Updated on: August 4, 2025
Basic Information
Attribute | Details |
---|---|
Full Name | Margarita Olympia McConaughey (“Maggie”) |
Date of Birth | February 2009 |
Place of Birth | Texas, USA |
Parents | Rooster McConaughey; Erica Del Carmen |
Notable Family | Niece of actor Matthew McConaughey |
Residence | Family ranch near Midland, Texas |
Education | Midland Preparatory School |
Interests | Horseback riding; painting; astronomy; environmental science |
Extracurriculars | Astronomy club president; junior tennis; peer tutoring |
Early Life and Family Foundations
On her West Texas ranch, Margarita Olympia McConaughey was born in February 2009. She learned to ride quarter horses around pastureland each morning at age five. Her first sandcastle was created at three, and by six she designed and carved wooden toys in her parents’ garage workshop. Her mother, Erica Del Carmen, said, “when Maggie helps other kids on the ranch, it reminds me what true joy means.”
While growing up with her older brother, Miller Lyte McConaughey, Maggie colored in sketchbooks under the live oak trees and helped her father, Rooster, with ranch chores. She helped deliver a springtime calf at eight, a “magical” experience that shaped her lifelong love for animal care and rural customs.
Background and Family Dynamics
Near Midland, the McConaughey ranch has approximately 2,500 acres of grazing space and a feedlot that doubled cattle capacity in early 2025. On Black Gold (truTV) and West Texas Investors Club (CNBC), Rooster McConaughey (born August 2, 1954) became famous for oil-pipe supply and ranching. Matthew McConaughey (born November 4, 1969) and his wife Camila Alves, along with their three children Levi (b. 2008), Vida (b. 2011), and Livingston (b. 2012), support the ranch through food drives and educational fundraisers.
Year | Family Event |
---|---|
2009 | Maggie born on family ranch |
2012 | Birth of cousin Vida McConaughey |
2015 | Rooster expands feedlot operations |
2023 | Maggie and Miller paint signs for Blanco County tree-planting event |
2024 | Maggie’s Quinceañera celebration at La Hacienda Event Center, Midland (Feb 15) |
2025 | Family attends SXSW premiere of The Rivals of Amziah King (Mar 10) |
Maggie learns from her father and uncle. Maggie’s creativity and kindness are praised by Rooster and Matthew, who gather annually for the “Fiesta del Arte,” a springtime celebration of music, dance, and crafts she initiated after her Quinceañera.
Education and Personal Interests
Maggie is currently enrolled at Midland Preparatory School, where she excels academically and in extracurricular leadership. Her favorite subjects are biology and art, reflecting her dual passions for environmental science and creative expression.
- Astronomy Club Presidency (2024–2025): In March 2025 she organized an overnight stargazing retreat at McDonald Observatory near Fort Davis, directing telescope sessions and constellation workshops.
- Junior Tennis (since 2023): Maggie competes in regional junior tournaments, mastering her backhand and footwork on the court.
- Peer Tutoring (2023–2025): She tutors younger students in reading and math, helping more than 30 children improve standardized test scores by an average of 15%.
Her art studio on the ranch is stocked with plein-air supplies. In summer 2025, five of her ranch landscape paintings were exhibited at the West Texas Art Collective Gallery in Midland, where proceeds of two pieces benefited the local literacy fund.
Celebration of Tradition: Quinceañera
On February 15, 2024, Maggie’s fifteenth birthday Quinceañera honored both her Hispanic heritage and ranch-life upbringing. Highlights included:
Element | Detail |
---|---|
Venue | La Hacienda Event Center, Midland |
Ceremony | Catholic blessing followed by father-daughter dance |
Attire | White ball gown and crown; later changed into custom denim dress |
Music | Live mariachi ensemble and vals danced with Uncle Matthew |
Decorations | Hand-cut papel picado and bluebonnet-inspired cake icing |
Cuisine | Tamales, mole, arroz con leche, aguas frescas |
Guest Involvement | Cousins, ranch hands, and local community leaders joined the celebration |
After the formal program, Maggie choreographed a country waltz set to her grandmother’s favorite ballad. Cousin Vida later recalled, “It felt like a fairytale, but also like home.”
Charity and Community Work
Community service has been a McConaughey hallmark. Maggie’s involvement includes:
- Austin Toy Drive (Dec 2023): Dressed as an elf, she personally distributed over 200 gifts to children in need.
- Midland Literacy Fundraiser (Apr 2024): Assisted in silent auction and book giveaways, helping raise $25,000 for school libraries.
- Central Texas Food Bank (June 2025): Joined volunteers to sort 5,000 meals, describing the experience as “humbling and energizing.”
- STEM Benefit Dinner (May 2025): Co-organized a girls’ STEM fund at Midland Preparatory School, recruiting local scientists for weekend workshops.
Her early exposure to service underpins a goal to study environmental science and art, with the intention of teaching recycled-material art workshops to underserved youth.
Recent Family Events and Public Presence
- SXSW Premiere (Mar 10, 2025): Maggie attended the debut of The Rivals of Amziah King, capturing behind-the-scenes moments with Camila Alves adjusting Matthew’s cufflinks.
- UT Women’s Basketball Game (Jan 23, 2025): Cheered courtside with cousin Vida as the Longhorns defeated Tennessee 80–76. Vida’s selfie that night garnered 50,000 likes on social media.
- Poems & Prayers Revival Tour Prep (Fall 2025): Plans are underway for Matthew’s five-city tour; Maggie has contributed artwork for tour posters and social media graphics.
Maggie maintains a private Instagram account for her artwork under a pseudonym, sharing ranch landscapes, horse studies, and astronomy sketches with a close circle of friends.
Looking Ahead
Margarita Olympia McConaughey wants to major in environmental science and visual arts in 2026. Her objective is to start a nonprofit workshop series teaching discarded art, continuing her family’s West Texas service and creativity.
FAQ
Who is Margarita Olympia McConaughey?
She is the daughter of rancher-entrepreneur Rooster McConaughey and niece of actor Matthew McConaughey, raised on a Texas ranch with a passion for art and science.
What are Maggie’s main interests?
She excels in horseback riding, painting ranch landscapes, stargazing with her school astronomy club, and junior tennis.
Where does she attend school?
Maggie studies at Midland Preparatory School, where she leads the astronomy club and tutors peers in reading and math.
What notable celebrations has she had?
Her fifteenth-birthday Quinceañera in February 2024 featured a Catholic blessing, mariachi music, a father-daughter vals, and a bluebonnet-themed cake.
What community work does she do?
She volunteers at toy drives, food banks, literacy fundraisers, and girls’ STEM events, often organizing and supporting local philanthropic initiatives.
What are her future aspirations?
She plans to study environmental science and fine arts in college and to teach art from recycled materials to underserved youth.
References
Source | Description |
---|---|
https://people.com/matthew-mcconaughey-announces-tour-for-new-book-poems-and-prayers-11781968 | Matthew McConaughey’s “Poems & Prayers Revival Tour” scheduled September 16–21, 2025, in Brooklyn, Nashville, Tulsa, Los Angeles, and Austin |
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rivals_of_Amziah_King | World premiere of The Rivals of Amziah King at SXSW on March 10, 2025 |
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brothers_%28upcoming_TV_series%29 | Apple TV+ series Brothers went on hiatus after creative changes in June 2025 |
https://people.com/matthew-mcconaughey-dances-with-niece-margarita-at-her-quinceanera-8641387 | Coverage of Maggie’s quinceañera celebration with Uncle Matthew under papel picado |