10 Latinas Who Showed the World Who Was Boss

Updated on 6/25/2017 at 10:00 AM

I'm 24 years old and my own boss, so oftentimes in a world that's saturated with white men who are doing their own thing, I look for inspiring Latinas. The fact is that even though there are more Latinas in the US than ever, only one in 10 women-owned businesses is run by a Latina. Don't get us wrong, we're making progress, and these Latinas who have broken barriers and glass ceilings are just the example. These ladies have done everything from traveled to space to owned their own baseball team — any Colorado Rockies fans out there? Read ahead for some major inspiration.

Dr. Ellen Ochoa, First Hispanic Female Astronaut

Ochoa is currently the director of the Johnson Space Center, but that's not the only impressive thing on her résumé. She was the first Latina to go into space.

Rita Moreno, Only Latina to Win EGOT

Moreno has an incredible career that still shows no sign of slowing down — she's now one of the stars of Netflix's One Day at a Time. In 1977, she became the first Latina to win an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony.

Dolores Huerta, Cofounder of United Farm Workers

Huerta is praised by many for her activism and the social impact her work had on marginalized groups. Of the many awards and honors she's received, Huerta was the first ever recipient of the Eleanor Roosevelt Award for Human Rights in 1998.

Catherine Cortez Masto, First Latina Senator

While a big part of the 2016 election cycle didn't turn out as many had hoped, one silver lining is that Nevada became the first state to vote a Latina senator into office.

Sylvia Mendez, One of the First Latinxs to Attend an All-White School

Mendez, her brother, and Mendez's parents (who were of Puerto Rican descent) are the reason that segregation ended in Orange County. In the 1940s, the Mendez children were told they would have to attend the district's "Mexican" school because of the color of their skin and last name. Mendez's parents sued, and Mendez vs. Westminster ultimately ended segregation in Orange County and turned Mendez into one of the first Latinxs to attend an all-white school.

Sonia Sotomayor, First Latina Supreme Court Justice

A native New Yorker, Sotomayor has always put hard work and determination first. While her career has been full of milestones, the biggest one by far was becoming the first Latina Supreme Court justice in 2009.

Antonia Novello, First Latina Surgeon General

Novello's career as a physician hit a big milestone in 1990 when she was the first Latina appointed to surgeon general by then-President George H. W. Bush.

Rea Ann Silva, Creator of Beautyblender

A cult favorite for all makeup-wearing individuals, the Beautyblender was invented by this Latina's innovative mind.

Nancy Lopez, Voted Most Influential Latina Athlete

Lopez has 48 LPGA (Ladies Professional Golf Association) wins to her name and was named the most influential Latina athlete by ESPNw and ESPN Deportes.

Linda G. Alvarado, First Woman and Latina Ever to Co-Own a Baseball Team

Alvarado is a girlboss through and through. She's the president and CEO of Alvarado Construction and the first woman, and Latina, to ever co-own a baseball team, the Colorado Rockies.