In the Oxygen documentary Married to El Chapo, former beauty queen Emma Coronel breaks her silence about life with her husband, Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzmán. Known as one of the world’s most powerful drug lords, Guzmán is currently serving a life sentence in a U.S. prison.
Coronel recalls meeting Guzmán when she was a teenager participating in a local beauty pageant. She describes the connection as “instant” and says their relationship grew quickly despite the dangers surrounding his lifestyle.
“He was always respectful, kind, and very attentive,” she shared in the interview.
Despite his notoriety, Coronel insists that the man she knew in private was different from the ruthless image portrayed by the media.
The couple has twin daughters, and Coronel reflects on the difficulty of raising them while their father remains behind bars. She mentions that her main focus has always been protecting her children from public scrutiny.
“Whatever others think of me, I want my girls to feel proud of where they come from,” she explained.
Coronel acknowledges the emotional toll of being married to such a controversial figure but also notes moments of happiness and affection that defined their family life before Guzmán’s arrest and extradition.
When asked whether she regrets marrying El Chapo, Coronel says she has learned to accept her past and focus on the future. After her own legal troubles and time in custody, she expresses a wish for peace and stability for herself and her daughters.
“I have lived things most people can’t imagine,” she said. “But I don’t want to live in fear or pain anymore.”
Coronel admits that the constant attention has shaped her perspective on fame, loyalty, and survival. She says her story is not one of glamour, but of perseverance through love, loss, and consequence.
Author’s summary: Emma Coronel reflects on her tumultuous life with El Chapo, revealing both love and hardship while seeking redemption and peace for her family.