Lis Cuesta Peraza

Liz Cuesta is the wife of the President of the Republic of Cuba Miguel Díaz Canel Bermúdez, to whom she is given the treatment of "first lady of the Republic," for the first time in many years, since this title has not been used since the beginning of the Revolution.

A native of Holguín province, she studied at the Institute of Pedagogical Sciences in the city, where she earned a bachelor's degree and a master's degree.

Subsequently, she worked in the communications department of the Provincial Cultural Sector and later went on to direct the Provincial Book and Literature Center, the institution that organizes the popular book fairs.

The couple has resided in Havana since 2009, when Díaz-Canel was appointed Minister of Higher Education. Both have two children from previous marriages.

Currently, Cuesta Peraza works as head of Academic Services at the state-owned Agencia Paradiso, a tourism subsidiary of the Ministry of Culture that organizes trips to Cuba and has offices in several countries around the world. This holder of a degree in Pedagogy, university professor and official of the cultural tourism agency Paradiso is a very discreet woman who has been carrying out institutional representation duties for a year and a half.

The image of Lis Cuesta began to appear before the Cuban audience slowly over the last three years, as her husband's figure was gaining prominence on the Cuban political scene.

She received the most attention in March 2019, when she appeared hand in hand with Díaz-Canel in Santa Clara to participate in the elections of candidates to the National Assembly. Before that, Cuesta Peraza had also appeared accompanying her husband during visits he made to North Korea, Bolivia, and Japan, where she was even received by that country's first lady.

Cuesta has attended numerous official receptions throughout this year, at the welcome at the Palace of the Revolution of Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores, as well as on the trip to New York that she made with the leader in October of last year on the occasion of his participation at the United Nations General Assembly. At the welcoming ceremony of the Kings of Spain. Despite her public prominence, her voice has not yet been heard in the national media nor has she been seen carrying out activities on her own.

Those who know her say she has character, that she is very discreet, has a pleasant demeanor and is a good friend. "A Cuban woman like any other, who likes to dance at parties and have a little beer, but is conservative in the way she dresses." As a curiosity, she has a tattoo on her left shoulder blade. Despite her discretion, the couple has shown great complicity in their public appearances, taking walks hand in hand and giving each other subtle displays of affection.