Emma Coronel Aispuro, the wife of Mexican drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, made a surprising appearance at Milan Fashion Week, walking the catwalk in a regal wedding dress. This came just a year after her release from prison. Emma, who was a former model and married El Chapo as a teenager, took part in the event wearing a gown from the April Black Diamond Spring Summer 2025 collection.
Emma Coronel was sentenced to three years in prison in 2021 for her involvement in her husband’s Sinaloa cartel, including aiding in his escape from custody in 2015. However, she agreed to a plea deal, which led to a reduction in her sentence and her release in September last year. El Chapo, on the other hand, is serving a life sentence in a supermax prison in Colorado.
Despite her controversial past, Emma Coronel decided to embrace a new beginning by appearing on the catwalk in Milan. LA-based designer April Black Diamond, who created the collection, described Emma’s presence as a symbol of transformation, strength, and resilience. The event took place at Palazzo Serbelloni, a historic palace in Milan.
The designer’s work aims to celebrate resilience and rebirth, highlighting the beauty of transformation. Mariel Colón Miró, a model and lawyer who was part of El Chapo’s defence team, also joined Emma on the catwalk, emphasizing the importance of second chances and new beginnings. Despite the mixed reactions to Emma’s participation, many believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to pursue their dreams and reinvent themselves.
Emma Coronel’s journey from a beauty queen at 17 to becoming El Chapo’s wife at 18 has been filled with twists and turns. She met her husband in 2007 and quickly became part of his tumultuous life. Their twin daughters, born in 2011, are among the many children El Chapo has fathered over the years.
As Emma continues to navigate her path beyond her past, her appearance at Milan Fashion Week signifies a new chapter in her life. Despite the challenges she has faced, she remains determined to rewrite her future and redefine herself in the eyes of the world.