The first female president of a country in the Americas was Isabel Perón, who became president of Argentina in 1974. Isabel Perón was the widow of former President Juan Domingo Perón and initially served as vice president. Following her husband's death, she ascended to the presidency, becoming the world's first female head of state. Her presidency was marked by political unrest and economic challenges. Although she was a pioneering figure for women in politics, her administration faced widespread criticism, leading to her eventual ousting by a military coup in 1976. Perón's legacy remains complex and significant in discussions of gender in leadership.