List of Nicaraguans

This is a list of Nicaraguans and people of Nicaraguan ethnicity:

Republic of Nicaragua

(Flag of Nicaragua) (Coat of Arms)

Art

• Omar D'Leon (b. 1929), painter and poet.
• Franck de Las Mercedes (b. 1972), painter
• Armando Morales (1927–2011), painter
• José Ortiz Bracamonte,^[1] painter, sculptor
• Hugo Palma-Ibarra (b. 1942), artist
• Róger Pérez de la Rocha (b. 1949), painter
• Julio Valle Castillo (b. 1952), painter, poet, novelist, essayist, and a critic of literature and art

Business

• Harry Brautigam (b. 1948), an economist, banker and academic
• José Cardenal (1940), businessman
• Michael Cordúa (b. 1961), restaurateur, entrepreneur, businessman, award winning self-taught chef.
• Carlos Reynaldo Lacayo (b. 1950), businessman
• Carlos Pellas Chamorro (b. 1953), businessman, entrepreneur, Nicaragua's first Billionaire.^[2]
• Alfonso Robelo (b. 1939), businessman, politician, diplomat who served as ambassador to Costa Rica

Education

• Elena Arellano Chamorro (1836–1911), reform pedagogue, a pioneer for education of women.
• Mariano Fiallos Gil (1907–1964), rector of UNAN-León
• Josefa Toledo de Aguirre (1866–1962), reform pedagogue, general director of education in the 1920s.
• Herman Van de Velde (b. 1956), basic and cooperative education pedagogue

Fashion, models and beauty queens

Cristiana Frixione; Miss Nicaragua 2006.

• Xiomara Blandino (b. 1984), Miss Nicaragua 2007, model
• Nastassja Bolivar, Nuestra Belleza Latina 2011 - Miss Nicaragua 2013 - and Top 16 in Miss Universe 2013 -The Best National Costume.
• Dolly Castro - Model
• Erielda Casaya- Model, Dancer, most notable role includes the one in Mas Flow: Los Benjamins
• Deyra Corrales - Model
• Cristiana Frixione (b. 1984), Miss Nicaragua 2006, model
• Regina Gonzalez Bolaños - International Model
• Iva Grijalva Pashova (b. 1986), Miss Earth Nicaragua 2007
• Jade Jagger (b. 1971), model
• Shantall Lacayo, third place project runway Latinoamerica
• Thelma Rodríguez (b. 1989), Miss Nicaragua 2008

Government and politics

• Lila T. Abaunza (1929–2008), First Lady of Nicaragua from 2002 to 2007.
• Fernando Agüero (b. 1920), politician
• Arnoldo Alemán (b. 1946), former President of Nicaragua from 1997–2002. Mr. Aleman has been one of the most corrupt Presidents Nicaragua ever had. He stole more than US $200,000,000 from the Nicaraguan Treasury
• Leonardo Arguello Barreto (1895–1947), former President of Nicaragua (1947)
• Miguel d'Escoto Brockmann (b. 1933), former Foreign Minister of Nicaragua (1979–1990), President of the 63rd UN General Assembly (2008–2009) and leading liberation theologist.
• Juan Bautista Sacasa (1874–1946), former President of Nicaragua from 1933–1936
• Claudia Bermúdez (b. 1954), Nicaragua-American politician and entrepreneur; first Nicaraguan American to be the nominee of a major party for a seat in the United States Congress.
• Enrique Bolaños (b. 1928), former President of Nicaragua from 2002 to 2007. Enrique Bolaños was a very ineffective President, he was not able to accomplish anything during his Presidency
• Róger Calero (b. 1969), Nicaraguan American who ran for U.S. President in the 2004 elections.
• Adolfo Calero (b. 1931), leader of the Contra-Revolutionary Movement
• Emiliano Chamorro (1871–1966), former President of Nicaragua from 1917–1920 and part of 1926
• Fruto Chamorro (1804–1855), first President of Nicaragua 1854–1855
• Manuel Coronel Kautz, vice minister of foreign relations.
• Arturo Cruz (b. 1923), politician and diplomat
• Pedro Chamorro (1875–1879), former President of Nicaragua from 1875–1879.
• Violeta Chamorro (b. 1929), first female president in Latin America, second in North America and 48th President of Nicaragua
• Adolfo Díaz (1875–1964), President of Nicaragua in 1911–1917 and 1926–1929
• George William Albert Hendy (1879–1888), Hereditary Chief of Miskito Nation.
• Edmundo Jarquín (b. 1946), politician, candidate for president of Nicaragua in 2006.
• Máximo Jerez (1818-1881), politician, lawyer, and military leader in 19th century Nicaragua.
• Herty Lewites (1939–2006), politician
• Eduardo Montealegre (1955), politician, businessman
• Oldman (d. 1687), King of the Miskito Nation from 1625–1687
• Daniel Ortega (b. 1945), current President of Nicaragua, leader of the FSLN
• Edén Pastora (b. 1937), politician
• Mariano Prado (1776–1837), lawyer and a four-time, liberal chief of state of El Salvador.
• Sergio Ramírez (b. 1943), Vice President of Nicaragua during the Junta, writer, intellectual
• Jorge Salazar Argüello (1939–1980), a Nicaraguan coffee grower and popular leader of UPANIC (Union of Agricultural Producers of Nicaragua – Unión de Productores Agropecuarios de Nicaragua), seemed poised to become the leader of the opposition to the Sandinista government, until his death at the hands of State Security forces.
• José Santos Zelaya (1853–1919), former President of Nicaragua from 1893–1909
• Hilda Solis (b. 1957), U.S. congresswoman.
• Anastasio Somoza García (1896–1956), brutal dictator, 34th and 39th President of Nicaragua
• Anastasio Somoza Debayle (1925–1980), brutal dictator, 44th and 45th President of Nicaragua from 1967 to 1972 and from 1974 to 1979. Member of the Somoza Dictatorial Family
• Luis Somoza Debayle (1922–1967), dictator, 40th President of Nicaragua from 1956–1963, but was effectively dictator from 1956 until his death.

