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María Eva Duarte de Perón (also known as Evita) was born on May 7, 1919 in (as most assume) Junin, Buenos Aires Province. She was the wife of Argentinean President Juan Peron and became one of the most powerful women in the world.

She arrived in Buenos Aires when she was 15 years old and struggled without an education and without any connections.  She eventually found work as a radio and film actress. She met Colonel Juan Peron at a charity event for the victims of a San Juan earthquake, and they were married in 1945. When Juan Peron began a drive for Presidency in 1946, Eva was heavily involved with the campaigning effort and used her radio show to promote Juan and urged the poor to align themselves with his movement.  The impoverished people of Argentina could relate to her and her own humble upbringing.

She became politically active when Juan was elected in 1946. She took important roles in the government and eventually even overshadowed the Vice-President in his duties. Later she began to focus on social and charity duties. She created the Eva Peron Foundation which was devoted to helping the poor.  She had become an image and an icon for the working classes.

In 1951 she decided to try and run for vice president, but eventually decided against it as it angered many officials and even her husband and its speculated that she was pressured strongly against it.

Peron died of uterine cancer on July 26, 1952 at the age of only 33.

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María Eva Duarte de Perón around the Web - click here