Greatness Blossoms from Aruba

Although Aruba does not quite have the track record of producing celebrities the likes of Michael Jackson, Barack Obama, Paris Hilton or even Hugh Grant, some noteworthy people have called Aruba their motherland, even when they have moved onto other countries of the world. Rich in the arts, Aruba has produced some renowned musicians and artists. If you are an art lover and are thinking about heading to Aruba, you might be interested in the people who have put their artistic fingerprints on Aruba and the world.

Dave Benton, born in 1951, whose real name is Efren Eugene Benita, is one of the notable people of Aruba by winning the 2001 Eurovision Song Contest representing his adopted home of Estonia. He has recorded many albums and performs regularly, primarily in Europe. It's clear that his style has been influenced by his Aruban roots.

Eugene Humphrey "Gene" Kingsale was born in Solito, Aruba, in 1976 and played major league baseball in the United States for various teams between 1996 and 2003. Kingsale has worn the uniforms of the Baltimore Orioles, San Diego Padres, Seattle Mariners and Detroit Tigers. When he took the field in on Sept. 3, 1996 in a Baltimore Orioles uniform, Kingsale became the first major league baseball player to be born in Aruba. The interesting part is that he beat out fellow major league Aruban, Calvin Maduro, by just five days, making Kingsale one of the notable people of Aruba and Maduro more of a footnote.

Joseph Gregory Percy Irausquin was a fashion designer who lived between 1969 and 2008. He was born in Aruba and lived his entire professional life in the Netherlands. Irausquin has been called “one of the most talented young designers in the Netherlands.” His clothing designs are known as being “sexy and extravagant.” He's been quoted as saying, “I don't want to change the world. I just want to make it more beautiful.” He was just beginning to gain world fame when he died of a brain hemorrhage. He is buried in his native Aruba. These are just a few of the notable people of Aruba. The culture has produced many great artists and characters. The best way to realize this is to visit and see for yourself. You can even visit some of the world-famous people's old stomping grounds, which can be an exciting way to travel. You can get to know Aruba through the eyes of the people who have put it on the map.