María Cristina Camilo Rodríguez, also known as Maíta, is a Dominican communicator, actress, and centenarian from San Francisco de Macoris, Dominican Republic. As a pioneer, she was the first radio announcer and television presenter in the Dominican Republic. She also happens to be the second cousin of the Mirabal Sisters, as her father, Basilio Camilo Pantaleón, was a first cousin of Mamá Chea (mother of the sisters murdered in 1960 for their political opposition to the dictator Rafael Leónidas Trujillo). She studied primary school at the Colegio Inmaculada Concepción, in La Vega, where she learned to play the piano and the mandolin. Later, she studied nursing at the International School of Nursing in her hometown. She practiced that profession for 12 years in a clinic in her municipality until she went to Santo Domingo in search of a better-paid job as a health worker. In September 1948, shortly after arriving in the capital, she began working in radio by answering an advertisement for the radio station La Voz del Yuna, becoming its first announcer. As part of her training, she received classes in speaking and dramatic art. On October 24, 1951, she participated in the first drawing of the National Lottery, singing the numbers, a task she did for many years. She was part of the cast of actors from La Voz Dominicana (the new name of her station since December 1948). In August 1952, she presented the first television broadcast in her country: the retransmission of the radio program Romance Campesino; a comedy program that recreated peasant life, in which she was part as an actress. In this way, Camilo was the first woman to appear on television in the Dominican Republic and the third in America. She continued in Romance Campesino, which was converted into a television program, until 1965, and made comedies in that medium such as "Cosas de mi Tierra", "El Estelar de Brugal", and "Felipa y Macario". In 2005, she premiered on the public television network Radio Televisión Dominicana (RTVD 4), "Abuelos 911", a Sunday space that discussed various topics for the elderly, which she presented, at least, until 2019, at 102 years old. She also did theater. She debuted in the play "Aunt Beatriz Performs a Miracle", by Manuel Antonio Rueda González, at the Palace of Fine Arts in Santo Domingo. She also appeared in films such as "Un macho de mujer" (2006), by director Alfonso Rodríguez, and Arrobá (2013), directed by José María Cabral. In 2022, television producer, Edilenia Tactuk, created the Maíta Awards, in recognition of the best television professionals. In addition, Maria has received numerous awards and distinctions from the Congress and the Senate of her country.

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