She hasn't been acknowledged by Coco 's production team but she has in herhometown . She doesn't want money and she says she's happy with the way her life changed after being identified as“Mamá Coco” , Miguel's great-grandmother, the main character inPixar 'smovie .

Her name isMaría Salud Ramírez Caballero , she is 105 years old, who was photographed by the production team. In theQuiroga municipality, she was awarded by local authorities andartisans and named as the artisans'ambassador .

The artisans and inhabitants hope that by usingNana Salud as their image, as she is known, thepottery from this community will be bought all over the world, as after themovie was released, sales increased, explainedGabriela Gabriel Fabián , a youngpotter .

“It has benefited us because many moretourists come. This town is known because of the lady's fame, they buy ourartwork , everything we do and figures of her,” she explained.

As said by the creators ofCoco ,Michoacán represented a colorful trip that brought them closer toMexican culture , therefore, its influence is present throughout themovie .

A new life. Three years ago,Nana Salud was diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and now she has to useoxygen tanks to breath.

Nevertheless, her age andillness don't stop her from walking around town, which was also an inspiration for the movie.

Since the film was released, her home started filling up withvisitors , nationals and foreigners, who want to say hello and take pictures with her.

Thanks to this, her mood has changed and now thepottery sales generate “some cents.”

This way,María Salud went from being another inhabitant to being the pride ofSanta Fe de la Laguna, in theQuiroga municipality , and her family's pride, saysPatricia Pérez Hernández, one of hergrandchildren .

Patricia

says thatSalud Rímirez is like any othergrandmother : “She scolds us sometimes, but sometimes loving with us and her great-grandchildren, she has been happier lately and she even jokes,” she said.

She considers that the fact that the production doesn't acknowledge that thecharacter is based on herfeatures and movements, as well as the way she walks, talks, and behaves is a lack ofattentiveness .

She emphasizes that they aren't looking to receiveroyalties , ormoney , despite her grandmother's need to recharge heroxygen tank every two days.

They only ask, she says, that the company acknowledged her contribution.

Therefore, she has been recognized by her hometown and she will now become theircultural anartisanal ambassador.

Coco in movie theaters for Día de Muertos

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