UN Women National Goodwill Ambassador Karla Souza
Karla Souza was designated as a National Goodwill Ambassador for UN Women Mexico in November 22nd, 2024. An acclaimed actress, producer, and women’s rights activist, Souza is recognized across Mexico, Latin America, and the United States for her impactful performances and her advocacy for gender equality.
Through her onscreen work and online activism, Karla Souza uses her voice to empower others and raise awareness about women’s empowerment.
Souza is committed to advocating for women’s rights, gender equality and women’s empowerment. Her thematic focus is on raising awareness about preventing and eliminating violence against women and girls, care work, as well as promoting greater opportunities for women in media and sports. She aims to inspire conversations about resilience, representation, and systemic change while amplifying the voices of marginalized women and girls.
Souza’s career began in 2008 with the series Terminales, and she quickly became one of the most successful actresses of her generation in Mexico and Latin America. She gained widespread recognition through major box office hits in Mexico such as Nosotros los Nobles and Qué culpa tiene el niño. Her international success expanded with her appearances in several acclaimed U.S. films and television series, including How to Get Away with Murder, in which she starred from 2014 to 2020. In 2022, she starred in and produced La Caída(Dive), an award-winning film shedding light on the prevalence of sexual and psychological abuse that women face within the world of sport. La Caída earned her two International Emmy Awards, one for Best Actress and one for Best TV-Movie/Miniseries in 2023, making her the only Mexican to hold the award for Best Actress, as well as a Diosa de Plata Award and an Ariel Award nomination.
Souza first began collaborating with UN Women in Mexico in 2022. Since then, she has been a spokesperson for UN Women Mexico in institutional campaigns such as for International Women’s Day and the UNiTE! 16 Days of activism against gender-based violence, as well as joining international campaigns for Generation Equality and to raise awareness of women’s empowerment through sport during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Her work with UN Women as a National Goodwill Ambassador will include championing initiatives that promote women’s leadership, advocacy for policies supporting gender equality and on the urgent need of preventing and eliminating all forms of violence against women and girls; as well as raising awareness on the importance of care work. Through her activism and storytelling, Karla Souza remains dedicated to driving meaningful change and empowering women and girls across Mexico and beyond.