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PEOPLE en Español was launched in 1996 as a special issue, and today has become the best-selling Hispanic magazine in the United States.

The cover of PEOPLE en Español’s “100 Most Influential Hispanics” issue, which honors those who have made an impact in the Hispanic community, has Jennifer ( hip hop’s ‘Jenny from tha Block’) Lopez as the ‘cover girl’.

Jennifer Lopez opens up about being named an influential Hispanic, the influence of her ethnic roots and her desire to have a family. “Being an example to others is a big part of my work,” Jennifer told PEOPLE en Español. “It excites me to think that I could be capable of changing opinions, or of making people laugh or cry. It’s a beautiful facet of the work that we do.”

Jennifer Lopez also talks about wanting to start her own family. “I come from a strong family, so of course I want to have one. But I also have my own family: my immediate family, my husband, and his children. I am a part of all this. In this sense, I am very fortunate.”

In addition to Lopez, other entertainers honored include Shakira, Carlos Santana, Julio Iglesias, Gloria and Emilio Estefan, and Salma Hayek for her work as producer of the hit ABC series, Ugly Betty. Ricky Martin is honored for his humanitarian work as Good Will Ambassador of the United Nations and for the work of his foundation.

Mexican film directors Alejandro González Iñárritu, the director of Babel, Guillermo del Toro, Pan’s Labyrinth, and Alfonso Cuarón, Y Tú Mamá También and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, are honored for their innovative film work. “You have to work in film for the correct reasons,” says Cuarón. “For the love of working in film, not for fame. The fundamental thing is honesty and finding your own voice.”

Fashion designers Carolina Herrera and Narciso Rodríguez also land on the list of the 100 Most Influential. Rodríguez says that Carolyn Bessette, the late wife of John F. Kennedy Jr., is an inspiration in his work. “She has been the most important person in my life, both professionally and personally, I miss her a lot.” Spanish shoe designer Manolo Blahnik, who achieved cult status on the television series Sex and the City, speaks about his influence on new designers. “I believe that what I have brought is the return to a complete femininity, which to me, represents placing a woman on a pedestal with high heels.”

Antonio Villaraigosa, mayor of Los Angeles, and Bill Richardson, Governor of New Mexico, have been honored for their notable political careers. From the world of business, Ralph de la Vega, COO of Cingular Wireless and George Reyes, CFO of Google, also made the list.

For behind-the-scenes video and exclusive photos from PEOPLE en Español’s “100 Most Influential Hispanics,” check out www.peopleenespanol.com . Vote for who should be the #1 Most Influential Hispanic by logging onto the magazine’s website and voting for your favorite. To read the full story, see page 57 of the magazine.

The complete list of PEOPLE en Español’s “100 Most Influential Hispanics”:

Entertainers

-- Jennifer Lopez, singer, actress, entrepreneur

-- Antonio Banderas, actor

-- Armando Manzanero, singer, composer

-- Carlos Santana, guitarist, composer

-- Daddy Yankee, reggaetón artist

-- Eva Longoria, actress

-- George López, comedian, actor

-- Gloria Estefan, singer, composer and author

-- Johnny Pacheco, musician and producer

-- Jorge Hernández, lead singer of Los Tigres del Norte

-- Juan Gabriel, singer, composer

-- Juan Luis Guerra, singer-writer

-- Juanes, singer

-- Julio Iglesias, singer

-- Lucero, actress, singer

-- Luis Miguel, singer

-- Ricky Martin, singer, philanthropist

-- Roberto Gómez Bolaños, comedian and actor

-- Salma Hayek, actress and producer

-- Shakira, singer, composer

-- Silvia Pinal, actress, producer

-- Sonia Manzano, actress, screenwriter, “Sesame Street”

-- Verónica Castro, actress, singer, television host

-- Willie Colón, musician, composer, producer

Culture/ The Arts

-- Alejandro González Iñárritu, director “Babel,” producer, screenwriter

-- Alfonso Cuarón, director “Y Tu Mamá Tambien,” producer, screenwriter

-- Andrés Serrano, visual artist

-- Carla Estrada, television producer

-- Carolina Herrera, fashion designer

-- Chita Rivera, actress, singer, and dancer

-- Cristina Saralegui, journalist, television host, entrepreneur

-- Eduardo “Piolín” Sotelo, Radio D.J.