Journalism

• Pedro Joaquín Chamorro Cardenal (1924–1978), editor of La Prensa daily newspaper, assassinated
• Xavier Chamorro Cardenal (1932–2008), co-founder, director and editor of El Nuevo Diario
• Mari Ramos, weather anchor for CNN

Literature

Gioconda Belli was designated amongst the 100 most important poets during the 20th century.

Ernesto Cardenal is a poet, Roman Catholic priest and was one of the most famous liberation theologians of the Sandinista Regime.

• Claribel Alegría (b. 1924), poet, she received the Neustadt International Prize for Literature in 2006.
• Emilio Álvarez Lejarza (1884–1969), writer
• Emilio Álvarez Montalván (1919-–2014), political writer
• Eugenio Batres Garcia (b. 1941) noted newscaster and journalist, writer, author and poet.
• Gioconda Belli (b. 1948), poet
• Yolanda Blanco (b. 1954), poet and translator.
• Tomás Borge (1930–2012), writer, poet, politician and essayist.
• Omar Cabezas (b. 1950), writer
• Ernesto Cardenal (b. 1925), poet
• Blanca Castellón (b. 1958), poet
• José Coronel Urtecho (1906–1994), poet, translator, essayist, critic, narrator, playwright and historian.
• Alfonso Cortés (1893–1969), poet
• Arturo Cruz (b. 1954), writer
• Pablo Antonio Cuadra (1912–2002), poet
• Pablo Alberto Cuadra Arguello (b. 1971), poet, theologian
• Rubén Darío (1867–1916), poet, referred to as The Father of Modernism
• Karly Gaitán Morales (b. 1980) film historian, writer, journalist
• Salomón Ibarra Mayorga (1887–1985), poet and lyricist of "Salve a ti, Nicaragua", the Nicaraguan national anthem
• Erwin Krüger (1915–1973), poet and composer.
• Danilo López (b. 1954), poet
• Rigoberto López Pérez (1929–1936), poet and writer
• Francisco Mayorga (b. 1949), writer
• Christianne Meneses Jacobs (b. 1971), writer, editor, and publisher
• Rosario Murillo (b. 1951), poet
• Azarías H. Pallais (1884–1954), poet
• Rafael Pallais (b. 1952), writer
• Joaquín Pasos (1914–1947), poet
• Horacio Peña (1946), writer and poet
• Sergio Ramírez (b. 1942), writer
• Mariana Sansón Argüello (1918), poet
• Arlen Siu (1955–1972), essayist
• Julio Valle Castillo (b. 1952), poet, novelist, essayist, literary critic and art critic
• Daisy Zamora (b. 1950), poet

Military and police

• Enrique Bermúdez (1932–1991), military and political leader of the Nicaraguan contras from 1979–1991
• Fernando Chamorro Alfaro (1824–1863), General and member of the governing junta of Nicaragua (1860–1863)
• Aminta Granera (b. 1952), Sandinista and Police chief of Nicaragua
• Aristides Sánchez (d. 1993), key figure among the Contras
• Anastasio Somoza Portocarrero (b. 1951), former commander of the National Guard

