Notable Hispanic Women

Loreta Janeta Velazquez

• A Cuban woman who dressed as a man to fight as a soldier for the Confederate army.

• A famous Cuban artist known for her paintings.

• A Cuban politician who advocated for women's rights.

• A Cuban scientist who made significant contributions to medicine.

Sandra Cisneros

• Mexican-American author of 'The House On Mango Street', a book about growing up in a Hispanic neighborhood in Chicago.

• A famous painter known for her murals depicting Mexican culture.

• A renowned chef specializing in traditional Mexican cuisine.

• An influential musician known for her contributions to Latin jazz.

Selena Quintanilla-Perez

• Queen of Tejano music. Famously crossed over into American mainstream music.

• A famous pop artist known for her collaborations with major hip-hop artists.

• An actress known for her roles in telenovelas and films.

• A country music singer who gained fame in the 1990s.

Rita Moreno

• Only Hispanic to win an Oscar, Grammy, Emmy, and Tony award, played a lead role in the musical/movie West Side Story.

• First woman to win an Oscar for Best Director.

• Famous for her role in the movie The Sound of Music.

• Won a Grammy for her contributions to jazz music.

Antonia Novello

• 1st woman and 1st Hispanic to become Surgeon General of the United States.

• 1st woman to serve as a U.S. Senator.

• 1st Hispanic to win a Nobel Prize in Literature.

• 1st female Secretary of State.

Ellen Ochoa

• 1st Hispanic woman in space.

• First woman to walk on the moon.

• First female astronaut to command a space shuttle.

• First Hispanic woman to pilot a spacecraft.

Sonia Sotomayor

• First Hispanic Supreme Court Justice.

• First female Supreme Court Justice.

• First African American Supreme Court Justice.

• First Asian American Supreme Court Justice.

Dolores Huerta

• Civil Rights Activist fighting for the rights of women and farm workers.

• Famous author known for her novels about social justice.

• Political leader advocating for environmental issues.

• Artist recognized for her contributions to modern art.

Celia Cruz

• Cuban singer known as the queen of salsa.

• Famous Mexican actress and producer.

• Renowned Brazilian football player.

• Legendary Puerto Rican reggaeton artist.

Nydia Velazquez

• 1st female Puerto Rican to serve in Congress.

• 1st female Puerto Rican governor.

• 1st Puerto Rican woman to win a Nobel Prize.

• 1st Puerto Rican woman to serve as a Supreme Court Justice.