It’s been an unforgettable year. A year of accomplishments: Gloria made her move to the big screen, Venus hit the big serve, Franco made the big discovery. A year of headlines: Jeb’s candidacy, Joan’s column, two Janets’ crusades. In honor of 1998, Miami Metro recognizes 11 of the City’s most fascinating people. You may love them, you may hate them – you may not even have heard of them – but one thing is certain. You won’t soon forget them.

In a year when novices like Jennifer Lopez and Daisy Fuentes used Latin chic to hit it big in the mainstream, pioneer Gloria Estefan has been concentrating on step two of an already legendary career: Acting.

Though for years Hollywood offers have been pouring in, Estefan took her time choosing her debut film. Her selectivity paid off – she’ll be co-starring with Meryl Streep in director Wes Craven’s 50 Violins. Estefan will play Streep’s friend and co-worker in the movie based on the life of Roberta Tzavaras, a woman who taught music to kids in East Harlem.

"She has always wanted to do at movie, but the timing had to be right," says Emilio Estefan, her husband of 20 years and the man behind the empire that is his wife. "This is the right time for Gloria."

By now you’ve probably heard Gloria Estefan’s story. Born in Cuba, she emigrated to Miami with her parents when she was 18 months old. Fast-forward to Miami Sound Machine and a little song called Conga and you’ve got the American dream triplefold. What’s fascinating about Estefan is not that she made it to the top, but that she’s managed to stay there for more than 15 years. She’s brought a Latin flavor to American pop in a way no other singer has been able to.

"She’s always been dynamic," says Victor Lopes, lead trumpet player for Miami Sound Machine from 1980 to 1986. "She was probably the guiding force, even though everyone credits Emilio, that provoked the positive things that happened for Miami Sound Machine."

Such positive things included nine albums and a super-successful solo career (She’s sold more than 20 million albums.)

"She’s been on a worldwide promotional tour for her new album, and now [she’s got] a role in a Miramax film all in one year," says her husband. "That’s a great milestone."

Today Estefan is by far the most famous Cuban woman in the world. And she’s ours. Through the political battles, the hurricane seasons and the club openings.

Miami Metro December 1998

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