Emma Coronel, the wife of notorious Mexican drug lord Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán, has once again captured public attention—this time, not for her high-profile marriage or legal troubles, but for a rare glimpse into her family life. On September 7, 2025, Coronel surprised her followers on Instagram by posting, for the very first time, a photograph of her twin daughters, Emaly Guadalupe and María Joaquina. The image, which shows the girls as babies, quickly ignited a storm of reactions and speculation across social media platforms, as the twins—now 14 years old—had previously been kept far from the public eye.
According to Excelsior, the photograph shows Emaly Guadalupe and María Joaquina as infants, though the girls were born on August 15, 2011, in Lancaster, California, and have now entered their teenage years. The caption accompanying the post was simple yet pointed: "If you wanted to meet my offspring," wrote Coronel, referencing the curiosity that has long surrounded her family. The post drew hundreds of comments within hours, as followers and critics alike weighed in on the rare look into the private world of the Guzmán family.
Coronel’s decision to share the photo comes at a time when her family is once again under the microscope. As reported by Marca, the ongoing saga of "Los Chapitos"—the sons of El Chapo who remain entangled in controversies tied to the Sinaloa Cartel—continues to dominate headlines. While much of the media focus has centered on the criminal exploits and legal battles of Guzmán’s sons, Coronel’s post has shifted the spotlight, if only briefly, to her daughters and her own efforts to move forward after a tumultuous chapter in her life.
Emma Coronel, now 36, has lived much of her adult life in the shadow of her infamous husband. She married Joaquín Guzmán Loera in 2007, when she was just 18 years old and he was 50—a striking 32-year age difference. Before her marriage, Coronel had been a beauty queen during her teenage years, earning local fame in Mexico. Her life took a dramatic turn not only through her relationship with Guzmán, but also through her own ventures into the public eye, including an appearance on the VH1 reality show Cartel Crew.
In 2021, Coronel’s life became even more complicated. She was arrested in the United States on charges of international drug trafficking, money laundering, and conspiracy to aid her husband’s infamous escape from prison in 2015. U.S. authorities accused her of playing a key role in facilitating Guzmán’s criminal enterprises, and she ultimately received a three-year prison sentence in November 2021. However, after serving less than the full term, Coronel was released in September 2023. Her release marked a new chapter, one in which she has sought, in her own words, to "move on" with her life after years of controversy and legal battles.
Despite her attempts to rebuild, the shadow of her husband’s legacy is never far away. Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán is currently serving a life sentence in a maximum security prison in Florence, Colorado. According to Excelsior, Guzmán has repeatedly complained about being denied visits from both his daughters and his wife, a situation that has fueled further debate about the conditions of his incarceration. The Mexican drug lord, once considered the U.S. government’s top criminal target, remains a figure of fascination and infamy, his every move scrutinized by the press and the public alike.
Coronel’s social media post comes at a particularly sensitive moment for the Guzmán family. As Marca points out, the issue of "Los Chapitos"—Guzmán’s sons who are alleged to have continued their father’s criminal legacy within the Sinaloa Cartel—remains a hot topic in both Mexican and international media. The family’s notoriety, coupled with the ongoing legal and political battles surrounding the cartel, has ensured that even seemingly personal moments, like a mother sharing a photo of her children, become matters of public interest and debate.
The reaction to Coronel’s post has been mixed. Some social media users expressed support and sympathy for her attempt to present her daughters as "normal" children, while others criticized her for what they perceived as an attempt to humanize or distract from the family’s criminal associations. The debate reflects a broader tension in Mexican society about the legacy of the country’s most famous drug trafficker and the complicated lives of those closest to him.
Adding to the ongoing swirl of headlines, another figure tangentially connected to the Sinaloa Cartel, boxing legend Julio Cesar Chavez, recently made waves by forcefully denying rumors that his son was involved in cartel activities. "Pure bullshit…" Chavez said, as reported by Marca, seeking to distance his family from the ever-present speculation surrounding the Sinaloa Cartel. This denial underscores just how pervasive the cartel’s influence remains in Mexican public life—and how quickly even unrelated public figures can become ensnared in its narrative.
For Emma Coronel, the path forward remains uncertain. Her release from prison has given her a chance to start anew, but the past is never far behind. As Marca notes, she is trying to rebuild her life after years of controversy, a high-profile marriage, and a stint behind bars. Her daughters, American citizens by birth, have largely stayed out of the spotlight until now—a fact that Coronel herself seemed keen to maintain until her recent Instagram reveal.
What does the future hold for the Guzmán family? That’s the question on many minds as the saga continues to unfold. For now, Coronel’s post has offered a rare, humanizing glimpse into a family whose story is often told only in terms of crime and scandal. Whether this marks a turning point in how the public perceives her and her daughters remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: in the world of "El Chapo" Guzmán, even the most personal moments can become global news.
As the dust settles from Coronel’s unexpected reveal, the world watches closely, curious to see what the next chapter in this remarkable—and often controversial—family story will bring.
