The theme of being caught between two cultures is covered in writer Julia Alvarez's poetry and fiction, including How the García Girls Lost Their Accents.
Oscar de la Renta is one of the world’s leading fashion designers. Famous for his women's evening wear and suits, his line is distinctly modern yet feminine.
Antonio Guzmán Fernández was president of the Dominican Republic from 1978 to 1982, helping to stabilize the economy and demilitarize the government.
Infamous gangster Bartolome Moya and his chief enforcer, Andre Paige, led a deadly narcotics and extortion racket in New York City until the law caught up with them, but later disappeared without a trace, spurring an international manhunt.
Professional athlete. Considered one of the top players in the sport, Albert Pujols is a Major League Baseball first baseman for Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
Manny Ramirez is a Dominican-American baseball player who helped the Red Sox win the World Series after an 86-year losing streak.
In 2007, American baseball player Alex Rodriguez became the youngest player in major league baseball history to hit 500 career home runs.
Zoe Saldana is a trained dancer who's become a leading actress in Hollywood, having starred in blockbusters like Pirates of the Caribbean, Star Trek and Avatar.
Sammy Sosa is a former MLB slugger, most notably with the Chicago Cubs, with whom he chased Roger Maris's home run record.
Rafael Trujillo was a dictator of the Dominican Republic for decades. He was assassinated in 1961.