Today, Time released its annual list of the 100 most influential people around the world. Divided into five sections – pioneers, titans, artists, leaders, and icons – Time‘s list includes both the most prominent figures and those affecting change at a local level. “One way or another they each embody a breakthrough: they broke the rules, broke the record, broke the silence, broke the boundaries to reveal what we’re capable of. They are seekers, with a fearless willingness to be surprised by what they find,” the publication wrote.
Not surprisingly, Lin-Manuel Miranda earned himself a place on the list and nabbed one of the six covers – all on the same week that he also won a Pulitzer Prize for Drama. And even though Lin-Manuel has had an amazing year, he’s hardly the only Latino doing big things. Here are all the Latinos and Latin Americans that made Time‘s list this year:
1
Alejandro González Iñárritu, Icon
At this year’s Academy Awards, Alejandro González Iñárritu secured his fourth Oscar with The Revenant. His good friend, Guillermo del Toro, talked about the kind of director he is.”But I think Alejandro is the real revenant,” GdT said. “I have seen him down and bleeding, and I have seen him strong and in control, but there is always a core within him that doesn’t surrender to adversity or despair.”
Check out what else GdT had to say here.
2
Gael García Bernal, Artist
This year, Gael García Bernal won a Golden Globe for his role in Mozart in the Jungle. Alfonso Cuarón wrote about GGB’s commitment to his craft. “…But this was very telling about Gael’s commitment to his characters and to his causes,” Cuarón wrote about a spider planting eggs inside his leg. “They get under his skin, and you need a scalpel to remove them.”
Check out what else Cuarón had to say here.
3
Gina Rodriguez, Pioneer
Though Gina Rodriguez’s broke out with Filly Brown, Jane the Virgin made her a star. The CW show is how Rita Moreno first heard of Gina. “I first became aware of Gina Rodriguez when she was just starting out starring on Jane the Virgin and a friend sent me an article in which she mentioned me,” Moreno wrote. “Aside from being flattered, I was struck by her healthy regard for herself–and now that I know her, I continue to be impressed by this confidence, which I never felt at her age.”
Check out what else Moreno had to say here.
4
Lin-Manuel Miranda, Pioneer
Star Wars director J.J. Abrams wrote about Broadway hit Hamilton and the amazing year Lin-Manuel Miranda has had as a result. “There is no recipe for genius, but one can see the disparate elements that Miranda has miraculously seized and synthesized, embraced and celebrated, to create something profoundly moving and wholly original,” Abrams wrote. “He has redefined the musical and made us see anew the origins of the remarkable experiment called democracy.”
Check out what else Abrams had to say here.
5
Mauricio Macri, Leader
Mauricio Macri became the president of Argentina in 2015. Businessman Paul Singer wrote about the changes Macri has made. “Macri has removed Argentina’s currency controls, allowing more freedom for trade,” he wrote. “He has pledged to reintegrate Argentina into the global economy, seeking private investment from aboard. And he has taken action to end the 15-year default that has kept the country in economic exile since 2001.”
Check out what else Singer had to say here.
6
Pope Francis, Titan
Joe Biden wrote about the 266th pope’s achievements. Biden welcomed Pope Francis to the White House in September 2015. “He’s electrified the world because he embodies the basic tenets of Catholic social doctrine that also cut across all great faiths–everyone is entitled to be treated with dignity; we have an obligation to help the poor; we have responsibilities to one another and to our planet,” Biden wrote. “And he embodies our collective obligation to give meaning to these universal principles, that faith is a gift revealed not just in what we believe but also in what we do together.”
Check out what else Biden had to say here.
7
Queen Máxima, Leader
Queen Máxima of the Netherlands is an Argentine-born former banker. Tilman Ehrbeck wrote about her work trying to give lower-income families access to financial services. “To change that requires a massive effort–from smart policies to innovation on the ground,” Ehrbeck wrote. “With her grasp of the technical issues, political savvy and boundless energy, Queen Máxima has masterfully used her role as the U.N. Secretary-General’s Special Advocate, her empathy and her easy laughter to cajole, encourage and support decision makers–from the hallowed halls of the financial-standard-setting bodies in Basel, Switzerland, to the female leaders of savings groups in rural villages.”
Check out what else Tilman had to say here.
8
Oscar Isaac, Artist
In 2015, Oscar Isaac starred in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Show Me a Hero, and Ex-Machina. And 2016 is looking like another year of dominance for Isaac. Director Paul Haggis spoke about working with Isaac for the HBO miniseries. “Oscar dug into David Simon and Bill Zorzi’s terrific scripts with his teeth and spat the character out–it was thrilling to watch,” Haggis wrote. “While his instincts were great, he was also brave enough to take real risks.”
Check out what else Haggis had to say here.
9
Ronda Rousey, Icon
Ronda Rousey’s illustrios MMA career jumpstarted her acting career, and her Do-Nothing Bitch speech inspired women like Beyoncé and Tina Fey. “I feel in love with Ronda Rousey when she announced to the world that she was not a ‘Do-Nothing Bitch,'” Fey said. “Always a sucker for an elegant turn of phrase, I quickly jumped down an Internet rabbit hole to hear more from this oracle.”
Check out what else Fey had to say here.
10
Sérgio Moro, Leader
Sérgio Moro is a judge who Brazilians call SuperMoro. He’s in the middle of prosecuting a corruption scandal that could bring down President Dilma Rouseff. “Moro has been accused of ignoring due process, and he’s been more than willing to try his cases in the court of public opinion,” according to Time. “But most Brazilians feel that his sharp-elbowed tactics are worth the trade-off for a cleaner country.”
11
Ted Cruz, Leader
Ted Cruz is currently running for the United States presidency, and he earned a place on the list, along with most of the other candidates. Scott Walker wrote, “Politicians in Washington don’t like Ted Cruz’s efforts to shake up the status quo. Many wish he’d just quietly go away.”
Check out what else Walker had to say here.