Macarena Santelices
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Macarena Santelices | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Official portrait (2020) | |
| Member of the Chamber of Deputies | |
| Assumed office 11 March 2026 | |
| Minister of Woman | |
| In office 6 May 2020 – 9 June 2020 | |
| President | Sebastián Piñera |
| Preceded by | Carolina Cuevas Merino[1] |
| Succeeded by | Mónica Zalaquett |
| Mayor of Olmué | |
| In office 6 December 2012 – 25 October 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Tomás Aranda Miranda |
| Succeeded by | Jorge Jil |
| Councilwoman of Olmué | |
| In office 6 December 2008 – 6 December 2012 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 15 August 1977 Vina del Mar, Chile |
| Party | Republican |
| Other political affiliations | UDI |
| Spouse | Leonardo Prieto[2] |
| Children | 2[3] |
| Parent(s) | Luis Santelices Barrera (father) Ana Eugenia Cañas Pinochet (mother) |
| Relatives | Augusto Pinochet (great uncle)[4][5][6] |
| Alma mater | |
| Occupation | Journalist • Politician |
Macarena Eugenia Santelices Cañas (Viña del Mar, Valparaíso Region, 15 August 1977) is a Chilean journalist, television presenter, and politician, and a member of the Republican Party of Chile (PRCh).[7]
She served as Minister of Woman and Gender Equality during the second government of Sebastián Piñera, between 6 May and 9 June 2020.[8] Previously, she served as mayor of Olmué (2012–2019) and as a municipal councillor of the same commune (2008–2012).
She is the daughter of Luis Santelices Barrera, who served as mayor of Los Andes between 1986 and 1989, and Ana Eugenia Cañas Pinochet. She is a great-niece of General Augusto Pinochet.[9]
She studied for a bachelor's degree in Communication Sciences at the University of Viña del Mar, qualifying as a journalist. She later obtained a master’s degree in Communication from the University of Alcalá in Spain.[10]
In 2012, she married screenwriter and director Leonardo Lalo Prieto, with whom she has two children.[11][12]
Professional career
The beginning of her television career dates back to 2000. While in her fourth year of journalism studies, she began as host of the program Interconsulta on the Viña del Mar-based channel QBC, which broadcast on the pay television platform of VTR.[13]
In 2001, she completed her professional internship at Mega, collaborating in the coverage of the parliamentary elections held that year.[14]
After graduating, she became a newsreader for Página Uno on UCV Televisión during January and February 2002, replacing journalist Andrea Canala-Echevarría. Months later, she joined La Red, where she was in charge of the closing edition of the newscast Telediario, a role she held until the end of 2002.[15]
In 2003, she returned to Mega as a reporter for programs such as Hola Andrea, Morandé con compañía, Mekano, Siempre contigo, and Mucho gusto, among others. During the tour of the 2003 Teletón, she was crowned “Queen of the Tour”.[16]
Her time at Mega lasted until 2005, when she moved to Canal 13 to become a permanent panelist on the program Tarde libre, where she hosted a health segment titled “From Head to Toe”, which ended in December 2005.[17]
After a hiatus from television beginning in 2006, when she assumed office as a councillor, she returned in 2010 as anchor of the main newscast of UCV Televisión Noticias, remaining until 2012, when she took over the afternoon edition. Later that year, she left television to dedicate herself to her candidacy for mayor of Olmué.[18]