Background
Born in Tampa, Florida, she was the daughter of Doctor Nestor Portocarrero Gross and Blanca DeBayle Sacasa de Portocarrero.
Born in Tampa, Florida, she was the daughter of Doctor Nestor Portocarrero Gross and Blanca DeBayle Sacasa de Portocarrero.
Barnard College.
She was named to the International Best Dressed List Hall of Fame in 1968. She was of Spanish, French and German descent. Her great-grandfather was Roberto Sacasa Sarria, former President of Nicaragua.
The DeBayles and Portocarreros were among Nicaragua"s wealthiest families.
She spoke fluent English, Italian, Spanish, and French and had an appreciation for art and culture. After 1943, she moved to Washington, District of Columbia She later attended Barnard College in New York City.
In 1967 she became the and was covered in the media for her fashionable wardrobe. She served as a hostess for many state visits, among them United States. President Richard Nixon and Japanese Emperor Hirohito.
Somoza was also president of the Junta Nacional de Asistencia y Previsión Social (National Social Security).
She created the National Cultural Center, the General Archives of the National Library, National Conservatory of Music, National School of Fine Arts (Bellas Artes), National Museum, and Plurar Gallery. Her biggest legacies were the constructions of Teatro Nacional Rubén Darío (The National Theater of Nicaragua), the Children"s Hospital, a clinic for Nicaraguan women and a Center for Orphans "The Hope". Due to continuing marital strife, Anastasio commenced a relationship with a mistress, Dinorah Sampson.
Hope later relocated to London.
She died of cancer in Miami on 5 October 1991.