El Chapo’s wife has come into the public eye after keeping a low profile for years to speak up about how she fears for the life of her husband. Never before has she spoken about her marriage of eight years to the man 36 years her senior*, but her fear of his slow torture in the prison has got her talking.

Emma Coronel Aispuro Guzmán was pursued by El Chapo back in 2007 when he saw her at a beauty pageant in the neighbouring state of Durango. She was just 17.

Struck by her beauty, El Chapo exerted his influence to ensure the girl won the pageant. El Chapo wooed the young Coronel, who eventually married him on her 18th birthday in an elaborate ceremony. El Chapo was 47.

Emma was already a part of the cartel life: She is the niece of El Chapo’s former partner, Ignacio “Nacho” Coronel Vilarreal. Nacho was known as “The Crystal King” for his role in ensuring the widespread sale of crystal meth across the United States and Europe.

Back in 2012, Emma gave birth to two little girls – just at the age of 23. She was sent to California to give birth so that they would grow up with American citizenship as she already is an American citizen as her mom hails from California.

*According to some sources, the age difference differs by three years – and Wikipedia doesn’t help:

Here are some pics of the former beauty queen: