I don’t envy anyone in that job. Gangs have been taking out journalist and politicians left and right, and I hope she is successful at clawing back the country from the narcos.
She's probably alive because she's already cut a deal with the narcos. I believe over a dozen other candidates were gunned down, along with some family members. I doubt that her and her family managed to get out of all that from simple luck.
Maybe she could be protected by "pilares de Oro y plata" or pillars of gold and silver. Or just really thick steel? What about really thick steel? Would that work?
Since women in modern politics are relatively new and this is a historic first, I think this is newsworthy.
However, I agree with you that gender shouldn't be the deciding qualification for the job. Yet I don't know nearly enough about Mexican politics to comment on that topic and to be frank, I haven't read the linked article.