Throughout history, women have stood out for their work in areas like science, art, music, law, and many more industries. In honor of International Women's Day, AL DÍA has handpicked five Latinas who will be remembered for all time for their contributions.

Manuela Saenz 

Manuela Sanz was an Ecuadorian politician, military woman, and hero of the independence movement in South America. Saenz was named by Simon Bolivar as "Liberator of the liberator," for saving his life during the Septembrine Conspiracy in Bogota on Sept. 25, 1828.

Saenz also received the Peruvian order of "Caballeresa del Sol" in 1822 for her heroic efforts in favor of Independence from the Spanish Empire and the rank of colonel by the Congress of Gran Colombia for her participation in the Battle of Junin. 

Frida Kahlo 

Frida Kahlo is known for being a Mexican painter, who portrayed the culture of her country, her personal struggles and unique personality through art. 

Kahlo created 150 works, mainly self-portraits, in which she projected her difficulties to survive. She suffered a bus accident when she was very young, which forced her to spend much of her time in hospitals or bedridden, seeking refuge in her paintings.  

This painter is also considered a pop icon of Mexican culture.

Selena Quintanilla 

Selena Quintanilla was a Mexican-American singer and songwriter, popularly known as the 'Queen of Tejano Music.' 

She's remembered for her songs with typical Latin rhythms such as ranchera and cumbia, mixed with pop, R&B, and country. 

The voice behind "Amor Prohibido" was named in 2020 by Billboard magazine as the third-best Latin artist of all time, with a resume full of successful albums and songs. 

Ellen Ochoa 

Ellen Ochoa became the first Hispanic woman to go into space in 1993, when she was part of a nine-day mission aboard the space shuttle Discovery. In total, she spent nearly 1,000 hours in space on four missions between 1999 and 2002. 

A U.S. engineer of Mexican descent, she is a former astronaut and director of the Johnson Space Center. 

Currently, Ochoa works as an advocate for STEM education and is the author of the bilingual children's book We Are All Scientists.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor 

Justice Sonia Sotomayor is a Bronx, New York native born to Puerto Rican parents. She currently serves as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. 

Among the justice's most notable decisions are providing subsidies to Americans who purchase healthcare and also the legalization of gay marriage in all 50 states.

Sotomayor has told the press in many interviews that she is passionate about "issues of race, gender, and ethnic identity."