Laura Chinchilla
She broke the highest glass ceiling in Costa Rica, becoming its first female president while championing security and social welfare policies.
Born 1959 (age 67)·President of Costa Rica from 2010 to 2014·Birthday: March 28·Baby Boomers
Biography
Laura Chinchilla's rise to Costa Rica's presidency was a landmark moment in a nation proud of its democratic traditions. A political scientist by training, she cut her teeth as Minister of Public Security, tackling drug trafficking and crime with a firm hand. As Vice President under Óscar Arias, she became the natural successor, winning the 2010 election decisively. Her administration focused on continuing social investment, environmental protection, and navigating the global economic downturn. While her tenure faced criticism over infrastructure projects and political friction, her election alone signaled a shift in Central American politics, proving a woman could lead one of the region's most stable democracies. Post-presidency, she remains an influential voice on global governance and gender equality.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Laura was born in 1959, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Laura Was Born
The biggest hits of 1959
#1 Movie
Ben-Hur
Best Picture
Ben-Hur
#1 TV Show
Gunsmoke
Laura's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1959Born
Fidel Castro takes power in Cuba
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $12,400Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"The Battle of New Orleans" — Johnny HortonBest Picture: Ben-Hur
1964Started school
Civil Rights Act signed; Beatles arrive in America
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $13,450Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"I Want to Hold Your Hand" — The BeatlesBest Picture: My Fair Lady
1972Became a teenager
Watergate break-in; last Apollo Moon mission
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $19,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" — Roberta FlackBest Picture: The Godfather
1975Could drive
Fall of Saigon ends the Vietnam War
Gas: $0.57/galHome: $27,600Min wage: $2.10/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Love Will Keep Us Together" — Captain & TennilleBest Picture: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
1977Could vote
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1980Turned 21
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1989Turned 30
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1999Turned 40
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2009Turned 50
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2019Turned 60
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 67 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Became the first woman elected President of Costa Rica, serving from 2010 to 2014.
- Served as Vice President and Minister of Justice in the administration of Óscar Arias.
- Implemented the 'Peace with Nature' initiative, emphasizing environmental sustainability.
- Presided over continued economic stability and poverty reduction in Costa Rica.
Did You Know?
She holds a master's degree in public policy from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.
Before politics, she worked as a consultant for international organizations like the UNDP and Inter-American Development Bank.
She is a professed fan of the Costa Rican football club Deportivo Saprissa.
She was one of the eight women leading Latin American countries at the time of her election.
“I didn't come to power to be popular, I came to do what is right for Costa Rica.”
