Popular Sports Stars and Celebrities in Mexico [2]
The Mexican tourist industry is coming out of a long and well-publicized slump; 2010 boasted a 10% gain from 2009 in U.S. travelers to the land south of the border. The increase in American tourists parallels an increasing stream of celebrities and popular sports stars [3] visiting the country. Several celebrities in Mexico have chosen to mix business with pleasure on their travels to the country. Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez, Paris Hilton, Nelly, Kelly Rowland, and Angelina Jolie are some of the many stars that have worked while in Mexico. Other celebs, including Kate Bosworth, Kourtney Kardashian, Domenico Dolce, Stefano Gabbana and Jennifer Aniston, opted for just a relaxing vacation in Mexico. Not all celebrities in Mexico have come for play, however. Bono, and President Obama have both come to Mexico to discuss drug violence, and Rick Barry hosted a basketball camp last summer for local children in Cancún. Several popular sports stars have come to Mexico as well, including Iker Casillas Fernández, Nancy Lopez, Eli Manning, and the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team. The country was also a popular romantic spot. Numerous celebrities, including Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton, and LeAnn Rimes and Eddie Cibrian took their honeymoons south of the border. Eva LaRue married her businessman boyfriend, Joe Cappuccio, on the beach at The Tides Oceanside resort in Zihuatanejo in June of 2010. Britney Spears celebrated her 29th birthday with her boyfriend, Jason Trawick, in a private oceanfront villa in Conchas Chinas.