This study examines the acquisition of legitimacy among second-generation non-Brazilian Capoeira Mestres in Mexico, focusing on the 2023 formatura ceremony of Grupo Longe do Mar—the first documented instance outside Brazil where local practitioners, trained by local Mestres, attained the title. In dialogue with Miller’s In Search of Legitimacy: How Outsiders Become Part of an Afro-Brazilian Tradition (Dance and performance studies: volume 7). Berghahn Books, (2016) framework, we argue that Mexican Mestres navigate legitimacy through alternative strategies: pedagogical innovation, artistic expression, and community-centric practices. Qualitative analysis of interviews with eight Mestres reveals that titles and pilgrimages to Brazil hold less weight in Mexico; instead, legitimacy emerges from localized adaptations, transparent evaluation systems, and communal belonging. The findings underscore how Capoeira’s internationalization fosters distinct social fields, where legitimacy is negotiated through intercultural reimagination rather than replicating Brazilian norms. We also identify gaps for future research, including gender disparities in title attainment and the affective dimensions of legitimacy. This study contributes to debates on cultural authenticity, internationalization, and intercultural negotiation by centering Mexico’s unique Capoeira landscape.