Gabriela Rivero (Gaby Rivero), the iconic “Maestra Jimena,” and her husband Luis Francisco Ricote (Kiko Ricote) have built one of the most enduring and fascinating marriages in the world of Latin American entertainment. Celebrating 32 years of marriage as of June 12th, their relationship is a testament to shared humor, surprising sacrifices, and a strong commitment to family. While one source notes they celebrated 27 years of marriage and 28 years of being in love, they recently confirmed reaching the 32-year milestone, a remarkable achievement that often involves unique solutions to conflict.
The Awkward First Call and the Misunderstanding
The foundation of their love story was anything but smooth, beginning with a humorous misunderstanding. Luis Francisco Ricote, who hosted the television program Fama y Fortuna, was planning a trip to Mexico to find people to interview. Gabriela’s sister, Laura, who worked on a cooking show, gave Kiko Gabriela’s phone number, telling him Gabriela could help him find interviewees.
Kiko called Gabriela early on a Monday morning. Gabriela, who was resting on a non-work day, was immediately annoyed and spoke to him “rudely”. To complicate matters, Gabriela had been sent a photo of Kiko by her sister but was told the man was named Luis de la Corte; consequently, when Kiko introduced himself by his nickname, Gabriela imagined the character from El Chavo del 8 and assumed he was Luis de la Corte’s secretary. Gabriela, who had been an idol in Mexico and had “all the men crazy” for her, found it presumptuous that a stranger would call her so early asking her to act as his secretary. She curtly told him she didn’t know anyone in the artistic scene and hung up.
Despite the rough start, destiny intervened three days later. Gabriela attended a private, hat-themed birthday party for Luis Herrera at the Quetzal. She noticed a tall man in white pants and immediately recognized his muscular legs from the poster her sister had sent. Gabriela realized he was the man who had called her. When she approached him, Kiko, whose full name is Francisco Luis Ricote Polvorinos, confirmed he was the one who worked with Luis de la Corte. He invited her for coffee, and Gabriela accepted, instantly forgetting the previous awkward call.
The Central Role of Humor
Their connection deepened during their first outing, where their shared sense of humor became the bedrock of their burgeoning relationship. They spent the first hour and a half of their time together just telling jokes.
Kiko believes that humor is the key to navigating life’s challenges. He notes that no matter what difficulties they face, they always have a moment where they laugh and forget everything else. Gabriela confirms that their sense of humor was the first thing that united them and that even today, she “laughs until she gets a screw loose” over the comical things that happen in their lives.
Kiko also showed a surprising domestic side early on; Gabriela was impressed when Kiko cooked her a rabbit in mustard sauce on their first date, seeing it as a desirable quality in a partner.
Pregnancy, Teotihuacán, and Career Sacrifice
The couple’s commitment accelerated when Gabriela discovered she was pregnant. Gabriela, who was 29 and came from a traditional background, was ready for marriage and motherhood. Kiko, though coming from a different place, told her she must decide, as it was her body. Gabriela challenged him: “You can tell me that there, on the Pyramid of the Moon in Teotihuacán, and if you say it there, we get married”. They followed through, ascending the pyramid and performing their own ceremony.
Gabriela’s mother, a traditional woman from Puebla who regularly attended Mass and prayed the rosary, was initially shocked, but Gabriela insisted on marrying and asked her mother to organize the formal wedding details, only reserving the choice of the groom and the dress for herself.
At the time, Gabriela was at the height of her career, promoting a film and having several shows lined up. Luis Francisco Ricote, who was based in Los Angeles and planning to move to Miami, sacrificed his own plans and moved to Mexico for three years so Gabriela could fulfill her Televisa exclusivity contract.
Gabriela was happily working, but after the devaluation in 1995 led to the cancellation of her children’s program, she decided to prioritize her family. She told the network CEO, Emilio Azcárraga Milmo, that she wanted to have more children and rescinded her contract, despite being told she would return. Gabriela ultimately stepped away from the spotlight for almost seven years, primarily to care for her third daughter, Maya, who was born with 13 different allergies and required constant attention to prevent her from becoming asthmatic. Gabriela reflects on this choice positively, noting that she was “very happy” being a full-time mother and sees the sacrifice reflected in her children, who are incredibly united.
The Formula for Longevity: Emails and Trust
The couple now has four daughters, who are all growing up and pursuing careers, including one who recently got married and another who is a successful stand-up comedian in Europe.
When asked about the secret to maintaining an “harmonic partnership” for over 25 years, Gabriela pointed to several key components:
- Love and Respect.
- Communication and Tolerance.
- Confidence: Gabriela stresses the importance of trusting that your partner is with you because they choose to be.
Luis Francisco Ricote (Kiko) highlights the enduring role of humor, noting that they often end an argument by realizing how silly they were being and breaking into laughter.
The couple also utilizes a highly unusual communication method when conflicts arise: because they are both “very strong,” when they fight seriously, they stop talking and instead communicate through emails, with Kiko in the living room and Gabriela in her bedroom.
In terms of personal habits, Gabriela struggles to find Kiko material gifts, as he is not a material person and typically just wears shorts and t-shirts. For their 22nd anniversary, she created personalized pouches containing cards that offered him gifts like her patience and home-cooked meals, which he appreciated. Another fun detail is that Kiko keeps a “black list” of people he never forgives if they betray him, though Gabriela notes he is usually a very good person. Conversely, Gabriela “hates cinnamon” so much that she gags at the smell, forcing Kiko (who loves it) to drink his nightly cinnamon tea in a different room.
Their enduring relationship, built on a strong foundation of laughter and a willingness to prioritize family, has provided them with a lasting, cohesive unit. Gabriela expressed that she has been “blessed” with a great family and would not change it for anything, believing she made the right decision.
Anne Kellogg is the creative mind behind NamesPerl, where she shares her passion for names. With 4 years of experience in crafting unique and catchy names, Anne helps readers discover the perfect words to express identity, creativity, and meaning.