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Alfonso Santistevan - Playwright and actor

Alfonso Santistevan

Playwright and actor

Alfredo Bryce Echenique - Novelist

Alfredo Bryce Echenique

Novelist

Ana María Intili - Writer and poet

Ana María Intili

Writer and poet

Ángela Leyva - Volleyball player

Ángela Leyva

Volleyball player

Antonio Raimondi - Italian-Peruvian naturalist and geographer

Antonio Raimondi

Italian-Peruvian naturalist and geographer

Arturo Zambo Cavero - Singer and percussionist

Arturo Zambo Cavero

Singer and percussionist

Atahualpa - Last Inca emperor

Atahualpa

Last Inca emperor

Beatriz Merino - Politician, former prime Minister

Beatriz Merino

Politician, former prime Minister

Beto Ortiz - Journalist and TV host

Beto Ortiz

Journalist and TV host

Blanca Varela - Poet

Blanca Varela

Poet

Cahuide - Inca warrior

Cahuide

Inca warrior

Carlos Alcántara - Actor and comedian

Carlos Alcántara

Actor and comedian

Carlos Bustamante - Biophysicist

Carlos Bustamante

Biophysicist

Carlos Germán Belli - Poet

Carlos Germán Belli

Poet

Carlos Monge Medrano - Doctor and researcher

Carlos Monge Medrano

Doctor and researcher

Carlos Rodríguez-Pastor - Businessman, Interbank group

Carlos Rodríguez-Pastor

Businessman, Interbank group

César Hildebrandt - Journalist and writer

César Hildebrandt

Journalist and writer

César Vallejo - Poet and writer

César Vallejo

Poet and writer

Chabuca Granda - Singer and songwriter

Chabuca Granda

Singer and songwriter

Ciro Alegría - Writer

Ciro Alegría

Writer

Claudia Llosa - Film director, Berlin Golden Bear winner

Claudia Llosa

Film director, Berlin Golden Bear winner

Claudio Pizarro - Football player

Claudio Pizarro

Football player

Clorinda Matto de Turner - Writer and journalist

Clorinda Matto de Turner

Writer and journalist

Daniel Alcides Carrión - Doctor and scientist

Daniel Alcides Carrión

Doctor and scientist

Deborah Valença - Photograph

Deborah Valença

Photograph

Deysi Cori - Chess player

Deysi Cori

Chess player

Eduardo Hochschild - Industrialist

Eduardo Hochschild

Industrialist

Edwin Donayre - Former general

Edwin Donayre

Former general

Elmer Huerta - Specialist in public health

Elmer Huerta

Specialist in public health

Érika Villalobos - Actress and singer

Érika Villalobos

Actress and singer

Eva Ayllón - Afro-Peruvian music singer

Eva Ayllón

Afro-Peruvian music singer

Federico Villarreal - Mathematician and engineer

Federico Villarreal

Mathematician and engineer

Felipe Huamán Poma de Ayala - Indigenous chronicler

Felipe Huamán Poma de Ayala

Indigenous chronicler

Fernando Cabieses Molina - Neurologist and anthropologist

Fernando Cabieses Molina

Neurologist and anthropologist

Fernando de Szyszlo - Painter

Fernando de Szyszlo

Painter

Flavio Maestri - Football player

Flavio Maestri

Football player

Francisco Bolognesi - National hero, military leader

Francisco Bolognesi

National hero, military leader

Francisco González Prada - Intellectual and reformer

Francisco González Prada

Intellectual and reformer

Gastón Acurio - Chef and entrepreneur

Gastón Acurio

Chef and entrepreneur

Gerardo Privat - Fashion designer

Gerardo Privat

Fashion designer

Gian Marco - Singer-songwriter

Gian Marco

Singer-songwriter

Gisela Valcárcel - TV presenter

Gisela Valcárcel

TV presenter

Gladys Tejeda - Marathon runner

Gladys Tejeda

Marathon runner

Guaman Poma - Indigenous Peruvian chronicler

Guaman Poma

Indigenous Peruvian chronicler

Gustavo Gutiérrez - Theologian

Gustavo Gutiérrez

Theologian

Héctor Chumpitaz - Former national team captain

Héctor Chumpitaz

Former national team captain

Hernán Garrido Lecca - Economist and former health minister

Hernán Garrido Lecca

Economist and former health minister

Inés Huaylas Yupanqui - Inca princess

Inés Huaylas Yupanqui

Inca princess

Jaime Bayly - Writer and television host

Jaime Bayly

Writer and television host

Jaime Guardia - Folk musician

Jaime Guardia

Folk musician

Javier Heraud - Poet and guerrilla

Javier Heraud

Poet and guerrilla

Javier Pérez de Cuéllar - Former UN secretary-general

Javier Pérez de Cuéllar

Former UN secretary-general

Javier Wong - Chef, known for fusion cuisine

Javier Wong

