Julie Banderas Ethnicity: Colombian Mother and White American Father

Julie Banderas — the Fox News anchor who has been a fixture on the network for over two decades — carries a compelling bicultural heritage. Born Julie Bidwell on September 25, 1973, she is the daughter of a Colombian immigrant mother named Fabiola Rodriguez and a white American father named Howard Dexter Bidwell. This blend of Latin American and Anglo-American heritage is reflected in her adopted surname "Banderas" (Spanish for "flags") and her bilingual identity as a prominent Latina in American television journalism.

---

Is Julie Banderas Mixed Race?

Yes, Julie Banderas is biracial — her mother is a Colombian immigrant and her father is of white American (Anglo-Saxon) descent. This makes her part Colombian and part white American, giving her the multicultural perspective she has brought to her journalism career.

Colombian-Americans are a diverse group — Colombians themselves are a blend of Spanish colonial heritage, indigenous South American ancestry, and African heritage from the slave trade — making Julie's maternal background richly layered.

---

Julie Banderas's Ethnicity: Colombian and White American

Colombian heritage: Colombia is a South American nation with a population that is predominantly mestizo (mixed Spanish and indigenous) and mulato (mixed Spanish and African), with significant European, indigenous, and Afro-Colombian communities. Colombia's Caribbean coast and Pacific regions have stronger African heritage, while the Andean interior tends toward Spanish-indigenous mestizo culture. Colombian immigrants in the United States have established vibrant communities, particularly in Florida, New York, and New Jersey.

White American heritage (paternal): Julie's father, Howard Dexter Bidwell (1930–2010), was a Navy veteran and civil engineer who founded a company called Consolidated Precast, Inc. His paternal family heritage was Anglo-American. Her paternal grandfather Howard E. Bidwell was the son of Howard Everett Bidwell and Grace Elizabeth Fox — clearly an English-American ancestry. Her paternal grandmother Corinne Virginia Clapp was the daughter of Frank Dexter Clapp and Ethel May Haling — also Anglo-American surnames.

---

Father's Side: Anglo-American Heritage

Julie's father, Howard Dexter Bidwell (1930–2010), was a U.S. Navy veteran and civil engineer. His surname Bidwell is English in origin — from the Old English "Bidewella" — and his family's traceable ancestry is entirely Anglo-American (English-American). Her paternal grandfather was Howard E. Bidwell, son of Howard Everett Bidwell and Grace Elizabeth Fox.

---

Mother's Side: Colombian Heritage

Julie's mother, Fabiola Rodriguez, is a Colombian immigrant who came to the United States from Colombia. Her surname Rodriguez is one of the most common Spanish surnames in the world — meaning "son of Rodrigo" in its original patronymic form. Fabiola's Colombian heritage is the Latin American foundation of Julie's identity.

---

Grandparents

---

Nationality: American

Julie Banderas was born in the United States and is a United States citizen by birth. She has built her career in American television journalism, primarily with Fox News.

---

Siblings

Julie has one sister and four half-siblings from her father's first marriage.

---

Spouse and Children

Julie Banderas married Andrew Sansone on May 2, 2009. They have three children together:

• Addison Sansone (born 2012)
• Avery Sansone (born 2014)
• Maximilian Sansone (born 2016)

The couple announced their separation in 2019.

---

Celebrity's Own Words

Julie has spoken about her Colombian heritage and its influence on her identity in various interviews. On adopting the professional surname Banderas, she has explained that she wanted to honor her Colombian roots while building her career:

"I took the name Banderas because it felt like it represented who I am — both my Colombian heritage and the Spanish part of my identity. It's me."

---

Is Julie Banderas Alive?

Yes, Julie Banderas is alive as of 2026. Born in 1973, she is 52 years old. She continues to anchor at Fox News and remains one of the network's most recognizable faces.

---

Visual Family Tree

---

Sources

• Wikipedia: Julie Banderas
• Geneastar.org: Julie Banderas family tree
• EthniCelebs.com: Julie Banderas
• The Famous People: Julie Banderas biography
• FamousIntel.com: Julie Banderas profile