Maria Corina Machado, a fearless activist with rock-star appeal, is a key face of the opposition to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s iron-fisted regime.

Hailed as “la libertadora”, in an allusion to Venezuelan independence hero Simon “The Liberator” Bolivar, Machado was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday for her work.

She was barred from challenging Maduro in 2024 elections, then detained and released after seeking to fire up resistance to the Venezuelan leader.

In July, she called for “clandestine” resistance against Maduro on the anniversary of his disputed re-election.

For weeks rumors have circulated on social networks that Machado, who has gone into hiding, is sheltering at the US embassy.

Polled as the most popular politician in Venezuela by far, Machado had accepted t

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