Famous Mexican Women: Pioneers Who Forged History
The Aztec territory is filled with influential women who have led various movements of great importance in the social, cultural, and artistic spheres, making famous Mexican women noteworthy for their societal impact.
Historians and professors, such as Humberto Díaz Palencia, emphasize that famous Mexican women have always been worthy of recognition. Those who stood out many years ago were acknowledged appropriately during their lifetimes.
So, what do famous Mexican women represent for the country? They symbolize the struggle for women’s rights through social movements and demonstrate that women possess as much talent as Mexican men. Here, we will discuss some of the most important famous Mexican women in Mexican history and today.
Impact of Mexican Women on the Country’s History
During Mexico’s revolutionary era, Mexican women typically served as “soldaderas,” cooking, washing, and marching alongside the revolutionary men. Many of them also brought their children along. Some even fought on the battlefields. Therefore, during the Mexican Revolution, women took advantage of their participation to start asserting respect for their rights in some states, primarily in Yucatán, where the First Women’s Congress was organized.
Before the revolution, women’s roles were centered around attending to their families, responsible for the reproduction of society, much like in other countries. Women’s labor was secondary, focusing on reproductive functions as well as domestic chores and childcare.
Culturally, Mexican women stand out for their experience and sensitivity; they are also integral to significant cultural processes and artistic practices.
Throughout history, there have been numerous famous Mexican women excelling in various fields, including science, but above all, they have been champions of social equity.
Meet the Most Prominent Famous Mexican Women
Here, we will tell you about the most prominent famous Mexican women:
Dolores Huerta: The Icon of Civil Rights
Dolores Clara Fernández Huerta is one of the famous Mexican women, known for being a co-founder and first vice president of the United Farm Workers of America, AFL-CIO (UFW).
Born in 1930, her parents are Alicia Chávez and Juan Fernández, a miner, farmer, and social activist, who likely inspired her. Her parents divorced when Dolores was three years old, and she was raised along with her two brothers and two sisters by her mother in San Joaquin, Stockton, California.
Dolores studied at the University of the Pacific’s Delta College and worked as an elementary school teacher. By 1955, she was a founding member of the Community Service Organization (CSO), which aimed primarily to fight against police brutality.
This famous Mexican woman stands out for having driven the civil rights movement for Hispanic farmworkers in the United States. Dolores organized and founded the Agricultural Workers Association (AWA) in 1960.
By 1962, Huerta supported the Bracero Program in Washington, DC. It is also notable that through her work in the CSO, she met César Chávez, with whom she founded the National Farm Workers Association, later renamed United Farm Workers. At that time, Dolores was caring for her seven children.
Huerta was named secretary-treasurer of the United Farm Workers of America, and in 1998, she was recognized as one of the most important women of the 20th century.
Yes, We Can
Dolores launched a historic slogan, “Sí se puede” (Yes, we can), during negotiations between workers and business owners in Arizona. In these negotiations, farm workers achieved fair wages and healthcare among other significant improvements.
It’s important to highlight that Dolores’ slogan, “Sí se puede,” was mentioned decades later by former U.S. President Barack Obama, specifically during his 2008 presidential campaign.
In July 2018, California Governor Jerry Brown signed into law AB 2455, designating April 10th of each year as Dolores Huerta Day. The union leader received numerous awards and honors, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom, making her a famous Mexican woman and an inspiration for other important movements.
Here’s what you should know about: Mexican Telenovelas: A Deep Dive into Their Popularity and Impact
Selena Quintanilla: The Queen of Tejano Music
Another of the famous Mexican women is Selena Quintanilla Pérez, who was born in Texas, United States, on April 16, 1971. She was a Mexican-American singer of Tejano, ranchera, cumbia, and ballad music.
Selena is one of the most prominent figures in the Tejano music genre and is known as the Queen of Tex-Mex. She began her career at just 9 years old, performing with her siblings Susette and A.B. Quintanilla. Her first album was recorded when she was 12, and she received her first award in 1987 as Best Female Vocalist at the Tejano Music Awards.
The singer signed with EMI, and her album “Selena Live” won the Grammy Award for Best Mexican-American Album, while her album “Amor Prohibido” was nominated for a Grammy. It’s noteworthy that Selena’s popularity transcended borders, as she conquered several Latin American countries, including Mexico, despite her limited Spanish.
Before her death, Selena was planning to enter the English music market. However, she was tragically shot in the back at the age of 23 by Yolanda Saldívar, a member and president of her fan club, on March 31, 1995.
Despite the tragedy, Selena Quintanilla became a legend and remains vital in her musical genre today. After her death, a movie about her life, starring Jennifer Lopez, was made. Later, “El Mirador de la Flor” was inaugurated, where a statue in honor of Selena stands.
In 1998, a museum dedicated to her memory was opened, and on April 3, 2012, Capitol Latin released a posthumous album of Selena’s music. On July 29, 2022, the single “Como Te Quiero Yo a Ti” was released, followed by “Moonchild Mixes” in August of the same year.
