Ana Lia Monjardin Wins Yuma Catrina Contest
The 8-year-old took first place at Arizona Western College's Catrina competition, the only such contest in Yuma County.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Hispanic
Ana Lia Monjardin won first place in the Arizona Western College Catrina competition, earning a $400 cash prize. The contest, held in late October 2026, was the only Catrina competition in Yuma County.
Why it matters
The competition celebrates Día de los Muertos and keeps a Mexican artistic tradition alive for local families. Participants like Ana Lia and her family say the event honors cultural heritage and a love of art.
The first-place cash prize was $400, and entries were judged on makeup, attire, and presentation. The source does not report total entrant numbers or the scoring breakdown of other participants.
The players
Arizona Western College
A public community college in Yuma, Arizona, which hosted the Catrina competition as part of local Día de los Muertos celebrations.
José Guadalupe Posada
A Mexican printmaker whose early twentieth-century calavera works, including La Calavera Garbancera, helped establish the skeletal figure later known as La Catrina.
Diego Rivera
A Mexican muralist who painted La Catrina in 1947, cementing the figure as a national symbol of Día de los Muertos.
The details
Ana Lia Monjardin, who is 8 years old, has competed for several years and usually begins preparing about six months in advance with her mother, Liliana Garcia. This year her entry was put together quickly after she begged to enter, despite an earlier request to skip the contest due to a school band commitment.
Timeline
Late October 2026: Arizona Western College held the Catrina competition.
1910 to 1913: José Guadalupe Posada created La Calavera Garbancera.
1947: Diego Rivera painted La Catrina.
Cultural Roots
The contest draws on the Catrina figure that José Guadalupe Posada introduced in his calavera prints around 1910 to 1913 and that Diego Rivera later popularized with his 1947 painting. Local competitions like this one carry that Mexican artistic lineage into Yuma County each Día de los Muertos season.
Families in Yuma who want to enter future Catrina competitions can plan ahead, as Ana Lia's family typically starts preparing about six months in advance. The contest's makeup, attire, and presentation criteria offer a clear guide for anyone wanting to participate.
The takeaway
Community events like the Catrina contest keep cultural traditions active across generations, with children like Ana Lia carrying forward artistic practices that trace back more than a century. Starting preparation early makes participation more manageable for families.
Further reading
Explore more Hispanic culture coverage to see how traditions like Día de los Muertos are celebrated across communities.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KAWC.
