Ana Jurka is on her way to Qatar 2022

Her origins

Ana was born in Tegucigalpa, the capital of Honduras. Her father died when she was only four years old, so her mother alone took on Ana’s upbringing and hers with her other three children. Ana was fourteen years old when her mother decided to come to the US in order to attend to the needs of her four children who were growing up. “When my mother came it was hard until all the brothers organized themselves. I assumed the role of mother to my little sister who is only three years younger than me. She always tells me that I am her second mother, “says Ana.

“The best years of my life were spent in La Ceiba, on the north coast of Honduras. I had an amazing time eating coconut rice. There the coconut is an ingredient for beans, bread, fried fish, everything. I close my eyes and remember the two years that I lived on the coast,” she recalls. Ana admits that she dances “ punta”, a characteristic rhythm of the Honduran coast. “Sopa de Caracol, for example, is in rhythm of tip. I try to dance it but I do it with absolute respect for the Garifuna, our Afro-descendant population in Honduras.”

Ana Jurka highlights the Garífuna culture of the north coast of Honduras.

On feeling powerless

Ana does not hide her feelings about her when she sees the recurring images of Hondurans risking her lives to reach the US. “Impotence is the only word I could use to express my feelings. I see that many come with the hope of a better life for their families. Many come as family and end up being separated. That tears me apart. I, as the daughter of an immigrant, a woman who decided to leave her country, leave her children behind, cross the desert to come to the United States, I understand them”, affirms Ana.

Thinking about the future

This communicator wants to continue growing professionally. Ana explains that “I want to do great things in entertainment and sports. And I want for the first time not to put limits on myself. When I was young I had such eagerness to survive, to stay well, to have economic stability. It shut me down a lot. I was afraid to take risks. I put many ceilings, many barriers, precisely looking for the comfort zone. Now I don’t want to do that, I want to challenge myself not to be afraid and that’s it”.

This Honduran was the presenter in English during the choice of cities for the 2026 World Cup. She showed that she is ready to make the crossover to Anglo-American television, if she wanted to. However, for the moment, Ana indicates that she has her priorities clear. “I am not a work machine. I remember that I have many more important things like family. And I remember going for a walk and going to the park or the movies with my children. I love my job, but I remember what my priorities are,” she concluded.