Belize's Wonder Women! Anna Maria Lopez Smith

For the month of February we are proud to announce that Anna Maria Lopez Smith is our Belize Wonder Woman!

Anna Maria Lopez-Smith is a dedicated Belmopan community member, a tireless advocate against domestic violence, and a passionate entrepreneur.

Anna was born in Belize City in 1965. When she turned five, her father moved the family to Belmopan. At an early age, Anna learned the values of hard work on the family farm and in the family business. After graduating from high school, Anna worked in different fields, including managing the first propane depot in Belmopan, as a payroll clerk for Hummingbird Hershey, painting signs and greeting cards, and selling pizza at her dad's pharmacy.

After graduating from the Pharmacy School in 1991, Anna got married and had two children. Just four years later, she reopened the Lopez Pharmacy. It was during that time that she set out on a spiritual journey. Ten years ago, Anna started a small floral business, specializing in arrangements made exclusively of tropical flowers and leaves grown in her garden. She also ventured into a small housekeeping business.

In 2011, Anna and her husband opened a small five-bedroom Bed & Breakfast. Since then, the Inn at Twin Palms has been TripAdvisor's #1 Bed & Breakfast in Belize for seven consecutive years as well as #1 in Central America and #13 of Top 25 B&B's in the World, having hosted over 3000 guests! The B&B has grown into a very successful 16-room boutique hotel.

Anna enjoys dancing, cooking, painting and gardening, but is happiest when caring for others. Today, she is most passionate about sharing her spiritual journey of fasting and praying with other women and encouraging them to look to God first. She lives life to the fullest each day with her husband of 25 years.

U.S. Embassy Belize