Aylin Mujica's DJ Son Dies At 31 During Barbados Trip, What Happened To Him And Who Is His Father?
Aylin Mujica was filming the upcoming season of 'Top Chef VIP' in Colombia when she received the news of her eldest son's tragic death. The DJ was in his early 30s.
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Add BollywoodShaadis on GoogleCuban actress and popular television personality Aylin Mujica is battling one of the toughest chapters of her life. Reports are rife that Aylin's eldest son, Mauro Menendez, passed away while on a trip to Barbados. The 31-year-old, known professionally as DJ Maahez, had grown a loyal fanbase with his music; the news of his unexpected passing has prompted an outpouring of condolences online.
While the family has yet to address the tragedy, initial reports indicate that Mujica was busy filming Telemundo's Top Chef VIP in Bogota, Colombia, when she received the devastating news.
What happened to Mauro Menendez?
According to multiple reports, Mauro Menendez had travelled to Barbados to attend a baseball game. Sources close to the family said he had been battling pneumonia before making the trip. Although the official cause of death has not been confirmed, several reports have suggested that he may have suffered a heart attack. Authorities and the family have not released a formal statement confirming the circumstances of his death.
The heartbreaking news reportedly reached Aylin Mujica on Thursday night while she was filming the cooking reality show in Colombia. As of now, the actress has not issued a public statement.
Mauro was the son of Aylin Mujica and Cuban musician Osamu Menendez, who were briefly married from 1993 to 1996. He was reportedly born in 1993, though some reports say his birth year was 1995. Unlike his famous parents, he largely stayed away from the public eye. Eventually, he made a name for himself in electronic music circles under the name DJ Maahez.
What we know about Mauro Menendez's father
Mauro's father, Osamu Menendez, has gained significant popularity in the Cuban music scene, especially given his family background. Osamu comes from a celebrated artistic family. He is the son of legendary Cuban guitarist Pablo Menendez, founder of the band Mezcla, and actress Adria Santana. His grandmother was renowned American folk and blues singer Barbara Dane.
Although his ex-wife has not yet addressed their son's demise, Osamu shared an emotional message on social media shortly after the news of Mauro's death emerged. In his heartbreaking message, the mourning father wrote:
"Forgive me, I can't speak. My son Mauro died last night, and I'm devastated. I'm on a plane to pick up his body. I love you all and thank you for your messages of condolence."
Speaking about the late DJ's career, his artistic journey dates back to 2014, when he released his first lyrics, Jump Around, and later performed live at the Life In Color Festival in Miami. He had earned a loyal fan base and often did shows across the country under the Maahez label.
Mauro had more than 41.2k followers on Instagram and was fairly active on the platform. Days before his untimely death, he posted a carousel of pictures from a studio with a simple caption: “REAL MUSIC >”. Fans are now revisiting that post from July 7, 2026, remembering a talent gone too soon.
Aylin Mujica's family with three kids
Born in Havana, Cuba, in 1974, Aylín Mujica established herself as one of the most recognizable faces in Spanish-language television after moving to Mexico in the early 1990s.
She has starred in popular telenovelas including Marina, Sin senos no hay paraiso, Aurora, Corazon valiente, and Los Miserables, while also working as a television host on shows such as Suelta la Sopa and La mesa caliente. She is currently filming a new season of Top Chef VIP for Telemundo.
Mauro Menendez was Aylin Mujica's first child, born when the actress was just 19 years old. She has often spoken about the sacrifices she made as a young mother while building her acting career. Mauro, too, shared a close bond with his mom and often spoke fondly of her.
After Mauro, Aylin has two other children from later relationships. Her second son, Alejandro Gavira, was born in 2000 and is the son of a Mexican television producer who shares his name. Her youngest and only daughter, Violeta Venezuela, was born in 2010, and her father is also a popular face: Colombian actor and singer Gabriel Valenzuela.
The family has yet to announce funeral arrangements or confirm the official cause of Mauro Menendez's death.
Images: Aylin Mujica/IG, Mauro Menendez/IG, Osamu Menendez/IG
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