Cecilia Occelli

María Cecilia Yolanda Occelli González, known by Cecilia Occelli, (born 1950) is a Mexican social advocate who served as the First Lady of Mexico from 1988 to 1994. She is the ex-wife of former Mexican President, Carlos Salinas de Gortari.

Biography Occelli was born in 1950 in Mexico City as one of nine children.

She first met Carlos Salinas de Gortari in 1958 when both were respectively aged ten as well as eight at a party for the National Association of Charros, where both of Occelli's brothers were members. They were introduced to each other by his sister, Adriana Salinas.

President Salinas left office in 1994 at the end of his single term. He traveled to New York City in December 1994 soon after leaving office. When he returned to Mexico in 1995, he surprised Occelli by immediately announcing that he wanted to divorce her. The divorce was finalized later in 1995, abruptly ending their 23-year marriage. Shortly after his divorce from Occelli, Salinas married his second wife, Ana Paula Gerard Rivero, whom he is believed to have met in 1983. Gerard Rivero had worked as a technical secretary for the Economic Cabinet during the Salinas administration.

During the 2000s, Occelli became President of the Fundación de Apoyo Infantil A.C., which works in conjunction with Save the Children. Occelli also continued to serve on the board of trustees for the Papalote Museo del Niño, which she helped to establish.

In 2010, author Rosa María Valles Ruiz released a biography of Occelli entitled "El encanto de la discreción" ("The Charm of Discretion") with Occelli's help. Occelli appeared with Valles Ruiz at the book's release party, which was held at the Papalote Museo del Niño in March 2010. In the book, which recounts her life, Occelli expressed pride in the work accomplished by her former husband, Carlos Salinas de Gortari, and said that she was "proud for having shared 20 years of my life with him."