5 Hispanics in the TIME 100 most influential people
This years list of the 100 Most Influential People, published by TIME Magazine, includes five prominent Hispanics. The group spans the gamut, from a movie…
This years list of the 100 Most Influential People, published by TIME Magazine, includes five prominent Hispanics.
The group spans the gamut, from a movie director to a religious leader to an athletic superstar, and the magazine included a short profile of each person, written by another public figure.
SEE ALSO: 7 wealthiest women in Latin America
Leading this years list of influential people was Beyoncé, who TIME Magazine featured on its cover. The following five Hispanic standouts, among other figures, were split into several categories, including Titans, Pioneers, Artists, Leaders, and Icons.
Alfonso Cuarón
Alfonso Cuaron accepts the award for best director for “Gravity” during the Oscars at the Dolby Theatre on Sunday, March 2, 2014, in Los Angeles. This is one proud Latino who made it big in Hollywood. (Photo by John Shearer/Invision/AP)
Its been a big year for Cuarón, who won the Academy Award and Golden Globe for best director after creating the captivating 3D feature Gravity.
The Hispanic filmmaker initially garnered Hollywood attention with his 2001 production, Y Tu Mamá También. A few years later, he earned his biggest box office success, according to IMDB, with his direction of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.
However, its this years film in outer space that really won the Mexican-born Cuarón a place on the 100 Most Influential People list. As described by J.J. Abrams, who wrote the profile for TIME Magazine, Gravity represents some of the most arresting, visually stunning work in recent cinema.
José Mujica
Uruguay’s President Jose Mujica has changed the stereotypical image of Latin American presidents as caudillos, with his simple way of living and unconventional views on things such as marijuana. (AP Photo/Matilde Campodonico, File)
José Pepe Mujica, though holding the office of the president in Uruguay, is no rich diplomat.
In fact, Mujica has been called the worlds poorest President, according to The Guardian: He donates much of his salary to social projects, eschews business class plane tickets, and lives in a one-bedroom home.
For such modest man, Mujica drew a lot of attention this year when he made Uruguay the first country in the world to legalize marijuana for production, distribution and sale. The countrys government will play a significant role in regulating the market, with the goals being to generate revenue and combat illegal drug trafficking.
Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo is part of TIME’s 100 Most Influential People list. (Shutterstock)
If Pelé is the greatest soccer player in history, its telling that he took the time to write TIME Magazines profile of Cristiano Ronaldo.
Ronaldo, who was born in Portugal, plays forward for Real Madrid as well as captaining the Portuguese national soccer team. Hes widely touted as the worlds best soccer player, a claim that Pelé supports in his description of Ronaldo, noting that the younger player has an elegance and creativity that makes him stand out from the crowd.
Nicolas Maduro
He’s Venezuela’s controversial evangelizer of left-wing politics across the America. Nicolas Maduro has carried on with Hugo Chavez’s revolution in his country. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
Plenty has been said about Nicolás Maduro this year, as Venezuela has erupted in protests against his left-wing government, so its not surprising that he made the list of 100 Most Influential People.
However, much of what has been said about Maduro is searing, criticizing his Chavista policies and inability to control Venezuelas struggling economy. He has also been accused of human rights violations as anti-government protesters have clashed with government motorcycle gangs, known as colectivos.
As expressed by Nikhil Kumar, who wrote Maduros profile for TIME Magazine, whether Venezuela collapses depends on Maduroand on whether he can step out of the shadow of his pugnacious predecessor and compromise with his opponents.
Pope Francis
Pope Francis has revolutionized the protocol used by the Papacy works. (AP Photo)
In President Obamas description of the Argentine Pope Francis, written for TIME, he noted that the first Hispanic pope reminds us that no matter our station in life, we are bound by moral obligations to one another.
That compassion and transcendence of boundaries has certainly marked Pope Francis tenure so far. The Catholic leader has caused waves by calling for the reexamination of same-sex civil unions and abortion, and he has increasingly focused the churchs efforts on ministering to the poor and needy while cutting bureaucratic excess and cleaning up the Vaticans finances.
Obama captures the essence of this Hispanic leaders influence quite simply: Rare is the leader who makes us want to be better people. Pope Francis is such a leader.
SEE ALSO: VOXXI’s own list of the 10 most influential Latinos
