In recent years, Hollywood has become increasingly diverse. While the diversity seen on TV/film still does not mirror that of the U.S. population, things are indeed improving. Latinos, in particular, now have actresses that better display the full spectrum of our people. Don't get me wrong, Latinas like Selma Hayek, Jennifer Lopez and Sofia Vergara are amazing in their own right, but they each embody the curvy and sensual Latina that American pop culture named as the standard Latina. These women, and those who came before them, helped open the door for other hopefuls, but the newer generation of Latinas on the big and small screen are definitely challenging the stereotypical Latina Hollywood has come to know and love.
As a kid I loved watching the movie "Selena" because it perfectly captured the struggle between balancing Mexican and American culture. While the storyline was, in a sense, relatable, I knew that I was never going to look like Selena. Growing up, the beauty standards I attempted to reach lay somewhere between the fair-skinned, blonde-hair, blue-eyed models and actresses plastered on every magazine and movie poster I saw, and the many-times oversexualized Latinas on Univision. I could never find a middle ground, which many times left me feeling insecure and out of place. My brown skin and dark features were that of a Latina, but my glasses and lack of curves were not.
Seeing America Ferrera on the big screen slowly started to shift my perception. Here was a successful actress who embraced her family's roots, had dark features, but did not have the "coke bottle" body Latinas were expected to have. Not only did she embrace her differences, but she has also been a strong advocate for voter registration and has spoken out on various occasions on the current presidential race.
Gina Rodriguez is another actress that is speaking out against the lack of diversity seen on television, as well as social issues affecting communities of color. Her role on "Jane the Virgin" has really catapulted her into the spotlight, and she is making the most of the platform she has been given. Her costar on the show, Diane Guerrero, is another example of a Latina actress that is showing she is more than just a pretty face. She has written a book on her experiences with deportation and does various speaking engagements to share how her family was torn apart by it.
These women are helping redefine what it means to be a Latina. They are helping break down the stereotypes that have been constructed and forced upon us.
