1. Regla Torres (1975)

Volleyball Player

Cuban volleyball player and three-time Olympic gold medalist, with her first gold being awarded when she was just 17 years old.

2. melissa vargas (1999)

Volleyball Player

Winger spiker and opposite spiker who has represented Cuba at tournaments like the 2014 FIVB Volleyball Women's World Championship. She has had success with teams like Cienfuegos, Agel Prostějov and Fenerbahçe at the...

4. Malillany Marin (1980)

Model

Model and actress who acted in the theatrical production of Divorciémonos mi Amor in 2015. She has over 950,000 followers on her malillanymarin Instagram account.

5. Carlos Manuel de Céspedes (1819)

Cuban Planter

Remembered as the catalyst for the Ten Years' War, this plantation owner declared Cuban independence in 1868 and liberated his slaves, encouraging them to join him in a rebellion against...

6. Carlos Finlay (1833)

Cuban Physician

Cuban physician who pioneered the study of yellow fever in the late nineteenth century. In 2013 he was awarded a Google Doodle on the 180th anniversary of his birth.

7. Leonard Wood (1860)

United States Army Medal Of Hono

Physician and Army Chief of Staff from 1910 to 1914 who served in the Apache Wars, the Spanish-American War, and the Philippine American War.

8. Erick Lexi (1989)

Pop Singer

Cuban singer, songwriter and guitarist whose star continues to rise throughout the Latin pop music world. Some of his most popular singles include "Donde Tu Quieres" and "Un Novio Como...

9. Emilio Estefan (1953)

Producer Actor Entrepreneur

Award-winning producer and musician who was the lead band member for the Miami Sound Machine. He launched the careers of many music stars.

10. Guillermo Rigondeaux (1980)

Boxer

Seven-time Cuban National Champion who won back-to-back Bantamweight gold medals at the 2000 and 2004 Summer Olympics.

11. Claudia Sampedro (1989)

Model

Model who is known for her various magazine cover appearances. She has appeared in Face 2 Face Magazine and Mixed Magazine. She was cast on the E! reality series WAGS Miami.

12. Ramón Fonst (1883)

Cuban Fencer

Cuban fencer and four-time Olympic gold medalist, he won one in 1900 and two in 1904.

13. José Raúl Capablanca (1888)

Chess Player

José Raúl Capablanca is a famous Chess Player, who was born on November 19, 1888 in Cuba. Cuban chess champion who is widely regarded as one of the greatest chess...

14. Amelia Peláez (1896)

Cuban Artist

Avant-garde painter and sculptor who won an award in the National Exposition of Painters and Sculptors in 1938.

15. Lydia Cabrera (1899)

Afro-cuban Poet

Cuban author, poet, Afro-Cuban anthropologist and activist who wrote the 1954 work El Monte.

16. Rita Montaner (1900)

Cuban Musician

Cuban singer, musician, and film, TV and stage actress who was her nation's most beloved performer for half a century.

17. Fulgencio Batista (1901)

President Of Cuba

President of Cuba in the early 1940s and dictator of the same country in the 1950s, he was removed from power during the Cuban Revolution.

18. Elsie Fox (1902)

Screenwriter

American novelist and screenwriter who is best known for her collaborations with her first husband, Paul Hervey Fox.

19. Nicolás Guillén (1902)

Cuban Poet Journalist Political

Cuban poet, author, and activist known for Motivos de Son and West Indies, Ltd. He also worked as a reporter during the Spanish Civil War.

20. Wifredo Lam (1902)

Cuban Artist

Cuban artist of Asian ancestry who was best known for his 1943 work "The Jungle." Also excelled in sculpture, ceramics, and printmaking.

21. Joel Casamayor (1971)

Boxer

Nicknamed El Cepillo, he was a WBA Super Featherweight Champion, WBO Lightweight Champion, and The Ring Lightweight Champion.

22. Fahylando Aladaris Jackson (1989)

Instagram Star

Fahylando Aladaris Jackson is a famous Instagram Star, who was born on April 5, 1989 in Cuba. Instagram star who is known for his comedic short videos featuring relatable, situational...

23. Jacqueline Arenal (1968)

Actor

Cuban actress who is known for her roles in both soap operas as well as Cuban cinema. She is best recognized for having starred as Victoria Maldonado in La Suegra...

24. José Lezama Lima (1910)

Cuban Writer Poet

A Cuban author and poet, he is known for such poetic works as Muerte de Narciso and Enemigo Rumor. His 1966 novel, Paradiso, focuses on a young man's mysterious illness.

25. Jorge Bolet (1914)

American Musician

Musician and educator known for his mastery of large-scale Romantic-era compositions, especially by Liszt, Chopin, and Franck.