Chef, known for fusion cuisine

Jefferson Farfán - Football player

Jefferson Farfán

Football player

Jorge Chávez - Peruvian aviation pioneer

Jorge Chávez

Peruvian aviation pioneer

Jorge Eduardo Eielson - Poet and artist

Jorge Eduardo Eielson

Poet and artist

José Carlos Mariátegui - Marxist philosopher and writer

José Carlos Mariátegui

Marxist philosopher and writer

José Graña Miró Quesada - Industrialist and businessman

José Graña Miró Quesada

Industrialist and businessman

José María Arguedas - Novelist and ethnologist

José María Arguedas

Novelist and ethnologist

José Sabogal - Painter and muralist

José Sabogal

Painter and muralist

Juan Diego Flórez - Opera tenor

Juan Diego Flórez

Opera tenor

Juan José Cueva - Fashion designer

Juan José Cueva

Fashion designer

Juan Landázuri Ricketts - Cardinal of Lima

Juan Landázuri Ricketts

Cardinal of Lima

Juan Pablo Varillas - Peruvian tennis player

Juan Pablo Varillas

Peruvian tennis player

Juan Reynoso - Football coach

Juan Reynoso

Football coach

Juan Santos Atahualpa - Leader of the indigenous rebellion

Juan Santos Atahualpa

Leader of the indigenous rebellion

Juan Valer Sandoval - Military hero

Juan Valer Sandoval

Military hero

Leoncio Prado - War of the Pacific hero

Leoncio Prado

War of the Pacific hero

Lina Medina - The youngest mother in history

Lina Medina

The youngest mother in history

Lourdes Flores Nano - Politician

Lourdes Flores Nano

Politician

Lucha Reyes - Creole music singer

Lucha Reyes

Creole music singer

Lucho Horna - Tennis player

Lucho Horna

Tennis player

Lucho Quequezana - Musician

Lucho Quequezana

Musician

Luis Alberto Sánchez - Writer and politician

Luis Alberto Sánchez

Writer and politician

Luis Bedoya Reyes - Politician and founder of the Christian Democratic Party

Luis Bedoya Reyes

Politician and founder of the Christian Democratic Party

Luis Fernando Figari - Founder of Sodalitium Christianae Vitae

Luis Fernando Figari

Founder of Sodalitium Christianae Vitae

Luis Guillermo Lumbreras - Archaeologist and anthropologist

Luis Guillermo Lumbreras

Archaeologist and anthropologist

Luis Miguel Sánchez Cerro - Military leader and politician

Luis Miguel Sánchez Cerro

Military leader and politician

Magaly Medina - Television host

Magaly Medina

Television host

Magaly Solier - Actress and singer

Magaly Solier

Actress and singer

Margarita Checa - Contemporary sculptor

Margarita Checa

Contemporary sculptor

María Elena Moyano - Women’s rights activist

María Elena Moyano

Women’s rights activist

María Julia Mantilla - Beauty queen

María Julia Mantilla

Beauty queen

María Luisa Aguilar - Astrophysicist

María Luisa Aguilar

Astrophysicist

María Parado de Bellido - Heroine of independence

María Parado de Bellido

Heroine of independence

María Reiche - Mathematician and archaeologist

María Reiche

Mathematician and archaeologist

María Rostworowski - Historian and anthropologist

María Rostworowski

Historian and anthropologist

Mariano Ignacio Prado - Military figure and historical figure

Mariano Ignacio Prado

Military figure and historical figure

Mario Testino - Fashion photographer

Mario Testino

Fashion photographer

Mario Vargas Llosa - Writer, Nobel Prize in Literature, Politician

Mario Vargas Llosa

Writer, Nobel Prize in Literature, Politician

Mateo Pumacahua - Revolutionary leader

Mateo Pumacahua

Revolutionary leader

Máxima Acuña - Environmental activist

Máxima Acuña

Environmental activist

Micaela Bastidas - Leader of the indigenous rebellion

Micaela Bastidas

Leader of the indigenous rebellion

Michael Spitzer - Musician from Gaia band

Michael Spitzer

Musician from Gaia band

Miguel Grau - War hero

Miguel Grau

War hero

Miguel Iglesias - Military leader and politician

Miguel Iglesias

Military leader and politician

Mitsuharu Tsumura - Chef, known for Nikkei cuisine

Mitsuharu Tsumura

Chef, known for Nikkei cuisine

Natalia Málaga - Volleyball coach and former player

Natalia Málaga

Volleyball coach and former player

Nélida Sifuentes - Environmental activist

Nélida Sifuentes

Environmental activist

Nicola Porcella - Television personality

Nicola Porcella

Television personality

Oswaldo Reynoso - Writer

Oswaldo Reynoso

