Lorena Castillo a Former First Lady of Panama.”The Greatest Joy in the World was Leaving the Government”
She served as First Lady from 2014 to 2019 during the administration of her husband, former President Juan Carlos Varela. In a May 2026 interview on the podcast Altavoz, Castillo reflected on her time in public office. She expressed that stepping away from the restrictions, scrutiny, and public life of the government was deeply liberating. Since leaving her official role, she has continued her humanitarian work, notably as a Goodwill Ambassador for UNAIDS, and focuses on her media career as the host of Altavoz.
Lorena Castillo was the First Lady of Panama during the administration of Juan Carlos Varela (2014-2019). Previously, she was a television presenter and producer. She is a Goodwill Ambassador for the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS and a member of the steering committee of Laureates and Leaders for Children. She currently hosts the podcast ‘Altavoz’.
WASHINGTON, DC – JUNE 19 of 2017: U.S. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump welcome Panamanian President Juan Carlos Varela and his wife Lorena Castillo Garcia de Varela to the White House June 19, 2017 in Washington, DC.
According to the White House, the two presidents held meetings to talk about how to curb “transnational organized crime, illegal migration, and illicit substances” and the continued political and economic instability in Venezuela.
