The 25 Powerful Women of 2024 Shine Brightly on Their Own

Some of the standout women in this first part of the list of “The 25 Most Powerful Women” of 2024 only need to use their first names to be recognized: Giselle, Chiquibaby, Roselyn, América, Giannina.

Such has been their profound influence in the media where they have excelled, from movies to television to fashion. But the representation doesn’t end there. Here we also highlight other influential women who are leaders in the workplace, in politics, and, because it’s part of our DNA at People en Español, in music.

Without further ado, let’s begin with…

Giselle Blondet

“I like everything that brings me closer to people,” confesses Puerto Rican actress Giselle Blondet, who at 60 years old is enjoying a stage of fulfillment.

Her desire to help others led the businesswoman and co-host of Telemundo’s La mesa caliente to become a certified life coach. The lessons she has learned about self-love, personal relationships, and strengthening her self-esteem, she shares on her social media and in her podcast Lo que no se habla.

Next, we have…

Chiquibaby

The advice from her mother and years of artistic career in television and radio have left something very clear to Chiquibaby. “My mom always told me, ‘Don’t lose touch with reality’,” proudly recalls the 43-year-old Mexican, whose real name is Stephanie Himonidis. “I have interviewed many people and I realized that the biggest, most powerful people are the simplest and the most human.”

For example, her friend and partner on the YouTube show Ada y Chiqui de show. “[Adamari López] has a great career and she taught me that being the most famous in the group where we work [the program Hoy día, from Telemundo], she was the most humble, the one who treated everyone well, and I want to follow in the footsteps of people like her,” affirms the mother of Capri Blu, 2 years old, who now serves as a host on the program Siéntense quien pueda (Univision).

Next up is…

Roselyn Sánchez

“I use my power by waking up every day grateful to God and firmly believing in myself. I always bet on myself,” affirms Roselyn Sánchez, who has shone in recent months as a co-host of the Latin Grammy Awards gala and acting in, among others, the comedy Gringa. Her next release is the horror film Theirs alongside the legendary Puerto Rican actress Rita Moreno, whom she honored in her own words in this edition of “The 25 Most Powerful Women” of 2024.

The Puerto Rican actress and singer, 51, asserts that “representing the Latina woman for so many years is something I do with a lot of pride and passion.” Another commitment that fills her with pride is hosting the podcast He said, she said with her husband, also actor Eric Winter, where they discuss topics like menopause, discrimination, relationships, and facing fears. “If I can touch a person’s heart and encourage them to go out and pursue their dreams, mission accomplished!” she notes.

Continuing with…

América Ferrera

Her first Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress was a well-deserved recognition for the acting work of América Ferrera in the box office hit Barbie—where she stole the show with a monologue of just over two minutes in which her character gives voice to the expectations that women face in society.

“It is literally impossible to be a woman… You always have to be extraordinary, but somehow you are always doing it wrong. You have to be skinny, but not too skinny. And you can never say you want to be skinny, you have to say you want to be healthy, but you also have to be skinny,” says her character Gloria to the iconic Mattel doll, in a speech that went viral on social media.

The 39-year-old actress of Honduran descent, who has used her platform throughout her 20-year career to advocate for immigrant rights and urge Latinos to vote in the United States, knew at the age of 5 that she wanted to be an actress (although she also thought about being a human rights lawyer, she confessed on Jimmy Kimmel Live!). Luckily, Hollywood won, and Ferrera will continue to shine in her own right.

Last but not least is…

Giannina Azar

The designer Giannina Azar has the gift of fairies to create dream dresses for the world’s most fabulous women. At 63, despite her fame—and having mega-star clients like Jennifer López, Gwen Stefani, or Beyoncé—the warmth and authenticity still accompany the smiling Dominican of Lebanese origin who has been sewing since she can remember. “At 4 years old, I dressed dolls, at 12 I opened my workshop, and at 15 I made dresses for my friends’ parties,” says the creator, who celebrates 43 years of work and has also been a teacher at a renowned tailoring school in her country.

When she decided to dress celebrities, her first step to stardom came with Thalía, the first artist to bet on her designs. The rest is history, as her hands have dressed, among others, Yuri, Gloria Trevi, Nati Natasha, Maluma, Clarissa Molina, Chiquinquirá Delgado, Alejandra Espinoza, Paulina Rubio, and Maribel Guardia. “Credit should be given where credit is due,” says Azar of the 22 members of her sewing workshop. “My artists are the protagonists who interpret all my craziness, they are diamonds that collaborate with me and not only make the dreams of those who wear the clothes come true but also their own dreams.”

One of her greatest joys is leaving a legacy of honest work and globally renowned Latin American fashion to new generations, including her daughter Gabriela Álvarez Azar. “I feel powerful because of the style I have managed to create as it has its own stamp.”

This concludes the look at some of the powerful women featured in the list of “The 25 Most Powerful Women” of 2024 from various fields. To see the digital cover of the complete list including Rita Moreno, Sofía Vergara, Laura Pausini, and Sheynnis Palacios, click here. For the second part of the list from People en Español, click here.