Powerful women across the globe continue to inspire younger generations. Below is a collection of influential, Hispanic women in 2021 that you must know.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
New York-born and of Puerto Rican descent, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, or better known as AOC, serves as a U.S. representative for New York’s 14th congressional district. She previously attended Boston University where she majored in both economics and international relations. Crowning the title of the youngest woman to be elected to the United States Congress, AOC is a progressive activist supporting policies like the Green New Deal, Medicare for all, and a tuition-free college. Many wish to see AOC in the 2024 election in hopes of having both the first woman and Hispanic in the presidential seat.
Sonia Sotomayor
Another important woman in government is the famous Sonia Sotomayor who serves as associate justice on the United States Supreme Court. Like AOC, Sotomayor was born in New York to two Puerto Rican natives. In 2009, Sotomayor was appointed by Barack Obama, becoming the first Hispanic woman to become a justice on the United States Supreme Court. She is known to support reform of the criminal justice system, rights of defendants, and discussing issues of racial, gender, and ethnic identity.
Rosalía
Known for her hit songs “Con Altura” and “Malamente”, Rosalía is a sensational artist from Spain who has made her name known worldwide. She was nominated for Best New Artist at the 2020 Grammys and won a Grammy for her album El Mal Querer. Rosalía has worked with large artists such as J Balvin, Travis Scott, and Billie Eilish. She was also featured in Time magazine’s “Next Generation Leaders”. Her music has impacted many and she continues to influence the pop genre with authentic Spanish styles, creating a new “flamenco-pop”.
Julia Alvarez
The famous Dominican-American author recently made a return with her novel Afterlife. The novel includes important conversations of immigration through a personal, yet fictional lens. Afterlife was named one of 2020 must-read books by magazines like O, The Oprah Magazine, Vogue, and The New York Times. Julia Alvarez is a prolific author, creating an abundance of literature from poetry to essays to novels. She has received numerous awards including the National Medal of Arts from former president Barack Obama.
Sources:
https://www.oprahmag.com/life/g28968602/famous-hispanic-people/?slide=17
https://www.juliaalvarez.com/about
https://ocasio-cortez.house.gov/about/biography