US Secretary of State Marco Rubio wears many hats. But before all comes his family man image, as he always speaks profusely about his wife Jeanette and his children. In a social media post on his wedding anniversary, Rubio wrote: “The most important moment of my life happened 27 years ago tonight. God has blessed me in many ways but none more important than my wife Jeanette.”Like Rubio, Jeanette was also born to immigrant parents. Her parents came to the US from Colombia.
First meeting in Miami
The story of Marco Rubio and Jeanette Dousdebes begins in the vibrant, close-knit South Florida community where both grew up. Born to Colombian immigrant parents, Jeanette was raised in Miami. In the early 1990s, she was a 17-year-old student at South Miami High School, which Marco had attended just a couple of years prior. Marco, then 19, was transitioning from his early college football days toward completing his undergraduate degree.They first crossed paths at a neighborhood party thrown by mutual friends. Though they were only loosely acquainted at the time, Marco was immediately taken by Jeanette. However, as is common with young relationships, life pushed them in different directions initially, and their real romantic story would take a few more years to fully spark.
Reconnecting and early dating
After high school, Jeanette enrolled at Miami Dade College and began working as a bank teller. In 1997, her life took a glamorous turn when she auditioned for and made the Miami Dolphins Cheerleaders squad, joining alongside her sister, Adriana. Jeanette even earned a spot in the team’s very first swimsuit calendar.It was during this time that Marco and Jeanette reconnected. Marco was finishing his law degree at the University of Miami School of Law, while Jeanette was balancing college, banking, and cheering on the sidelines at Sun Life Stadium. Having both matured, their casual acquaintance blossomed into a serious dating relationship.However, their journey wasn’t without bumps. Early on in their courtship around 1995, the couple went through a temporary breakup. During their time apart, Marco spent nights going out to South Beach clubs with friends, but he quickly found the party lifestyle hollow.In his 2012 memoir, An American Son, Marco famously recounted a surreal night at a local nightclub covered in foam that ended up ruining his shoes. Standing in the foam, he had a moment of clarity, realizing that the party scene offered no real substance and that he truly wanted to spend his life with Jeanette. That very night, he walked to a nearby payphone and called her. The call led to a reconciliation that permanently cemented their commitment to one another.By 1997, Marco was ready to ask Jeanette to marry him. Wanting the proposal to be unforgettable, he planned a romantic trip to New York City during Valentine’s Day weekend.He took Jeanette to the observation deck of the Empire State Building at sunset. With the Manhattan skyline behind them, Marco dropped to one knee and proposed. Jeanette said yes, and the couple returned to Florida ready to plan their future together.
A traditional Catholic wedding
On October 27, 1998, Marco and Jeanette were married in a formal Catholic ceremony at the Church of the Little Flower in Coral Gables, Florida, a historic church that would remain a central spiritual home for their family for decades.Their wedding was a celebration deeply rooted in their shared Hispanic heritage and strong family ties, attended by large extended families from both sides.
Life, family, and navigating politics together
Shortly after marrying, Jeanette briefly studied fashion design at the International Fine Arts College. However, as Marco’s political career began its rapid ascent, first with his election to the West Miami City Commission, then to the Florida House of Representatives, and eventually to the US Senate, they decided to shift their primary focus to family life.Together, they raised four children: Daniella, Amanda, Dominick, and Anthony. While Marco spent long stretches away from home serving in government, Jeanette grounded the family in West Miami. She stepped out of the political spotlight for the most part, focusing on raising their children, hosting home Bible study groups, and engaging in charitable work, most notably volunteering for Kristi House, a Miami nonprofit aiding victims of child abuse and human trafficking.
