Eva Perón
1919–1952 · Argentine (Los Toldos / Buenos Aires) · Peronist Argentina
Known for: 'Evita'—Argentina's most powerful first lady who championed the poor and became a quasi-saint
Eva Duarte was a rural girl who became an actress, married Colonel Juan Perón, and used her position as first lady to build the most powerful political machine in Argentine history. She championed women's suffrage, workers' rights, and the 'descamisados' (shirtless ones—Argentina's poor).
She died of cancer at 33, was embalmed, and her body was stolen and hidden for 16 years. She's a secular saint in Argentina—the musical 'Evita' made her story global.
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