Claudia Sheinbaum joins the list of female presidents in Latin America, making a historic milestone in Mexico.

Claudia Sheinbaum will join the short list of female presidents in Latin America, a historic milestone for Mexico that marks progress in gender equity in politics. Currently, only Peru and Honduras have a woman as head of state, with Sheinbaum now becoming the first woman to govern Mexico in its over 200 years of independence. In Latin America, countries like Nicaragua, Panama, Chile, Argentina, Costa Rica, and Brazil have also had women in the presidency in the past, with figures such as Violeta Barrios de Chamorro, Mireya Moscoso, Michelle Bachelet, Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, Laura Chinchilla, Dilma Rousseff, and Xiomara Castro standing out. Each of them faced different challenges and achievements during their term, leaving a diverse legacy in the region. Violeta Barrios de Chamorro, affectionately known as "Doña Violeta," was the first democratically elected female head of state in Latin America, winning the elections in Nicaragua in 1990. During her term, she achieved the reconciliation of a country divided by civil war and promoted economic growth and the professionalization of the Armed Forces. Mireya Moscoso assumed the presidency of Panama in 1999, shortly before her country gained control of the Panama Canal. Her government was characterized by popular policies and overseeing the handover of the canal from the United States. Michelle Bachelet, on the other hand, has been a pioneer in various fields in Chile, being the first woman in Latin America to head a Ministry of Defense and later the presidency of the country on two occasions. During her term, she implemented important educational and tax reforms, as well as the creation of institutions dedicated to human rights and gender equality. Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, a central figure in Argentine politics, stood out as the first female president of Argentina and for leading the longest uninterrupted female government in the region. Her legacy includes social inclusion and human rights policies, although she also faced corruption allegations that led to her conviction in 2022. Laura Chinchilla became the first female president of Costa Rica, promoting reforms in areas such as public security and justice during her term. In Brazil, Dilma Rousseff made history by becoming the first female president of the country, although her second term was interrupted by a political impeachment that removed her from office, paving the way for the rise of Jair Bolsonaro. Xiomara Castro, the president of Honduras since November 2021, also marks a milestone as the first woman to hold the position in her country. Her electoral victory was historic and focused on protecting women's rights in a country with high rates of femicide and restrictive abortion policies. Claudia Sheinbaum's rise as president of Mexico adds to this list of women who have challenged barriers and stereotypes in Latin American politics. Her leadership represents progress in the representation of women in positions of power and the possibility of promoting inclusive and equitable policies in the country.