Writer

Paolo Guerrero - Football player

Paolo Guerrero

Football player

Patricia García - Epidemiologist and former health Minister

Patricia García

Epidemiologist and former health Minister

Pedro Paulet - Inventor and aerospace pioneer

Pedro Paulet

Inventor and aerospace pioneer

Pedro Ruiz Gallo - Soldier and inventor

Pedro Ruiz Gallo

Soldier and inventor

Pedro Suárez Vértiz - Rock singer

Pedro Suárez Vértiz

Rock singer

Pía León - Chef and co-owner of Central restaurant

Pía León

Chef and co-owner of Central restaurant

Ramón Castilla Márquez - Painter

Ramón Castilla Márquez

Painter

Raúl Ruidíaz - Football player

Raúl Ruidíaz

Football player

Rebeca Escribens - TV presenter and actress

Rebeca Escribens

TV presenter and actress

Ricardo Blume - Actor

Ricardo Blume

Actor

Ricardo Palma - Writer and historian

Ricardo Palma

Writer and historian

Rosa María Palacios - Journalist and lawyer

Rosa María Palacios

Journalist and lawyer

Ruth Shady - Archaeologist, founder of Caral site

Ruth Shady

Archaeologist, founder of Caral site

Saint Martin de Porres - Monk and Saint

Saint Martin de Porres

Monk and Saint

Saint Rose of Lima - Saint, patron of Latin America

Saint Rose of Lima

Saint, patron of Latin America

Santiago Antúnez de Mayolo - Physicist and engineer

Santiago Antúnez de Mayolo

Physicist and engineer

Sofía Mulanovich - World champion surfer

Sofía Mulanovich

World champion surfer

Sofía Rocha - Actress

Sofía Rocha

Actress

Sophie Jallais - Oncologist

Sophie Jallais

Oncologist

Susana Baca - Singer, Latin Grammy winner

Susana Baca

Singer, Latin Grammy winner

Susana Villarán - Former mayor of Lima

Susana Villarán

Former mayor of Lima

Tania Libertad - Singer

Tania Libertad

Singer

Tatiana Astengo - Actress

Tatiana Astengo

Actress

Teodoro Fernández - Former football player

Teodoro Fernández

Former football player

Teodoro Núñez Ureta - Painter

Teodoro Núñez Ureta

Painter

Teófilo Cubillas - Former football player

Teófilo Cubillas

Former football player

Tilsa Tsuchiya - Painter

Tilsa Tsuchiya

Painter

Titu Cusi Yupanqui - Inca leader

Titu Cusi Yupanqui

Inca leader

Toribio de Mogrovejo - Archbishop, saint

Toribio de Mogrovejo

Archbishop, saint

Túpac Amaru II - Leader of the indigenous rebellion

Túpac Amaru II

Leader of the indigenous rebellion

Túpac Katari - Revolutionary indigenous leader

Túpac Katari

Revolutionary indigenous leader

Víctor Andrés Belaunde - Diplomat and intellectual

Víctor Andrés Belaunde

Diplomat and intellectual

Víctor Delfín - Sculptor and painter

Víctor Delfín

Sculptor and painter

Víctor Raúl Haya de la Torre - Political leader, founder of APRA

Víctor Raúl Haya de la Torre

Political leader, founder of APRA

Violeta Bermúdez - Lawyer and Former prime minister

Violeta Bermúdez

Lawyer and Former prime minister

Virgilio Martínez - Chef of Central restaurant

Virgilio Martínez

Chef of Central restaurant

Vladimiro Montesinos - Former head of secret services

Vladimiro Montesinos

Former head of secret services

Wendy Sulca - Popular singer

Wendy Sulca

Popular singer

Yirko Sivirich - Fashion designer

Yirko Sivirich

Fashion designer

Yma Sumac - Exotic music singer

Yma Sumac

Exotic music singer

Sofía Mulanovich - The Queen of Peruvian Surfing

Sofía Mulanovich Aljovín, born on June 24, 1983, in Punta Hermosa, Peru, is undoubtedly one of the greatest surfers in history, not only in her native country but also globally. As the first Peruvian to win a world surfing championship, Sofía has left an indelible mark on the sport, showcasing Peruvian talent on the international stage. Her exemplary career, victories, and commitment to ocean preservation and fostering young talent make her a true icon of surfing.

The Early Years of Sofía Mulanovich

Born into a family living near the sea in Punta Hermosa, Sofía Mulanovich was exposed to the surfing world at an early age. Her father, himself a passionate surfer, introduced her to the sport when she was very young. By the age of five, Sofía was already standing on a surfboard, riding the waves of the Pacific coast. Her natural talent for surfing quickly became evident, and it didn’t take long before she started participating in local competitions.

