Ana Beatriz Muñoz Ruiz

So nice to meet you! First off, what’s your name? Tell our readers a bit about yourself—where you’re from originally and where you live now.

Hi, I'm Ana Beatriz Muñoz Ruiz. I was born in Veracruz, raised in Mexico City, and later built a home and started a family in Cancún, Mexico.

Now I'm based in Austin, Texas. I'm the founder of Altarxito, a line of products that honors Mexican culture while creating opportunities for meaningful remembrance and more.

Tell us one thing you love about where you live now?

I love living downtown near Lady Bird Lake. It allows me to experience both worlds at the same time—a big city and a place surrounded by nature.

Tell us a little bit more about what your company does and how it started? How does it help your customers?

I create tools to help people heal from the loss of loved ones, whether family members, friends, or pets.

My connection to Día de Muertos is personal. Having experienced the profound loss of dear family members and friends, I have always turned to the tradition of building altars as a way to reconnect with my loved ones—to feel their presence, remember their essence, and share their stories with my family and friends. Now that I'm living abroad, this tradition also helps me stay connected to my heritage, my beloved home, and my family and friends around the world.

I bring this perspective into every aspect of Altarxito. Whether curating an altar or collaborating with designers, I draw inspiration from nature, the colors of Mexico, and the vibrancy of Mexican life. Altars are deeply personal expressions, and with Altarxito, everyone is invited to add their own creativity and care to make their altar unique and meaningful.

Altarxito gives people the opportunity to remember their loved ones with love—recalling who they were, what they ate and drank, their hobbies, and even their little quirks. their hobbies, and even their little quirks.

If someone wants to start a business, what advice will help them?

Do it with all your passion, knowing that you are solving a problem or genuinely helping another human being.

What was one feedback from a happy customer/client that you won't forget about?

One customer had lost her daughter and was grateful to be able to set up an Altarxito with her grandson. Together, they talked about the things her daughter (his mom) used to do when she was a child, how he remembered her, how she used to correct him, and the meals they enjoyed eating together.

Where do you see your company in the future?

I see Altarxito in stores across different countries.

What is the biggest misconception about your industry?

Some people think that Día de Muertos is about honoring death, and that is completely wrong. The celebration is about healing our hearts and remembering our loved ones with affection. In fact, the skulls in this tradition are smiling—they are not meant to scare you.

What has been one of your biggest struggle building your business and how did you deal with it?

The most difficult part has been creating a product from scratch for a seasonal celebration. I'm still learning how to make the business more efficient.

Who was your favorite music artist and athlete growing up?

I love many of the music artists from the 1980s. It was an incredible era. U2 is one of my favorite bands. Thanks to them, I went to my first stadium concert in Madrid, where I also got to see UB40 and The Pretenders perform.

As for athletes, when I was little, I was inspired by gymnast Nadia Comăneci. Swimmer Michael Phelps motivated me to take swimming more seriously. Today, watching tennis players Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner compete is a real treat.

Any shoutouts you want to make?

I'd like to thank my parents, sisters, brothers, and cousins. They were a fundamental part of the first phase of my life. Today, I also recognize my children as my greatest motivation and happiness in this second part of my journey.

Where can our readers learn more about you and your company?

You can learn more by visiting https://altarxito.com/. I would also love for your readers to follow me on Instagram and connect with me there: https://www.instagram.com/altarxito?igsh=MTl6MThtMjR4cGIxcg==