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Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum raises her fist as she speaks to national business leaders at the Anthropology Musuem in Mexico City, Thursday, April 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano) By Anna Ortega April 22, 2025 – 09:00 Latinas made a powerful mark on TIME Magazine’s 2025 list of the World’s Most Influential People. The annual list has previously recognized Latinx leaders including Indigenous activist from Ecuador Nemonte Nenquimo , Bonnie Castillo, a registered nurse and executive director of National Nurses United and the California Nurses Association, and acclaimed Mexican chef Gabriela Cámara.Among those honored this year were Mexican president Claudia Sheinbaum , Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado , Peruvian-American environmental activist Andrea Vidaurre, and Argentinian ecologist and researcher Sandra Díaz—each celebrated for their bold leadership and impact. Renowned Mexican journalist Jorge Ramos nominated Sheinbaum for making history in 2024 when she became the first woman to lead Mexico. While Ramos praised the 62-year-old politician and climate scientist for her “cool head” leadership style and strength in diplomacy, he highlights she is facing two major challenges: tackling violence in Mexico fueled by drug cartels and maintaining a relationship with the U.S. in the face of Trump’s tariffs and border security plans. “With the slogan ‘It’s time for women, ’ she won the presidency, and her party, Morena, controls the congress and most states. But we have yet to see what la Presidenta will do with that mandate,” he wrote. Another Latina leader facing similar challenges in the movement for change is Machado, nominated by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and recognized for her unwavering dedication and resilience while fighting for a free, fair, and democratic Venezuela. The 57-year-old political leader has stood firm in confronting Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro’s government and spent the past year marching the streets alongside Venezuelans. Rubio described her as “the Venezuelan Iron Lady,” and praised her for defending the will of the Venezuelan people, saying she is “a beacon of hope.” In the environmental space, Vidaurre was nominated by award-winning author and academic Robert D. Bullard for co-founding the People’s Collective for Environmental Justice and safeguarding marginalized communities’ rights to clean air. The 30-year-old environmental activist saw first-hand how emissions from freight trucks suffocated her community in California’s Inland Empire through air pollution. “Her work shines a light on the compounding inequities that marginalized populations are often left to shoulder, and amplifies what has become a rallying cry for her community: ‘We’re just trying to breathe,’ Bullard wrote. Fellow environmentalist Diaz was nominated Elizabeth Maruma Mrema of the U.N. Environment Programme for her scientific research and protecting biodiversity around the world. The 63-year-old researcher and professor of ecosystem ecology at Argentina’s National University of Córdoba uses her research to assess and quantify functional biodiversity, helping scientists understand the variety of roles different organisms play within ecosystems. Mrema describes her as “an indefatigable diplomat on the front lines of the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution.” Other Latinx leaders on the list include American Civil Liberties Union executive director Anthony Romero, Mexican actor Diego Luna, and Mexican-American fashion designer Willy Chavarria. Romero was nominated by Ford Foundation president Darren Walker, who recognized him for fighting for the rights of many through the ACLU and called him a “defender of the U.S. Constitution.” Luna was nominated by Mexican actor and filmmaker Gael García-Bernal, who described the actor’s background and called him “one of the most influential people in my life.” Chavarria was nominated by Mexican-American singer Becky G, who wrote about walking in the designer’s show Paris Fashion Week and said “what he’s doing for our community—for our culture—is groundbreaking.” Stay connected! Subscribe now and get the latest on culture, empowerment, and more. SIGN ME UP! Este sitio está protegido por reCAPTCHA y Google Política de privacidad y Se aplican las Condiciones de servicio . Thank You! You are already subscribed to our newsletter In this Article Andrea Vidaurre Argentina Claudia Sheinbaum environmental justice latina power Maria Corina Machado Mexico peru Venezuela More on this topic News and Entertainment Selena Quintanilla: Queen of Tejano Music & Latina Icon April 16, 2025 – 09:00 News and Entertainment Vicente Fernández, Lin-Manuel Miranda, & Freddy Fender Music Added to National Recording Registry April 14, 2025 – 14:51 News and Entertainment Florencia Cuenca Makes History through ‘Real Women Have Curves’ Musical April 11, 2025 – 14:00 News and Entertainment Bad Bunny Brought Boricua Pride to NPR Tiny Desk April 08, 2025 – 09:00
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