Mireya Mayor facts for kids

Mireya Mayor, born in 1973, is an amazing American scientist. She studies humans (an anthropologist) and primates like monkeys and lemurs (a primatologist). She's also a wildlife reporter for National Geographic. Mireya was part of a team that found a brand new species of lemur. This tiny lemur is thought to be the smallest primate on Earth! People sometimes call her the "female Indiana Jones" because of her exciting adventures.

Mireya Mayor's Early Life and Education

Mireya Mayor grew up in Miami, Florida. She was raised by her mother, grandmother, and aunt. They had moved to the U.S. from Cuba in 1965. Her mother, who was a nurse, thought joining the Girl Scouts was too risky for Mireya.

Mireya went to the University of Miami. There, she earned her first college degree. She studied anthropology, which is the study of human societies and cultures. She also studied philosophy, which explores big questions about life. For four years, Mireya was a cheerleader for the NFL team, the Miami Dolphins.

Later, Mireya continued her studies. She received special scholarships like the Fulbright Scholar and National Science Foundation fellowships. In 2008, she earned her PhD in anthropology from Stony Brook University in New York.

Mireya Mayor's Exciting Career

Becoming a Wildlife Correspondent

In 1999, Mireya Mayor made history. She became the very first female wildlife correspondent for National Geographic. She hosted episodes for their show Ultimate Explorer. Two of her episodes, "Girl Power" and "Into the Lost World," were even nominated for an Emmy Award. These awards are a big deal in television!

Discovering a New Lemur Species

One of Mireya's most famous adventures happened in 2001. She was on an expedition in Madagascar, an island known for its unique wildlife. There, she and her research team discovered a brand new species of mouse lemur. They named it Microcebus mittermeieri, or Mittermeier's mouse lemur. It was named after Russell Mittermeier, a famous primatologist.

After this amazing discovery, Mireya did something incredible. She convinced the prime minister of Madagascar to protect the lemur's home. This area was then declared a national park! This helped keep the tiny lemurs safe.

Exploring Africa and Searching for Bigfoot

In 2009, Mireya was part of a TV miniseries called Expedition Africa. This show, on the History Channel, followed the path of a famous explorer. It retraced H.M. Stanley's journey through Tanzania. He was searching for another explorer, David Livingstone.

More recently, in 2019, Mireya joined the Travel Channel series Expedition Bigfoot. In this documentary, she and other wildlife experts spent three weeks in the Pacific Northwest. They were looking for proof that Bigfoot exists. The first season aired in January 2020. As of July 2025, the show was in its sixth season.

Leading Science Communication

In October 2019, Mireya took on a new role. She started directing the Exploration and Science Communications Initiative. This is at Florida International University. She helps share exciting science discoveries with the public.

In September 2022, a children's book was written about her! It's called "Just Wild Enough: Mireya Mayor, Primatologist."

Mireya Mayor's Personal Life

Mireya Mayor has a big family. She has six children. Five are from her first marriage. One child is with her second husband, Phil Fairclough. Phil is an executive producer, which means he helps make TV shows and movies. In 2018, Mireya's home was in Great Falls, Virginia.