Famous former first lady of Argentina, Eva Peron, wife of Juan Peron, is the new face of the 100 peso bill. Affectionately known as Evita, Eva Peron’s life and political career are well known stories in Argentina and around the world.

Whether a supporter or not, it is hard to deny her impact on the political landscape in Argentina: campaigning alongside her husband, Eva Peron elevated the Argentine woman to a level of political equality with men for the first time in the nation’s history. Glamorous and beautiful, she made philanthropy and stardom go hand-in-hand well before the modern Hollywood era.

When speaking of Eva, current Argentine President Christina Fernandez de Kirchner said: “It’s not that Evita was perfect or a saint, quite the opposite. What made her into something greater, more unforgettable and immortal, is that she was a humble woman of the people who had the great luck to meet a man and a people.”

The unveiling of the new design is also the first time in 200 years that a woman is featured on Argentine currency.

[CNN]