-- Fernando Gaitán, writer, “I am Ugly Betty,” original spanish language version

-- Ferran Adrià, chef

-- Gabriel García Márquez, writer

-- Guillermo del Toro, director “Pan’s Labyrinth,” producer, screenwriter

-- Gustavo Santaolalla, producer, musician and composer “Brokeback Mountain”

-- Isabel Allende, writer

-- Jaime Hernández, cartoonist

-- Julio Bocca, dancer

-- Manolo Blahnik, shoe designer

-- Mario García, newspaper designer

-- Mario Testino, photographer

-- Narciso Rodríguez, fashion designer

-- Nilo Cruz, playwright

-- Oscar de la Renta, fashion designer

-- Pedro Almodóvar, director “Volver,” screenwriter, composer

-- Pedro Damián, producer

-- Plácido Domingo, tenor

-- Rita Moreno, actress and singer, “West Side Story”

-- Robert Rodr?íguez, director?

-- Rubén Blades, musician, actor government functionary

-- Santiago Calatrava, architect, engineer

-- Walter Mercado, astrologist

Politics/Public Affairs

-- Alberto Gonzáles, Secretary of Justice

-- Anthony Romero, Executive Director of ACLU

-- Antonio Villaraigosa, Mayor of Los Angeles

-- Bill Richardson, Governor of New Mexico

-- Dolores Huerta, Civil Rights activist

-- Emilio T. González, Director of Immigration and Naturalization Services of the United States

-- Fidel Castro, President of Cuba

-- Hugo Chavez, President of Venezuela

-- Janet Murguia, President of National Council of La Raza

-- José Gomez, archbishop of San Antonio, Texas

-- Michelle Bachelet, President of Chile

Business

-- Carlos Slim Helú, businessman

-- Eduardo Castro-Wright, President and CEO of Wal-Mart Stores U.S.

-- Emilio Azcárraga Jean, CEO of Grupo Televisa

-- Emilio Estefan, producer, composer and entrepreneur

-- George Reyes, Vice-president and CFO of Google

-- José Fernández, President of Bodega Owners Association

-- María Azúa, CIO, IBM

-- Mirta de Perales, cosmetologist, business executive

-- Ralph Àlvarez, President and COO of McDonald’s

-- Ralph de la Vega, COO, Cingular Wireless

-- Robert Unanue, President of Goya Foods Inc.

-- Tere Zubizarreta, President and CEO, Zubi Advertising

Media

-- Christina Norman, President of MTV

-- Gustavo Cisneros, President, Cisneros Group

-- Jorge Ramos, journalist, co-anchor of “Noticiero Univision”

-- María Antonieta Collins, author, host on Telemundo

-- María Celeste Arrarás, editor and anchor on Telemundo

-- Maria Elena Salinas, journalist, co-anchor of “Noticiero Univision”

-- Mario Kreutzberger (Don Francisco), television host, presenter

-- Markos Moulitsas Zúniga, political commentary, blogger

-- Mónica Lozano, editor and executive director of “La Opinion” newspaper

-- Nina Tassler, President, CBS Entertainment

-- Raúl Alarcón Jr., President, Spanish Broadcasting System

Sports

-- Arturo Arte Moreno, Owner of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

-- Juan Pablo Montoya, race car driver

-- Omar Minaya, General Manager of The New York Mets

-- Oscar de la Hoya, boxer

Science & Technology/Health

-- Aida Giachello, sociologist

-- Antonia Novello, Health Commissioner of New York

-- Ellen Ochoa, astronaut

-- Héctor Ruiz, President of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc

-- Jane Delgado, President of the National Alliance for Hispanic Health

-- Jesús Aguais, activist, director of “Aid for Aids”

Education

-- Bertha Flores, teacher

-- Eduardo Padrón, President, Miami Dade University

For more visit www.peopleenespanol.com