With the support of her family and a strong determination, Sofía rose through the ranks of amateur surfing in Peru. By the age of 13, she was competing in international tournaments. Although surfing wasn’t a popular sport in Peru at the time, Sofía quickly attracted attention due to her impressive skills and fierce determination.

Breaking into the International Scene

The turning point in Sofía Mulanovich’s career came in 2004, when she won the World Championship title in the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP). This historic triumph made her the first Latin American surfer to achieve such recognition on the global stage. Her victory was a defining moment for Peruvian and Latin American surfing, and Sofía became a symbol of success, not just in her country but throughout the region.

Her 2004 ASP title win was particularly impressive as she outperformed some of the biggest names in world surfing. She demonstrated not only exceptional technique but also tremendous mental resilience under the pressure of international competition. This title elevated Sofía to the status of a surfing superstar, inspiring a new generation of surfers worldwide.

Sofía Mulanovich's Unique Style

Sofía Mulanovich is known for her smooth yet aggressive surfing style, combined with impeccable technique that allows her to conquer large and challenging waves. She has mastered a wide variety of conditions, whether on the beaches of Peru, Australia, or Hawaii. Her methodical approach and ability to read the waves with precision have made her stand out in international competitions.

In addition to her technical skills, Sofía is admired for her ability to stay calm under pressure. Whether in competition or training sessions, she remains composed, even in the most challenging conditions. This warrior mentality, along with her humility, has earned her respect in the surfing community.

Victories and Accolades

Sofía Mulanovich’s career has been filled with victories and accolades. Beyond her world title in 2004, she has won numerous other championships on the professional circuit. She has also been a finalist in major competitions such as the Billabong Pro and Roxy Pro, showcasing her consistency at the highest level.

In 2007, she was named "Woman of the Year" by the Peruvian Olympic Committee, recognizing her immense contribution to sports in Peru. Additionally, she was inducted into the prestigious Surfing Hall of Fame, joining the ranks of the sport’s greatest names. These accolades have not only cemented Sofía’s status as one of the best surfers of all time but also put Peru on the map in the world of surfing.

A Role Model for Future Generations

Beyond her sporting achievements, Sofía Mulanovich is an inspiration to young Peruvians and anyone who dreams of success in surfing. She has used her fame to encourage surfing among the youth, especially in coastal communities in Peru where resources are often limited. She founded the Sofía Mulanovich Surf Academy, a program aimed at developing young surfing talent, offering not only technical support but also education and values of environmental respect.

Thanks to her commitment to Peruvian youth, Sofía has helped cultivate a new generation of talented surfers who are beginning to make a name for themselves on the international stage. Her ability to inspire and guide young surfers makes her a figure not only in sports but also in community development and social responsibility.

Commitment to Environmental Preservation

Sofía Mulanovich is also a passionate advocate for ocean conservation and environmental preservation. Aware of the impact human activities have on marine ecosystems, she has been involved in several initiatives to raise public awareness about the importance of protecting the oceans. As a surfer, she has a deep connection to the sea and has often expressed her concern over the increasing pollution of the oceans.

She has collaborated with environmental organizations to promote the reduction of plastic waste, the protection of coral reefs, and the conservation of marine wildlife. Her efforts to raise awareness within the surfing community and among the general public have strengthened her image as a responsible role model, not only for her athletic achievements but also for her commitment to the planet.

A Career that Continues to Inspire

Though Sofía Mulanovich has scaled back from full-time competition, she continues to participate in surfing events and international competitions. In 2019, she won the International Surfing Association (ISA) World Championship, proving that she remains a formidable competitor even after several years away from the main circuit. This triumphant comeback reminded everyone that Sofía is a force to be reckoned with, no matter the context.

Alongside her competitive activities, Sofía continues to promote surfing in Peru, support young talents, and raise awareness about environmental issues. Her influence now extends beyond sports, making her a true ambassador of surfing and of Peru on the global stage.

Conclusion

Sofía Mulanovich perfectly embodies what it means to be a champion. Her exemplary career, historic victories, and commitment to youth education and environmental preservation make her a key figure in sports and a role model for future generations. With her fighting spirit, passion for the ocean, and dedication to helping others, Sofía has shown that there are no limits, and that anything is possible with determination and the will to succeed.

As surfing continues to grow in popularity in Peru and around the world, Sofía Mulanovich remains a source of inspiration and a symbol of what a Peruvian surfer can achieve on the global stage. She is, and will continue to be, a living legend of surfing, whose impact will be felt for decades to come.