Hispanic Heritage Month: Personalities With South Florida Connections

Puerto-Rican born and Miami native, Marc Anthony lived in Miami for years before selling his $22 million mansion. (Photo by Prince Williams/Wireimage)

Andy Garcia

True Miamian, moviestar Andy Garcia, attended Miami Beach Senior High. (Photo by Manny Hernandez/GC Images)

Gloria Estefan

Cuban-American singer and actress Gloria Estefan is a South Floridian icon. She has lived in Miami for years and is married to her busband Emilio Estefan. also shared partnership with her husband, Emilio Estefan. (Photo by: Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)

Pitbull

Born and raised in Miami, Armando Christian Pérez, better known as Pitbull, is one of South Florida's iconic public figures. (Photo by Timothy Hiatt/Getty Images for Nickelodeon)

Jennifer Lopez

Actress/singer Jennifer Lopez has one of many homes in Miami. She now stays at a private waterfront mansion near Biscayne Bay. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images)

Ricky Martin

Singer and actor Ricky Martin lived in Miami for sometime before selling his mansion for $21 million. (Photo by Mike Windle/Getty Images for iHeartMedia)

Perez Hilton

Born and raised in Little Havana, media personality Perez Hilton is one of Miami's most popular faces. (Photo by Amanda Edwards/Getty Images)

DJ Laz

Cuban-American rapper and DJ, Lazaro Mendez, better known as DJ Laz is one of the most popular South Florida personalities. (Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images for SiriusXM )

Willy Chirino

Cuban-American artist Willy Chirino lived in Miami for several years before selling his $12 million home in 2014. (Photo by Manny Hernandez/ Getty Images)

Sofia Vergara

Colombian-American actress and model Sofia Vergara is one of South Florida's most popular faces. Vergara emigrated to the United States, settling in Miami in 1998. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images)

Jon Secada

Cuban-American singer and songwriter Jon Secada emigrated to Miami in 1971 and has lived here since. (Photo by Mariano Regidor/Redferns)

Celia Cruz

Cuban-American Salsa singer Celia Cruz (1925 - 2003) was an iconic artist of the 20th century. Cruz also has a street named after her located in Calle Ocho and has many murals dedicated in her honor throughout South Florida. (Photo by Jack Vartoogian/Getty Images)

Paulina Rubio

Mexican singer, actress, and model Paulina Rubio lived in Miami in 2006. (Photo by Rodrigo Varela/Getty Images for Univision)

Wilmer Valderrama

Born in Miami, Florida, actor Wilmer Valderrama is best known for his role as Fez in That 70's Show. (Photo by Rich Fury/Getty Images)

Carlos Arroyo

Former Miami Heat guard Carlos Arroyo played for the Miami Heat for two seasons, making an NBA Finals appearance in 2011 in a losing effort to the Dallas Mavericks. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Moises Alou

Moises Alou is a Dominican-American former outfielder in Major League Baseball who played for 17 seasons. He was a part of the 1997 World Series Champion Florida Marlins. Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)

Jose Canseco

Cuban-American and former Major League Baseball player Jose Canseco attended Miami Coral Park High School and was part of the 1982 graduating class. (Photo by Gabe Ginsberg/Getty Images)

Kiko Alonso

Linebacker Kiko Alonso played three seasons with the Miami Dolphins from 2016-2018. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)

Luis Castillo

Former Major League Baseball second baseman Luis Castillo of the Florida Marlins, born in Dominican Republic, played nine seasons with the franchise. (Photo by Don Smith /MLB Photos via Getty Images)

Miguel Cabrera

Florida Marlins third baseman Miguel Cabrera played five seasons with the Marlins, and was a part of the 2003 World Series Champions in his rookie season. (Photo by A. Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

Al Avila

Detroit Tigers Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Al Avila. Avila, was also part of the Florida Marlins championship runs, as he signed 1997 World Series MVP Livan Hernandez. (Photo by Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

Jorge Mas

Owner Jorge Mas of Inter Miami CF. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

Fredi Gonzalez

Manager Fredi Gonzalez #33 of the Florida Marlins. He managed the team from 2007 to 2010. (Source: Victor Baldizon/Getty Images)

Alex Rodriguez

Former Major League Baseball player Alex Rodriguez won one World Series, was named an All-Star 14 times, and won three American League MVP Awards. He used to live in Miami Beach with ex-fiance Jennifer Lopez. (Source: Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images)

Juan Ponce De Leon

Juan Ponce de Leon was a Spanish explorer known for leading the first official European expedition to Florida. (Source: Wikipedia/Jacques Reich)

Ellen Ochoa

NASA astronaut Ellen Ochoa was the first Hispanic woman to fly to space. Photo: Carmen Jaspersen/dpa (Photo by Carmen Jaspersen/picture alliance via Getty Images)

Ileana Ros-Lehtinen

Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen represented Florida's 27th congressional district from 1989 to 2019. (Miami Herald/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)

The 43rd Annual Three Kings Day Parade In Miami

Xavier Suarez was the first Cuban-born mayor of the City of Miami. He is the father of the current mayor, Francis Suarez. He served as mayor for three terms.(Photo by Alexander Tamargo/Getty Images)

Maria Elvira Salazar

Born in Little Havana, Congresswoman Maria Elvira Salazar is serving as the U.S. Representative for Florida's 27th congressional district. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Carlos Gimenez

Cuban-American politician Carlos Gimenez served mayor of Miami-Dade County, Florida, from 2011 to 2020. (Photo By Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

Mel Martinez

Cuban-American Mel Martinez served as a United States Senator from Florida from 2005 to 2009. He was also a former HUD Secretary. Photographer: Susana Gonzalez/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Carlos Alvarez

Cuban-American politician and former Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Alvarez. He served as mayor from 2004 to 2011. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Esteban Bovo

Esteban "Steve" Bovo ran for mayor of Miami-Dade County in 2020, losing to Daniella Levine Cava. He also served on the Hialeah City Council, in the Florida House of Representatives (CBS4)

Lincoln Diaz-Balart

Cuban-American Lincoln Diaz-Balart is a former U.S. Congressman. He served as a U.S. Representative for Florida's 21st congressional district from 1993 to 2011. (Photo by Scott J. Ferrell/Congressional Quarterly/Getty Images)

Mario Diaz-Balart

Cuban-American Mario Diaz-Balart, is a Republican U.S. Representative for Florida's 25th congressional district. Photographer: Tom Brenner/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Marco Rubio

Born in Miami, Marco Rubio serves as a senior United States senator from Florida, a seat he has held since 2011. (Photo by Mark Wallheiser/Getty Images)

Manny Diaz

Cuban-American politician Manny Diaz currently serves as the the chair of the Florida Democratic Party. He served as the City of Miami Mayor from 2001 to 2009. (Photo by John Parra/WireImage for Carnival Center for the Performing Arts)

Maurice Ferre

Maurice Ferre was the first Puerto Rican-born United States mayor and the first Latino Mayor of Miami. He served for six terms.

Miguel Diaz Canel

President Miguel Díaz-Canel called on Cubans to not act with hate — a reference to the violence that occurred at some of the rare street demonstrations in which protesters voiced grievances over high prices, food shortages, and power outages, while some people also called for a change in the government. (CBS)

Miguel Diaz De La Portilla

Born in Miami, Miguel Diaz De La Portilla served in the Florida Senate from 2010 to 2016. He was also a member of the Miami-Dade County Commission from 1993 to 2000.(Source: flsenate.gov)

Jeanette Nunez

Miami native Jeanette Nunez currently serves as the current lieutenant governor of Florida, and has been since 2019. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)