The magazine People en Español published its annual traditional list on Wednesday of "The 50 Most Beautiful 2026", led by the singer Belinda, and among the selected individuals are four figures of Cuban origin: quarterback Fernando Mendoza, musician Cimafunk, rapper Pitbull, and presenter William Valdés.
The publication organizes its selections into thematic categories—music and stage, television, sports, and series—gathering around fifty personalities from entertainment, sports, and the arts who, according to the magazine itself, "have made us laugh, have made us cry, have got us dancing and singing, have moved us with their achievements, and have inspired us with their sacrifices."
Fernando Mendoza is undoubtedly the most striking addition of this edition. The Cuban-American quarterback, grandson of Cuban immigrants and a former player from the University of Indiana, was selected with the first overall pick of the 2026 NFL Draft on April 24 by the Las Vegas Raiders, making it a historical milestone for Cuban-American sports.
Before arriving at the NFL, Mendoza completed 273 of 379 passes for 3,535 yards, 41 touchdowns, and six interceptions in his last college season, in addition to adding 276 yards and seven rushing touchdowns. He won the Heisman Trophy and the national championship with Indiana, and later signed a four-year rookie contract worth 57.3 million dollars fully guaranteed.
In the music category, Cimafunk (Erik Alejandro Iglesias Rodríguez) appears, the artist born in Pinar del Río who has established his international presence alongside figures such as Karol G, Luis Fonsi, and Feid.
The musician from Pinar del Río, who in 2024 became the first Cuban artist to perform at Coachella, recently had a performance alongside Emilio Estefan that strengthened his presence on American stages.
Pitbull (Armando Christian Pérez), globally known as "Mr. Worldwide," is also featured in the category "The Stage Attraction," alongside Rosalía, Aitana, and Yandel.
The Cuban-American rapper from Miami has been one of the most commercially successful Latin artists in the world for over two decades, and his inclusion on the list confirms his relevance in the Spanish-language entertainment industry.
The Cuban representative in the selection is William Valdés López, a host born in Havana on January 10, 1994, who appears in the category "The Shine of the Small Screen" alongside Dayanara Torres, Carmen Villalobos, and Karla Monroig.
The simultaneous presence of four figures of Cuban origin in different categories on the list marks a milestone in this year's edition and reflects the growing influence of Cuban talent in Hispanic popular culture on both sides of the Atlantic.
In previous editions, the list had already recognized Cubans such as William Levy, Ana de Armas, Lili Estefan, and Yotuel Romero, but never before had four compatriots been included in the same annual selection.
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