Yalitza Aparicio
A preschool teacher turned Oscar nominee, she shattered barriers as the first Indigenous Mexican woman ever recognized in the Best Actress category.
Born 1993 (age 33)·Mexican actress·Birthday: December 11·Millennials
Biography
Yalitza Aparicio's life changed when she accompanied her sister to an open casting call for Alfonso Cuarón's deeply personal film 'Roma'. With no acting experience and working as a preschool teacher, she was chosen to play Cleo, the quiet, resilient center of the black-and-white masterpiece. Her performance, rooted in a profound naturalism, earned her a historic Academy Award nomination, making her the first Indigenous Mexican woman and only the second Mexican actress ever nominated for Best Actress. Overnight, she became a symbol of representation and possibility, using her platform to advocate fiercely for domestic workers' rights and Indigenous communities. Her journey from rural Oaxaca to the red carpet challenged entrenched stereotypes about who gets to be a movie star, proving that authenticity can resonate louder than any trained technique.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Yalitza was born in 1993, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Yalitza Was Born
The biggest hits of 1993
#1 Movie
Jurassic Park
Best Picture
Schindler's List
#1 TV Show
60 Minutes
Yalitza's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1993Born
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1998Started school
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2006Became a teenager
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2009Could drive
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2011Could vote
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2014Turned 21
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2023Turned 30
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Age 33 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Became the first Indigenous Mexican woman nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress for her debut role in 'Roma'.
- Appointed as a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Indigenous Peoples in 2019.
- Named one of Time magazine's 100 Most Influential People in the World in 2019.
- Made her television debut in a leading role for the Netflix series 'Preso No. 1'.
Did You Know?
She is of Mixtec and Triqui heritage.
Before her acting debut, she was studying to become a teacher and had never seen a film by director Alfonso Cuarón.
She appeared on the cover of Vogue Mexico, becoming the first Indigenous woman to do so.
She is trilingual, speaking Spanish, Mixtec, and English.
“I want to inspire other people to not limit themselves, to know they can do whatever they set their minds to.”
