From J-Lo and Joan Baez to the first Hispanic in space: 10 Latin American icons who have changed the world

By KATIE WILSON

Published: | Updated:

September 15 marks the start of Hispanic Heritage Month, a 30 day celebration of Latin American culture and the impact it has made in the United States and around the globe. To mark the festivities, here are 10 Hispanic heroes who have made a significant impact and, in some cases, even helped changed history...

September 15 marks the start of Hispanic Heritage Month, a 30 day celebration of Latin American culture and the impact it has made in the United States and around the globe. To mark the festivities, here are 10 Hispanic heroes who have made a significant impact and, in some cases, even helped changed history...

Ellen Ochoa: The NASA astronaut made history by becoming the first Hispanic in space. In 1993 she embarked on a nine-day mission aboard the space shuttle Discovery on its mission to study the Earth's ozone layer. Since then she has clocked up nearly 1,000 hours in space. In 2013, Ochoa became the first Hispanic and second female director of NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.

Ellen Ochoa: The NASA astronaut made history by becoming the first Hispanic in space. In 1993 she embarked on a nine-day mission aboard the space shuttle Discovery on its mission to study the Earth's ozone layer. Since then she has clocked up nearly 1,000 hours in space. In 2013, Ochoa became the first Hispanic and second female director of NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.

Joan Baez: The Chicana folk singer, pictured here with Bob Dylan at a civil rights march in Washington in 1963, has been a fierce advocate for equity and justice for more than 60 years, using her music to fight for social change. In her early career she refused to play in any segregated venues when touring the South. Now in her 70s, she still uses her music as a form of activism and has released more than 30 albums in several languages, including Spanish. She was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2017.

Joan Baez: The Chicana folk singer, pictured here with Bob Dylan at a civil rights march in Washington in 1963, has been a fierce advocate for equity and justice for more than 60 years, using her music to fight for social change. In her early career she refused to play in any segregated venues when touring the South. Now in her 70s, she still uses her music as a form of activism and has released more than 30 albums in several languages, including Spanish. She was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2017.

Sylvia Mendez: The civil rights activist, who is of Mexican-Puerto Rican heritage, grew up in a time when Hispanics were sent to 'Mexican schools', but made history by becoming the first Hispanic to enroll in a 'whites only' school in 1948. This helped paved the way for school desegregation to be outlawed in America in 1954 . Mendez went on to become a nurse, a career she held for 30 years. In 2011 she was awarded the Medal of Freedom by then president Barack Obama, the highest award a civilian can receive.

Sylvia Mendez: The civil rights activist, who is of Mexican-Puerto Rican heritage, grew up in a time when Hispanics were sent to 'Mexican schools', but made history by becoming the first Hispanic to enroll in a 'whites only' school in 1948. This helped paved the way for school desegregation to be outlawed in America in 1954 . Mendez went on to become a nurse, a career she held for 30 years. In 2011 she was awarded the Medal of Freedom by then president Barack Obama, the highest award a civilian can receive.

Nydia Velazquez: The politician holds the honor of becoming the first Puerto Rican elected to Congress, a position she has held since 1993. Before that, the New York Democrat was the first Hispanic woman to serve on New York City Council. She also chaired the Congressional Hispanic Caucus until 2011 and was the first Hispanic woman to chair a House standing committee.

Nydia Velazquez: The politician holds the honor of becoming the first Puerto Rican elected to Congress, a position she has held since 1993. Before that, the New York Democrat was the first Hispanic woman to serve on New York City Council. She also chaired the Congressional Hispanic Caucus until 2011 and was the first Hispanic woman to chair a House standing committee.

Juan Felipe Herrera: The writer, poet and activist, who is of American Mexican origin, was named US Poet Laureate in 2015. Herrera was the first Chicano to receive the prestigious literary award, which he held until 2017. His experiences as the child of migrant farmers has strongly shaped his work and he has often written about social issues. New York Times critic Stephen Burt said Herrera was one of the first poets to successfully create a 'new hybrid art, part oral, part written, part English, part something else: an art grounded in ethnic identity, fueled by collective pride, yet irreducibly individual too.'

Juan Felipe Herrera: The writer, poet and activist, who is of American Mexican origin, was named US Poet Laureate in 2015. Herrera was the first Chicano to receive the prestigious literary award, which he held until 2017. His experiences as the child of migrant farmers has strongly shaped his work and he has often written about social issues. New York Times critic Stephen Burt said Herrera was one of the first poets to successfully create a 'new hybrid art, part oral, part written, part English, part something else: an art grounded in ethnic identity, fueled by collective pride, yet irreducibly individual too.'

Lizzie Velásquez: The motivational speaker, activist, author and YouTuber has done wonders for advocating people with disabilities within the Hispanic community. The 30-year-old was born with a rare congenital condition which, among other symptoms, makes it very difficult to gain weight. Due to her appearance, Lizzie was often bullied as a child, which ultimately inspired her to take up motivational speaking to help others. In 2015 a film of her life, titled A Brave Heart: The Lizzie Velásquez Story went down a storm at film festivals around the world. She has been hosting her own series Unzipped on her YouTube channel since 2017.

