Who is Elsa Mendoza's sister?
Ena Espino Pereda is the sister of Elsa Mendoza and the maternal aunt of Fernando Mendoza, an American professional football quarterback for the Las Vegas Raiders. She gained widespread attention during the 2026 College Football Playoff when ESPN cameras repeatedly showed her celebrating in the stands while supporting her nephew.
Background and education
Ena Espino Pereda was born and raised in Coral Gables, Florida. She grew up alongside her sister, Elsa Espino Mendoza, in a culturally diverse household and is fully bilingual in English and Spanish. She earned a bachelor's degree in Fine Arts and Spanish from the University of Miami and also studied at the University of Salamanca in Spain.
Career in luxury real estate
Ena Espino Pereda is a luxury real estate executive with more than two decades of experience in Miami's high-end property market. She specializes in luxury homes and preconstruction condominiums. Pereda began her career as a real estate agent at EWM Realtors. In a 2014 interview with South Florida Agent, she said, "Real estate is a great industry to be in because you are always helping people – helping people find a home, helping them find a great way to invest their money in something real. It is very validating." She also noted, "I try to be as knowledgeable as possible with the market, understand clients’ needs and get them the best possible deal."
Current role and achievements
Since November 2021, Pereda has been the Vice President of Sales Development Division at ONE Sotheby's International Realty, leading sales for luxury residential developments including St. Regis Residences Miami, Una Residences, Missoni Baia, SLS Lux, Icon Brickell, One Ocean, and Marea. She has also worked with Fortune Christie's International Real Estate since 2010, serving as a Realtor Sales Associate and In-House Sales Executive. In 2005, she co-founded the Catena Group, a luxury real estate team that has completed over $3 billion in sales and ranks among the top 3% of Realtors nationwide, according to her LinkedIn profile.
How did she become famous?
Ena Espino Pereda became famous during the 2026 College Football Playoff after television cameras repeatedly showed her cheering for her nephew, Fernando Mendoza, from the stands. The attention began during Indiana's Peach Bowl semifinal, where ESPN frequently featured Pereda celebrating alongside her sister, Elsa Mendoza. Her appearances quickly caught viewers' attention and went viral on social media. Despite the attention, Pereda has kept a low public profile and continues focusing on her real estate career.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Elsa Mendoza's sister? Elsa Mendoza’s sister is Ena Espino Pereda.
- Where is Ena Espino Pereda from? She is from Coral Gables, Florida, where she was born and raised.
- Why did Mendoza's aunt go viral? She went viral after being repeatedly shown on television broadcasts supporting her nephew, Fernando Mendoza.
- What does Ena Espino Pereda do? She works as a luxury real estate executive and is Division Vice President of Sales Development at ONE Sotheby's International Realty.
- Who is Fernando Mendoza's mom? Elsa Espino Mendoza is Fernando Mendoza's mother.
Although Elsa Mendoza's sister, Ena Espino Pereda, went viral during the playoff run, she has largely remained a private person and has not publicly commented on the attention. Most of the spotlight has remained on her support for Fernando and her close-knit family. Ena continues working in commercial real estate in the Miami area.