26. Magdiel Lopez (1989)

Multimedia Artist

Cuban artist known for his work in a variety of mediums including digital and print work. He is also known for working as a creative director and has contributed to...

27. DianaEla (1996)

Pop Singer

Cuban pop singer who is known for having earned representation from the Vibe Records music label. She is recognized for the singles "Me Libere" and "Na Pa Mi" which she...

28. Alexia Echevarria (1967)

Reality Star

Famous as a cast member of Bravo's The Real Housewives of Miami, this reality star and fashionista is also known as the editor of the Miami-based publication Venue Magazine.

29. Desi Arnaz (1917)

Cuban-american Musician

Cuban bandleader with the Desi Arnaz Orchestra who also played Ricky Ricardo on the TV show I Love Lucy.

30. Dayán Viciedo (1989)

Cuban Baseball Player

Left fielder who made his MLB debut in 2010 with the Chicago White Sox; he is known for his raw power and below-average defense.

31. Cachao López (1918)

Cuban Musician

Grammy Award winner who was a virtuoso of the descarga and who was known as the inventor of the mambo.

32. Alexa Ferrer (1996)

Model

Model who has been represented by Ford Models Miami. She has modeled for the design company Kriado.

33. Camilo Zicavo (1989)

Pop Singer

Chilean pop singer who is a member of the group Moral Distraída. His group is best known for their hit song "Hacerlo de día." 

34. Beny More (1919)

World Music Singer

One of Cuba's greatest singers whose expressive voice and mastery of every Cuban musical style gave him international renown.

35. Abdiel Larralde (1996)

World Music Singer

Top 16 contestant on the second season of the singing competition series La Banda. He was signed by W Entertainment and No Limit Entertainment.

36. Mireya Luis (1967)

Female Volleyball Player From Cu

Cuban volleyball player who won three Olympic gold medals in consecutive Olympics, in 1992, 1996, and 2000.

37. David Fumero (1972)

United States Marine

Model turned actor who has played the role of Cristian Vega on the soap opera, One Life to Live for over 450 episodes.

38. Pedro Knight (1921)

Cuban Musician

Husband of singer Celia Cruz who worked behind the scenes in the music industry.

39. Rafael Palmeiro (1964)

Former Major League Baseball Pla

4-time All-Star who became part of an exclusive list of players to record at least 500 home runs and 3,000 hits. He played for the Texas Rangers, Baltimore Orioles and...

40. Aroldis Chapman (1988)

Cuban Baseball Player

MLB relief pitcher who began his career with the Cincinnati Reds in 2010 and earned his first All-Star game selection in 2012. He helped the Chicago Cubs win the 2016...

41. José Bernal (1925)

American Artist

Postmodernist artist known for "Drought in Paradise" and other whimsical paintings that manipulated shape and color. He was also acknowledged for his modernist, abstract, and expressionist work.

42. Fidel Castro (1926)

President Of Cuba

Infamous Cuban dictator and revolutionary who came to power in 1959 and served as his country's Prime Minister until 1976 and its President from 1976 to 2008.

43. Agustín Cárdenas (1927)

Cuban Sculptor

Cuban sculptor associated with the Surrealist movement in Paris. He was awarded the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in France.

44. Laurel Aitken (1927)

Singer

Late ska pioneer lovingly referred to as "The Godfather of Ska". He recorded over two dozen albums in his career, including 1992's "Rasta Man Power".

45. Yailenys Riveron (1986)

Family Member

Famous as the mother featured on the popular Sister Forever YouTube channel. She has helped her girls grow in popularity for filming their challenges, DIYs, and budgeting hauls.  

46. Ángel Matos (1976)

Taekwondo Practitioner

Taekwondo athlete who won a gold medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney.

47. Che Guevara (1928)

Revolutionary

Argentine Marxist revolutionary and guerrilla leader who helped overthrow the Cuban government during the 26th of July Movement in 1959. He has become an icon all over the world for...

48. Mirta Diaz-Balart (1928)

Wife Of Fidel Castro

Woman best known for being the first wife of Cuban dictator Fidel Castro, whom she married in 1948. The two were divorced in 1955 while Castro was in exile, after...

49. Guillermo Cabrera Infante (1929)

Novelist

Guillermo Cabrera Infante is a famous Novelist, who was born on April 22, 1929 in Cuba. Remembered best for his 1967 novel Tres Tristes Tigres, Infante was the 1997 recipient...

50. Rosa Carmina (1929)

Mexican Actor

Mexican and Cuban actress who played a key role in the subgenre film Rumberas after becoming a Rumba dancer.