Peru's first Nobel laureate is
Mario Vargas Llosa. He won the Nobel prize for literature in 2010, "for his cartography of structures of power and his trenchant images of the individual's resistance, revolt, and defeat."
Peru's culture is a stellar example of myriad influences, right from the ancient Norte Chico civilization, to the Inca Empire, to Spanish colonialism. Years of political instability followed after the country gained independence from Spain in 1821, which has been thankfully overcome.
Over the years, numerous prominent Peruvians have managed to leave an indelible mark on the way our world is now, with their contributions to fields as varied as literature, science, sports, and politics. We give you a list of famous Peruvians according to their field of expertise.
Politics
Ollanta Humala
Current President of PeruÓscar R. Benavides
Ex-President of PeruJosé Bustamante y Rivero
Ex-President of Peru
Ex-President of the International Court of JusticeJavier Pérez de Cuéllar
Diplomat
Ex-Secretary General of the United NationsAugusto B. Leguía
Ex-President of PeruAlejandro Toledo
Ex-President of PeruVíctor Andrés Belaúnde
DiplomatLuis Bedoya Reyes
Ex-Mayor of LimaAlbina Ruiz
Environmentalist/Social activistLuis Alberto Sánchez
First Vice President of PeruFrancisco Morales Bermúdez
Ex-President of PeruNicolás de Piérola
Finance Minister/Ex-President of PeruVíctor Raúl Haya de la Torre
Founder of American Popular Revolutionary Alliance
Literature
José María Arguedas
Novelist/Poet/AnthropologistJosé Carlos Mariátegui
Political journalistManuel González Prada
Literary criticClorinda Matto de Turner
WriterJulio Ramón Ribeyro
Short story writerRicardo Palma
Author and scholarCésar Vallejo
Poet/Writer/Playwright/JournalistAbraham Valdelomar
Poet/Essayist/DramatistJosé Santos Chocano
Poet/Political activistMario Vargas Llosa
Writer, recipient of the 2010 Nobel Prize in Literature
Sports
Teodoro "Lolo" Fernández
Football
Science and Technology
Santiago Antúnez de Mayolo
Engineer/Physicist/MathematicianAlberto Barton
MicrobiologistDaniel Alcides Carrión
Medical student/ResearcherPedro Paulet
Scientist (Aeronautics)Julio C. Tello
ArchaeologistJavier Mariátegui
PsychiatristGustavo R. Paz-Pujalt
Scientist/Inventor
Artists
Entertainment
Rossana Fernández-Maldonado
Actress/SingerDenisse Dibós
Actress/Musician/DancerAlex Acuña
Drummer/PercussionistDaniel Alomía Robles
ComposerArturo "Zambo" Cavero
SingerPastorita Huaracina
Singer
Beauty Pageant Winners
Gladys Zender
Miss Universe 1957Madeleine Hartog-Bel
Miss World 1967Claudia Hernández
Miss Peru Mundo 2003María Julia Mantilla
Miss World 2004
The residents of the Andean nation of Peru have contributed to the betterment of our society over time, and will continue to do so in the days to come.