Famous People Born In Managua

Bianca Jagger is a Nicaraguan social rights advocate. She is credited with founding the Bianca Jagger Human Rights Foundation, where she is currently serving as the chairperson. For her work as a humanitarian, Jagger has received several awards, including the Champion of Justice Award. A former actress, Jagger appeared in many movies and TV shows throughout the 1970s and 1980s.

Nicaraguan professional boxer Alexis Arguello had once held the world featherweight, lightweight, and junior lightweight titles. He fought for the Contras against the Sandinista regime, and then continued his boxing career in the US, before returning to politics and becoming the mayor of Managua. He eventually died by suicide.

Nicaraguan novelist and poet Gioconda Belli is noted for works like the semi-autobiographical novel La Mujer Habitada and the allegory El infinito en la palma de la mano that won her Premio Biblioteca Breve. A prominent member of Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN), which established a revolutionary government overthrowing Anastasio Somoza DeBayle, Belli handled media relations for the FSLN government  

José Santos Zelaya was a Nicaraguan political figure best remembered for his service as the President of Nicaragua from 1893 to 1909. During his presidency, Zelaya enacted many progressive programs, such as established steam ship lines and improved railroads and public education. José Santos Zelaya also enacted a number of constitutional rights.

Rosario Murillo is a Nicaraguan poet and politician. She is the current Vice President and First Lady of Nicaragua; she is the wife of the current President Daniel Ortega. A polyglot, Murillo speaks English, Spanish, French, and Italian. Murillo is also known for her controversial personality. Renowned for her New Age beliefs, Murillo has struggled with alcohol and drug addiction.

Arnoldo Alemán is a Nicaraguan politician who became the 81st President of Nicaragua on 10 January 1997. A qualified lawyer, he practiced law for several years before entering politics. As the president, he was successful in promoting economic growth in the country. After his term ended in 2002, he was convicted of corruption. These convictions were later overturned. 

Daisy Zamora is a Nicaraguan poet whose work covers human rights, politics, daily life, feminist issues, art, revolution, history, and culture. A political activist, Zamora took part in the fight against the dictatorship of Anastasio Somoza García during the 1970s. Daisy Zamora has also been an ardent supporter of women's rights for many years now. 

Nicaraguan military leader Humberto Ortega, the brother of Nicaraguan president Daniel Ortega, was associated with the Sandinista Popular Army, which was built to overthrow the Nicaraguan National Guard. He later served as Nicaragua’s defense minister and also penned several books, such as Epic of the Insurrection.

Adolfo Calero was a Nicaraguan businessman who led the Nicaraguan Democratic Force, one of the first Contra groups of the country. The group was formed to oppose the Sandinista government. Adolfo Calero was portrayed in the 2017 American action comedy movie American Made, in which he was played by Daniel Lugo. 

Rubén Darío Prize-winning Nicaraguan poet and women’s suffrage activist María Teresa Sánchez is remembered for her immense contribution to Nicaraguan culture. She mostly wrote on themes of pain and sadness. She also established the Círculo de Letras association and founded her own publishing house, Nuevos Horizontes.

Daisy Torres is a Nicaraguan politician who became the first female mayor of Managua in 2009. A popular politician, Torres held the post until 2018. Daisy Torres is one of the most important members of the Sandinista National Liberation Front.

Nicaraguan revolutionary and guerrilla fighter Nora Astorga became associated with the Sandinistas while studying law. She worked as a corporate lawyer later, while continuing her revolutionary activities, this earning the reputation of a spy. She later served as the Nicaraguan ambassador to the United Nations.

Pablo Antonio Cuadra was a Nicaraguan essayist, playwright, graphic artist, art and literary critic. He is also counted among the most popular poets of Nicaragua. During his lifetime, Pablo Antonio Cuadra won many literary awards, including the prestigious Gabriela Mistral Inter-American Cultural Prize.

Emilio Álvarez Montalván was a Nicaraguan ophthalmologist and political figure. He is best remembered for his service as the Foreign Minister of Nicaragua from 1997 to 1998. After his retirement, Emilio Alvarez continued to contribute to the national political culture, for which he was awarded honorary doctorates.

Nicaraguan poet Roberto Vargas has also been a prominent political activist. He is known for his efforts in organizing community meets in the Mission district of San Francisco. He helped the local poets of the Latin community and also contributed to the Nicaraguan Revolution through his Spanish newspaper Gaceta Sandinista.

Christianne Meneses Jacobs is a Nicaraguan American teacher, writer, and editor. She is best known as the publisher of a Spanish-language children's magazine called Iguana. In 2009, Iguana was awarded the Multicultural Children's Publication Award. Christianne Meneses Jacobs is also credited with founding another children's magazine called YO SÉ!

Nicaraguan poet Yolanda Blanco is credited for organizing the first poetry lectures ever, which featured major women poets of her country. A Calicanto member, she also participated in the Venezuelan literary scene, when she was overlooked by the Sandinista party. She often wrote on themes such as feminism, nature, love, and sexuality.

Blanca Castellón is a Nicaraguan poet and the current vice president of the Nicaraguan Center of Writers. The recipient of the prestigious Instituto de Estudios Modernistas of poetry, Blanca Castellón is renowned for penning such poems as Ama del espíritu, Flotaciones, and Orilla opuesta.

Martha Cecilia Ruiz is a Nicaraguan poet, journalist, writer, and social activist. She is best known for directing a popular radio talk show titled El País Azul. Martha Cecilia Ruiz is also known as the founder of the Forum of Cultural Journalists of Nicaragua and Three Times Three.

Karly Gaitán Morales is a Nicaraguan journalist, writer, and film historian. She is best known for her compilation work, a book named To Conquer a Dream, which outlines the history of Nicaraguan cinema. The book has been hailed as Nicaraguan cinema's first biography.

Vidaluz Meneses was a Nicaraguan poet, social activist, and librarian. She is credited with co-founding the Nicaraguan Association of Writers and served as its first president. Vidaluz Meneses is counted among the most important Nicaraguan poets of the 1970s. In 2013, she was honored with the prestigious International Latino Book Award.