Movies and TV entertainment

• Maurice Benard (b. 1963), actor on American soap operas All My Children and General Hospital
• Jhonny Block, actor whose notable roles include Land of the Dead and Get Rich or Die Tryin'. Swag Beast
• Barbara Carrera (b. 1951), film, TV actress, former model.
• Oswaldo Castillo, actor, most notable role includes the one in The Hammer
• Edward'O, notable astroanalyst and co-host of Telemundo's dating show, 12 Corazones
• Gabriel Traversari (b. 1963), actor, director, writer, singer, songwriter and painter

Music

DJ Craze at a rave in 2002

Singer song writer Luis Enrique Mejía Godoy

• José Areas (b. 1946), percussionist, former drummer for Santana.
• Lya Barrioz, singer and actress
• Katia Cardenal (b. 1963), singer/song writer from Duo Guardabarranco.
• Dimension Costeña, musicians
• DJ Craze (Aristh Delgado) (b. 1977), only DJ in history to win 3 consecutive World DMC Champion titles.
• DJ Carnage, Trap/EDM Producer
• Norma Helena Gadea (b. 1955) singer (latinamerican song)
• Erwin Krüger (1915–1973), singer and Nicaraguan folklore poet
• Luis Enrique Mejía López (b. 1962), salsa singer and music composer
• Carlos Mejía Godoy (b. 1943), musician, composer, singer
• Luis Enrique Mejía Godoy (b. 1945), musician, composer, singer
• Alfonso Noel Lovo (b. 1951), composer and guitarist
• Tony Melendez (b. 1962), guitar player, singer and Christian rock songwriter who was born without arms.
• Maria Mena, Norwegian/Nicaraguan Pop Singer
• José de la Cruz Mena, (1874–1907), composer and conductor
• T-Bone (b. 1973), rapper
• Torombolo (b. 1985), reggaeton and hip hop singer
• Raúl Traña, (1921–2013) band leader and composer
• J Smooth, bilingual Hip Hop and Reggaeton singer
• Donald Vega (b. 1974), jazz musician and composer
• Hernaldo Zúñiga (b. 1955), singer and music composer

Non-Governmental Organizations

Bianca Jagger, Political activist

• Reinaldo Aguado Montealegre (b. 1960), President of the International Society for Human Rights in Nicaragua.
• Aubry Campbell Ingram (1903–2000), former baseball player who helped found the Asociación de Scouts de Nicaragua
• Myrna Cunningham, Miskita indigenous rights activist and physician
• Joseph A. Harrison (1883–1964), Moravian Pastor who helped him start the first scout troop in Nicaragua.
• Bianca Jagger (b. 1945), social and political activist, former wife of Mick Jagger

Religion

• Leopoldo Brenes (b. 1949), Archbishop of Managua, Cardinal.
• Miguel D'Escoto (b. 1933), Roman Catholic priest, former foreign minister of Nicaragua, received the Lenin Peace Prize, in 1985.
• Uriel Molina, (b. 1932), Franciscan.
• Pablo Antonio Vega Mantilla (1919–2007), Roman Catholic Bishop and Bishop Emeritus.
• Maria Romero Meneses (1902–1977), Roman Catholic nun.
• Miguel Obando y Bravo (b. 1926), Archbishop Emeritus of Managua, Cardinal.

Revolutionaries, heroes and martyrs

• Patrick Argüello (1943–1970), considered a martyr of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine PFLP
• Nora Astorga (1948–1988), Sandinista revolutionary, lawyer, politician, judge and Nicaraguan ambassador to the UN
• Antonio Cardenal Caldera (1951–1991), also known by the nom de guerre Jesus Rojas, major leader of the Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front.
• Armandito Castillo, Sandinista, lives in Canada
• Arturo Cruz, Jr. (b. 1954), revolutionary, writer, professor and diplomat
• Rigoberto Cruz (d. 1967), one of the founders of the FSLN
• Ajax Delgado (1941–1960), student activist, martyr of the Sandinista revolution
• José Dolores Estrada (1792–1869), national hero, famed for his part in the battle Hacienda San Jacinto in 1856
• Idania Fernandez (1952–1979), Martyr of the Sandinista Revolution.
• Carlos Fonseca (1936–1976), teacher, founder of FSLN
• Maximo Jerez (1818–1876), lawyer, politician, general, president
• Augusto César Sandino (1895–1934), revolutionary, symbol of the FSLN
• Arlen Siu (1955–1972), martyr of the Sandinista revolution
• Dora María Téllez (b. 1947), Comandante during the Sandinista revolution, founded the MRS, historian
• Jose Santos Zelaya (1853–1919), president

Science

Clodomiro Picado Twight was a pioneer in the medical research on molds and snake venoms.

