Lola was the first Puerto Rican born woman poet to establish herself a reputation as a great poet throughout all of Latin America. A believer in women's rights, she was also committed to the abolition of slavery and the independence of Puerto Rico. Rodríguez de Tió was born as Dolores Rodríguez de Astudillo y Ponce de León in San Germán, Puerto Rico. Her father was one of the founding members of the Ilustre Colegio de Abogados de Puerto Rico (Illustrious College of Attorneys). Lola's mother was a descendant (Juan Ponce de León) of an explorer which was the first Spanish Governor of Puerto Rico. Lola received her education at home where she developed love for literature, especially for the works of Fray Luis de León which were to serve her as a source of inspiration. At the age of seventeen she demanded to be allowed to wear her hair short, which went against the norm of the time, a personal trademark that she kept through her life.