Eva Duarte de Perón

Evita was one of the most charismatic figures of XXth century's Argentine history. She was born in Toldos, a small village in Buenos Aires province, in May 1919. Her need to be someone led her to the capital city in search for the fame cinema and radio promised. Her attempts to triumph as an actress drew her to circles close to power, and that is how in 1944, she met Juan Domingo Peron. Many consider Evita played an important role in Perón's rise to power, a man who was elected president four times in a row.

Evita became the "flag-bearer of the poor" and invested a large part of her energy into social causes. Her foundation provided bicycles, mattresses, clothes, toys and all kinds of help to the dispossessed.

Evita introduced the feminine vote and in 1947 when on a tour of Europe during which she was received by the pope. When she was proclaimed vice-presidential candidate in 1951, she came close to fulfilling her dream of occupying a prominent place in politics. But the opposition of the military that formed part of Perón's entourage and a cancer that was consuming her from within dashed her hopes. She finally succumbed to the illness in July 1952.