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Maya Selva has been awarded the title of Chevalier de la Légion d’honneur – Knight of the French Legion of Honour

vasilij-ratej
Vasily 27 July 2026

Maya Selva, founder of Maya Selva Cigars, has been appointed a Chevalier de la Légion d’honneur.

With France’s highest honour, the country is recognising her entrepreneurial contribution to the development of the cigar industry, as well as her long-standing commitment to the heritage of tobacco cultivation.

Key points at a glance

  • Person: Maya Selva
  • Award: Knight of the Legion of Honour
  • Awarded by: President of the French Republic
  • Appointment: PhD graduation on 14 July 2026
  • Company: Maya Selva Cigars
  • Market entry in France: 1995
  • In-house production: Danlí, Honduras (opened around 18 months ago)

By appointing her as a Chevalier de la Légion d’honneur, France is recognising Maya Selva’s long-standing contribution to the cigar industry.

A journey in business since 1995

In 1995, Maya Selva introduced hand-rolled cigars from Honduras to the French market. In the years that followed, she gradually expanded her business internationally. Around 18 months ago, she opened her own cigar factory in Danlí, thereby taking over part of the production herself. Alongside her business activities, she was committed to promoting cigar culture. From 2022 to June 2026, she was Grand Master of the Jean Nicot Brotherhood, a French association dedicated to promoting tobacco and cigar culture. With his appointment as Knight of the Legion of Honour France recognises this professional career.

Invitation from Zigarren.Zone

What's new?

For once, the ‘new’ item is not a product, but a state honour. Appointment to the Legion of Honour is one of France’s highest civilian honours. It is awarded to individuals who have rendered outstanding service to the country or to their respective fields of activity.

For the international cigar industry, this award is significant because it honours a female entrepreneur whose professional focus has been on the production and marketing of hand-rolled cigars for three decades.

Why is this interesting?

Awards of this kind are rare in the cigar industry. They do not relate to individual products or brands, but to the long-term contribution made by a particular individual. In Maya Selva’s case, France is thus recognising both her entrepreneurial achievements and her influence on the popularity of Honduran cigars in the French market, as well as her commitment to the industry.

Source: Based on the press release from Maya Selva Cigars

Find out more on this topic at Zigarren.Zone

Photos

  • Maya Selva Cigars
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Vasily
I am the editor of Zigarren.Zone and co-founder and editor of origin-of-cigar.com. Since 1995, I have been deeply involved with cigars – not just as a luxury item, but as a craft, a cultural asset and a fascinating natural product. With Zigarren.Zone, I have deliberately moved away from the traditional language of flavour descriptions. I’m not interested in what a cigar reminds me of. I’m interested in what the tobacco itself has to say. That’s why I explain connections in an accessible way, observe rather than judge, and prioritise knowledge over marketing. As well as my articles, I produce documentary films and video reports about cigars, their origins and the people behind them. My aim is simple: to explain cigars in an accessible way – independently and with respect for the tobacco.

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