Orantes was born in
Guatemala City, daughter of Megan Thomas, an American anthropologist, and of José Alejandro Orantes Martínez, a Guatemalan trader. She is a biologist graduated from the
Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala; holds a master's degree in Public Policy for Development from
Duke University, and obtained postgraduate studies in
public administration at the
University of Potsdam, Germany. She was appointed head of the Planning and Programming Secretariat of the Presidency in 2006. During this period, she was awarded the
Order of Civil Merit by the King
Juan Carlos I of Spain. She has worked as an advisor on environmental issues for several organizations such as the
United Nations Development Programme, the
Economic Commission for Latin America and the
United States Agency for International Development. Orantes is a cofounder of
Movimiento Semilla political party and has held positions within its leadership. She was a member of the National Executive Committee, initially occupying the role of National Organization Secretary, and afterwards that of National Political Program Secretary. Afterward, she coordinated the Semilla party in the Central District (
Guatemala City's municipality). She occupied second place for the Semilla parte for the National List constituency for the
2023 legislative election, and she was elected. == Personal life ==