Ellen Ochoa: Pioneer in Space
Born in Los Angeles, California, on May 10, 1958, Ellen Ochoa is a physicist, scientist, and NASA astronaut. She stands out as one of the famous Mexican women for being the first Hispanic woman to travel to space.
Thanks to her remarkable talent, Ellen Ochoa is a member of the American Optical Society and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. In 1997, she received the NASA Exceptional Service Medal, the Hispanic Heritage Award, the Excellence in Leadership Medal, Space Flight Medals, two Special Technical Awards, and the Hispanic Engineer Albert Báez Award.
Ellen Ochoa was part of a nine-day mission aboard the space shuttle Discovery in 1993, which was her first mission. She completed a total of four missions, serving as a flight engineer, robotic arm operator, and leader of scientific experiments. Additionally, she became the eleventh director of the Johnson Space Center, the first Hispanic and the second woman to direct this center.
Her dedication and effort have made Ellen a famous Mexican woman who has reached beyond the stars.
Here’s what you should know about: Mexican Telenovelas: A Deep Dive into Their Popularity and Impact
Frida Kahlo: Self-Portrait of a Legend
Frida Kahlo is a famous Mexican woman known for her painting, creating works related to her personal life experiences and physical pain. She produced a total of 143 works, 55 of which were self-portraits reflecting her personality, ingenuity, and worldview. She is the author of “The Two Fridas,” a significant work of art.
Born as Magdalena Carmen Frida Kahlo Calderón in Coyoacán, Mexico City, on July 6, 1907, she died on July 13, 1954, in Coyoacán. Besides her notable works, Frida is recognized as a pop icon of Mexican culture.
The painter’s life was filled with misfortunes, including a severe bus accident in her youth, which left her bedridden for long periods. Frida underwent 32 surgical operations in an attempt to improve her health.
She married painter Diego Rivera, who influenced her paintings as much as she influenced his. Both Diego and Frida shared a love for art dedicated to indigenous roots, elevating Mexico’s vibrant culture.
Her paintings were exhibited in France in 1939, thanks to an invitation from André Breton. One of the exhibited works (Self-Portrait – The Frame) became the first painting by a Mexican artist to be acquired by the Louvre Museum.
Frida is a symbol of Mexican art and feminism, with her works inspiring the feminist movement and global culture. Today, her ashes rest in the Frida Kahlo Museum.
If you like Mexican boots this article will interest you: The Trend of Mexican Pointy Boots: Fashion, Culture, and Global Appeal
Sophie Cruz: The Warrior Girl
The youngest of the famous Mexican women is Sophie Cruz, born on October 16, 2010. Despite her young age, she stands out as an activist working to ensure the continuity of the DAPA program (Deferred Action for Parents of Americans), which allows parents to remain legally in the United States. Her parents are undocumented immigrants from the state of Oaxaca.
In May 2016, Sophie, at just 5 years old, became internationally famous when she ran towards Pope Francis to deliver a letter addressed to Washington. In the letter, Sophie asked the Pope to intervene in the issue faced by American children of undocumented immigrants, many of whom are separated from their parents.
The Pope included the issue and discussed it with the U.S. government. From that moment, the so-called warrior girl became an activist dedicated to fighting for the rights of migrant families in the United States.
Sophie’s struggle is based on faith, courage, and love. She has also become a significant symbol of the feminist movement, evidenced by her participation as a speaker on January 21, 2017, at the Women’s March in Washington, DC, where she spoke about her commitment to the world and inspired many to join her brave cause.
Soraya Jiménez: Mexico’s First Female Olympic Gold Medalist
Soraya Jiménez was a Mexican weightlifter who became one of the famous Mexican women by winning a gold medal at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. She was born in Naucalpan de Juárez, State of Mexico, on August 5, 1977, and unfortunately passed away from a heart attack on March 28, 2013.
Soraya was the first Mexican athlete to win an Olympic gold medal. She lifted a total of 170 kg, setting a record for the first time on Aztec soil. She faced difficulties and discrimination in weightlifting, a sport that was considered to be for men only during her glory years.
The Mexican athlete was a champion at the Central American and Caribbean Games, a silver medalist at the Pan American Games in Winnipeg, and held multiple national records in her category. She became an icon of Mexican sports, constantly inspiring future generations of athletes.
Katy Jurado: The Pioneer of Cinema
Maria Cristina Estela Marcela Jurado García, known by her stage name Katy Jurado, was born on January 16, 1924, and died on July 5, 2002. She was an actress who starred in notable Mexican films such as “No matarás.”
The Mexican actress extended her talent abroad thanks to Budd Boetticher, an American filmmaker who brought her to Hollywood in the film “The Bullfighter and The Lady.” With her exceptional acting skills and exotic beauty, many Hollywood producers were attracted to her, making her a regular cast member in Western films during the 1950s and 60s.
Jurado appeared in classics like “Arrowhead,” “Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid,” and “High Noon.” Katy Jurado stands out as one of the famous Mexican women for being the first Latin American woman to win a Golden Globe. Additionally, she was nominated for an Academy Award.
Now you know who the famous Mexican women are—women who have inspired significant movements fighting for women’s rights. These famous Mexican women are also a great inspiration for new generations seeking to live in a country with more rights and social freedom.
