María Juliana Ruiz | |
|---|---|
 Ruiz at theWhite House in 2019 | |
| First Lady of Colombia | |
| In role 7 August 2018 – 7 August 2022 | |
| President | Iván Duque |
| Preceded by | María Clemencia de Santos |
| Succeeded by | Verónica Alcocer |
| Personal details | |
| Born | María Juliana Ruiz Sandoval (1978-05-25)25 May 1978 (age 47) Bogotá, D.C., Colombia |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | Pontifical Xavierian University (BL) Washington College of Law |
María Juliana Ruiz Sandoval (born 25 May 1978)[1] is a Colombian lawyer who served asFirst Lady of Colombia from 2018 to 2022 as the wife of PresidentIván Duque.[2] Ruiz is the fourth youngest first lady in history afterAna Milena Muñoz de Gaviria, wife ofCésar Gaviria.
Ruiz was born inBogotá in 1978, to Luis Fernando Ruiz and Gloria Sandoval. She did her basic studies at the Marymount School and later entered thePontifical Xavierian University, where she studied law.[2] After finishing her undergraduate studies, she moved toParis to study at theInstitut Catholique. She later moved toWashington, D.C., where she obtained aMaster of Laws with an emphasis onInternational Business at theWashington College of Law ofAmerican University.[3]
Living in Washington, Ruiz managed to become professionally involved with theOrganization of American States, where she worked for more than a decade initially in various capacities and later under the guidance of the Secretary General and the Assistant Secretary General, leading projects and commissions of the organization.[3]
After her experience in the United States, she returned to her native country to join the Shaio Clinic, where she served as Secretary General until she became thenation's First Lady in 2018,[4] when her husbandIván Duque Márquez was electedPresident of Colombia, succeedingJuan Manuel Santos.[5][6] From her position, Ruiz has led various social projects, most notably the Great Alliance for Nutrition, an initiative that seeks to mitigate the impact of child malnutrition in the country.[7][8][9]
Ruiz met Iván Duque Márquez in his youth[2] and years later began a relationship with him while living in Washington, D.C. The couple married on 15 February 2003 and returned to Colombia when Duque decided to run for the Senate of the Republic. Their three children were born in Washington: Luciana, Eloísa and Matías.[3]
During theCOVID-19 pandemic, on 25 November 2020 she tested positive for COVID-19 but was asymptomatic. President Duque tested negative.[10]
| Honorary titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | First Lady of Colombia 2018–2022 | Succeeded by |