Peruvian Female Leaders

The daughter of former Peruvian president Alberto Fujimori and politician Susana Higuchi, Keiko Fujimori is the current leader of the right-wing Peruvian party Popular Force. She has been a Member of Congress and the First Lady of Peru, too. She has been in an out of jail on charges of money laundering.

Hilda Gadea was a Peruvian Communist leader, economist, and author. Best remembered as the first wife of popular Marxist revolutionary, Che Guevara, Hilda Gadea is credited with introducing Guevara to several Cuban rebels. She is also remembered for her memoir, My Life With Che. 

Susana Higuchi was a Peruvian engineer and politician. She is best remembered for her role as the First Lady of Peru from 28 July 1990 to 23 August 1994. Higuchi was stripped of her title as the First Lady in 1994, when she condemned her husband Alberto Fujimori as a tyrant. Susana Higuchi divorced Fujimori in 1996.

Mercedes Aráoz is a Peruvian politician, professor, and economist. She is best known for her service as the Second Vice President of Peru from 2016 to 2020. She also served as the Prime Minister of Peru from 2017 to 2018. An important politician, Mercedes Aráoz also served as the Minister of Foreign Trade and Tourism from 2006 to 2009.

Verónika Mendoza is a Peruvian-French politician, educator, and psychologist. She is currently serving as the president of a left-wing political party called New Peru, which she founded in 2017. Verónika Mendoza is also known for her association with the Universidad Nacional del Altiplano de Puno, where she worked as a professor before commencing her political career.

Susana Baca is a Peruvian singer-songwriter, folklorist, school teacher, ethnomusicologist, and political leader. A three-time Latin Grammy Award recipient, Baca has played an important role in reviving Afro-Peruvian music. In 2011, Susana Baca became only the second Afro-Peruvian cabinet minister of independent Peru when she was elected as the Minister of Culture.

Nadine Heredia is a Peruvian politician who served as the President of the famous Peruvian Nationalist Party from 30 December 2013 to 26 August 2016. Best known as the wife of former Peruvian President Ollanta Humala, Nadine Heredia served as the First Lady of Peru from 2011 to 2016. Nadine Heredia is seen as an influential figure in Peruvian politics.

María Antonieta Alva is a Peruvian public administrator best known for her service as the Minister of Economy and Finance from 2019 to 2020. She has also served at various governmental departments, mainly the Finance and the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Economy. María Antonieta Alva has also taught at the National University of San Marcos' School of Administration.

Micaela Bastidas was a Peruvian leader who campaigned against the Spanish rule in South America. She was martyred during the Peruvian struggle for independence. Along with her husband José Gabriel Condorcanqui, Micaela Bastidas fought against the Spanish forces and suffered martyrdom when the revolt failed.

Martha Hildebrandt is a Peruvian Fujimorist politician and linguist. She is best known for her service as the President of the Congress from 1999 to 2000. She is only the second woman after Martha Chávez to serve as the president of the Congress of Peru. Martha Hildebrandt has also worked as a professor at the National University of San Marcos.

Beatriz Merino is a Peruvian lawyer, politician, and academic. She is best known for her service as the Prime Minister of Peru in 2003. She is the first female politician to serve as Peru's prime minister. Merino also served as the Public Defender of Peru from 2005 to 2011. She is currently serving as the President of César Vallejo University.

Pilar Mazzetti is a Peruvian health administrator and physician. She is best known for her service as the Minister of Health of Peru on three occasions between 2004 and 2021. She also served as the Minister of the Interior from 2006 to 2007. Mazzetti is the first woman to serve as the Minister of the Interior in the Peruvian government.