• Aurora Aragón, UNAN-León, epidemiologist, occupational health.
• Marianela Corriols^[3] (b. 1965), UNAN-León, epidemiologist, expert on the effect of pesticides on human health.
• Graziella Devoli, Instituto Nicaragüense de Estudios Territoriales, geologist, landslides specialist.
• Jorge Alberto Huete Pérez,^[4] UCA, molecular biologist researching infectious diseases.
• Luis Javier Cuadra Cea, (1885–1975), statistician and historian.
• Leonor Martínez de Rocha, archeologist, founder of the Ancient footprints of Acahualinca museum.
• Jean Michel Maes^[5] (b. 1958), entomologist, founder of the Museo Entomológico de León.
• Armando José Matute Moreno,^[6] UNAN-León, medical scientist, infectious diseases and anti-microbial resistance.
• Manuel Ortega Hegg^[7] (1947–), UCA, sociologist, analyzing sociocultural aspects of religion and politics.
• Milagros Palma (b. 1949), Caen University, anthropologist
• Rodolfo Peña, UNAN-León, demographer and epidemiologist, researching sexual and reproductive health.
• Clodomiro Picado Twight (1887–1944), Pasteur Institute, biologists whose work on molds was a precursor to the formal discovery of penicillin.
• Miguel Ramírez Goyena^[8] (1857–1927), botanist, author of Flora Nicaragüense
• Ricardo Rueda Pereira (b. 1960), UNAN-León, botanist
• Wilfried Strauch,^[9] Instituto Nicaragüense de Estudios Territoriales, geologist, expert on earthquakes and volcanoes.
• Javier Sunyer,^[10] UNAN-León, herpetologist
• Carlos Alberto Zúniga González,^[11] UNAN-León, agricultural economist.

Sports

José "Quiebra Jícara" Alfaro, boxer; world champion

Eve Torres; Professional wrestler, winner of WWE's 2007 Diva Search

Baseball

• Porfirio Altamirano (b. 1952), former Major League Baseball player.
• Marvin Benard (b. 1970), former Major League Baseball player.
• Tony Chévez (b. 1954), Major League Baseball player.
• David Green (1960), former Major League Baseball player.
• Devern Hansack (b. 1978), current Major League Baseball player.
• Oswaldo Mairena (b. 1975), Major League Baseball player.
• Dennis Martínez (b. 1955), first Nicaraguan to play in Major League Baseball, pitched the 13th perfect game in major league history.
• Vicente Padilla (b. 1977), current Major League Baseball player.

Boxing

• José Alfaro (b. 1983),boxer, world champion.
• Rosendo Alvarez (b. 1970), boxer, former world champion, only person to hold the undefeated flyweight champion to a draw.
• Alexis Argüello (b. 1952), boxer, former world champion.
• Julio Gamboa (b. 1971), lightweight boxer.
• Eddie Gazo (b. 1950), super welterweight boxer.
• Ricardo Mayorga (b. 1973), boxer, former WBA/WBC Welterweight champion and WBC Junior Middleweight world champion.
• David Obregon (b. 1978), professional boxer.
• Juan Palacios (b. 1980), professional boxer, reigning WBC Interim Minimumweight World Champion.
• Luis Alberto Pérez (b. 1978), boxer, current IBF world junior-bantamweight champion.
• Adonis Rivas (b. 1972), boxer, former world champion.

Football (Soccer)

• Armando Collado (b. 1985), professional soccer player.
• Denis Espinoza (b. 1983), professional soccer player.
• Shawn Hasani Martin (b. 1987), professional soccer player.
• Lester Meléndez (b. 1981), professional soccer player for the University of Miami.
• Emilio Palacios (b. 1982), professional soccer player, Nicaraguan to score a hat-trick in an international competition.
• Wilber Sanchez (b. 1979), professional soccer player.
• Samuel Wilson (b. 1983), professional soccer player who currently plays for Atletico Olanchano.

Martial Arts

• Diana López (b. 1984), Olympic bronze medalist in the sport of taekwondo.
• Mark López (b. 1982), Olympic silver medalist in the sport of taekwondo.
• Steven López (b. 1978), first official Olympic gold medalist in the sport of taekwondo.

Swimming

• Claudia Poll (b. 1972), swimmer, won the Gold medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics.
• Silvia Poll (b. 1970), swimmer, won the silver medal at the 1988 Summer Olympics.

Other sports

• Jessica Aguilera (b. 1985), a track and field sprint athlete, competed in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
• Karla Moreno (b. 1988), weightlifter, competed in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
• Eve Torres (b. 1984), professional wrestler, dancer, model and actress.
• Emil Amador Flag Football Champion
• Eriel Casaya track and field. USATF MastersWorld Ranking

References

Media related to People of Nicaragua at Wikimedia Commons