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Portia Simpson-Miller
First female prime minister of Jamaica
The girl from Wood Hall who rose from rural poverty to lead Jamaica twice — beloved for her warmth and her refusal to let class or gender define her limits.
The rise
Raised in modest circumstances in rural Jamaica, Simpson-Miller entered local politics through the People's National Party. She held a string of cabinet posts over three decades — labour, sports, tourism, local government — building deep grassroots support. In 2006, she became Jamaica's first female prime minister and returned to office in 2012.