Lizzie Velásquez: The motivational speaker, activist, author and YouTuber has done wonders for advocating people with disabilities within the Hispanic community. The 30-year-old was born with a rare congenital condition which, among other symptoms, makes it very difficult to gain weight. Due to her appearance, Lizzie was often bullied as a child, which ultimately inspired her to take up motivational speaking to help others. In 2015 a film of her life, titled A Brave Heart: The Lizzie Velásquez Story went down a storm at film festivals around the world. She has been hosting her own series Unzipped on her YouTube channel since 2017.

Robert Rodriguez: Texan director Rodriguez is widely credited with helping create roles for Hispanic actors in Hollywood by paying tribute to his Mexican-American heritage in his films. His notable movies include Desperado, From Dusk Till Dawn, The Faculty, Sin City and Once Upon a Time in Mexico, to name a few. Stars whose careers he has helped catapult include Salma Hayek, Antonio Banderas, Jessica Alba, Danny Trejo, Cheech Marin, Michelle Rodriguez, Rosario Dawson and Alexa PenaVega, who starred in the Spy Kids series.

Robert Rodriguez: Texan director Rodriguez is widely credited with helping create roles for Hispanic actors in Hollywood by paying tribute to his Mexican-American heritage in his films. His notable movies include Desperado, From Dusk Till Dawn, The Faculty, Sin City and Once Upon a Time in Mexico, to name a few. Stars whose careers he has helped catapult include Salma Hayek, Antonio Banderas, Jessica Alba, Danny Trejo, Cheech Marin, Michelle Rodriguez, Rosario Dawson and Alexa PenaVega, who starred in the Spy Kids series.

Jennifer Lopez: Singer, dancer, actor, businesswoman, the age-defying powerhouse that is J-Lo couldn't be left off this list. The Bronx-born star has come a long way from her 'Jenny from the Block' days and she's made history along the way. She was the first actress to have a movie (The Wedding Planner) and an album (J.Lo) top the charts in the same week. She was also the first Latina actress to be paid more than $1 million when she starred in Selena. Since then J-Lo has been an American Idol judge, broke records with her Las Vegas residency, had a best-selling clothing and fragrance line and just went on another world tour. Her next film Hustlers has just been released and it's rumored she could play Superbowl 2020. Is there anything she can't do?

Jennifer Lopez: Singer, dancer, actor, businesswoman, the age-defying powerhouse that is J-Lo couldn't be left off this list. The Bronx-born star has come a long way from her 'Jenny from the Block' days and she's made history along the way. She was the first actress to have a movie (The Wedding Planner) and an album (J.Lo) top the charts in the same week. She was also the first Latina actress to be paid more than $1 million when she starred in Selena. Since then J-Lo has been an American Idol judge, broke records with her Las Vegas residency, had a best-selling clothing and fragrance line and just went on another world tour. Her next film Hustlers has just been released and it's rumored she could play Superbowl 2020. Is there anything she can't do?

Narcisco Rodriquez: The Cuban-American fashion designer rose to fame back in 1996 when he designed the wedding dress the late Carolyn Bessette wore to marry John F. Kennedy Jr. The style became the most copied silhouette of the decade, and recently drew comparisons with the Clare Waight Keller gown Meghan Markle chose to walk down the aisle in when she tied the knot with Prince Harry. Since he started his own label in 1998, he is the only American to be awarded the Council of Fashion Designers of America award for best designer two years in a row. His designs are often seen on the red carpet and celebrity fans include Michelle Obama, Sarah Jessica Parker, Jennifer Connolly, Jessica Alba, Rachel Weisz and Claire Danes.

Narcisco Rodriquez: The Cuban-American fashion designer rose to fame back in 1996 when he designed the wedding dress the late Carolyn Bessette wore to marry John F. Kennedy Jr. The style became the most copied silhouette of the decade, and recently drew comparisons with the Clare Waight Keller gown Meghan Markle chose to walk down the aisle in when she tied the knot with Prince Harry. Since he started his own label in 1998, he is the only American to be awarded the Council of Fashion Designers of America award for best designer two years in a row. His designs are often seen on the red carpet and celebrity fans include Michelle Obama, Sarah Jessica Parker, Jennifer Connolly, Jessica Alba, Rachel Weisz and Claire Danes.

Jorge Ramos: The Mexican-American journalist is widely regarded as the best-known Spanish language news anchor in the United States. Dubbed the 'Walter Cronkite of Latin America', he has covered five wars and world changing events such as the falling of the Berlin Wall. As well as being named on TIME magazine's list of 'The World's Most Influential People', he has also won eight Emmys and the Maria Cabot Prize for excellence in journalism.

Jorge Ramos: The Mexican-American journalist is widely regarded as the best-known Spanish language news anchor in the United States. Dubbed the 'Walter Cronkite of Latin America', he has covered five wars and world changing events such as the falling of the Berlin Wall. As well as being named on TIME magazine's list of 'The World's Most Influential People', he has also won eight Emmys and the Maria Cabot Prize for excellence in journalism.