
2022	Amores Permitidos	Self
2025	Laura Bozzo	Self
2025	Cómplices	—

Selected Films

Year	Title	Role
1985	A Garrote Limpio	Susana Guardia
1986	La Alacrána	—
1986	Terror and Black Lace	—
1993	El Asesino del Zodiaco	—
1995	Los Cómplices del Infierno	Deborah
2001	Adventures in Time	Flor del Huerto
2023	My Father’s Mexican Wedding	Lupe