Claudia V CubillosThe Honorable Claudia V. Cubillos, a trailblazer and the youngest of nine children born to legal Colombian immigrants, was inspired by her parents' entrepreneurial spirit as small business owners in Coral Gables, Florida. A lifelong learner, she has arned degrees and certificates from Miami-Dade College, Florida International University, and the University of Miami. In 2007, Claudia founded Ms. Claudia's Village Academy, which for nearly two decades has fostered educational success and created jobs in the local community. She made history as the first Hispanic female mayor in the Village of El Portal, Florida, serving from 2014-2020 in the village she has called home for over 17 years, and as the first Hispanic female president of the Miami-Dade County League of Cities from 2019-2020. In the summer of 2025, Claudia embarked on her newest enterprise, launching her podcast Candid with Claudia, a space for sharing untold stories, empowering voices from every generation about turning possibility into reality. A proud breast cancer survivor, Claudia has been honored with numerous community awards and distinctions. She currently resides in El Portal with her husband, Attorney and Army Colonel Noel C. Pace, Ret., Ayden, and their three rescue dogs. When she's not running her school or working on her podcast, she enjoys running half-marathons, exploring new places, and dedicating herself to building community and giving back to others.You can find Claudia on Instagram @mayorcubillos @candidwithclaudia and @msclaudias Read More Read Less