movies

Latinas Killed it at the 2023 Golden Globes

Latinas Killed it at the 2023 Golden Globes. From left to right: Selena Gomez Salma Hayek Jenna Ortega and Michaela Jaé Rodriguez tefi pessoa anya taylor joy ana de armas emily uribe

Latinas killed it at the 2023 Golden Globes, the first live Golden Globes since 2021, making the Latina wave that much more meaningful. They all looked amazing, but we’re not here for that; we already know Latinas slay on and off the red carpet. Duh. Instead, here’s a round-up of the barriers broken, the stereotypes dismantled, and the dreams made into reality.

Read on and continue the applause.

Michaela Jaé Rodriguez

You might recognize her from "Pose", a television series that told the story of New York City’s underground ballroom community in the 1980s, where her portrayal as Blanca made her the first trans woman to win a Golden Globe in 2022 and the first trans woman to be nominated for a lead acting Emmy. Michaela, born in New Jersey to an African-American mother and a Puerto Rican father, is also an insanely talented singer, dancer, stage actor, and activist.

Rodriguez describes growing up in Newark, New Jersey, in a household full of driven individuals like herself. Her mother enrolled her in local arts programs when she was only seven years old, and when she was fourteen, she became involved in the ballroom scene, where she learned to vogue. Michaela’s widespread success and visibility are a step towards creating positive and authentic representations of transgender people in the media, creating more opportunities, and helping break down stereotypes and misinformation.

Despite not being nominated in this Golden Globes edition, she was set to present during the awards ceremony. Her appearance at the Golden Globes was a momentous occasion because of the long-awaited standing ovation delayed by COVID-19 for her historic 2022 win. We’re still clapping


Jenna Ortega

Before having us glued to our seats watching her performance as Wednesday Addams, a role for which she earned a nomination for best actress in a TV series, musical, or comedy in the 2023 Golden Globes, Jenna starred in “You,” “Jane The Virgin,” and “Richie Rich.” Her first major role was actually in the Disney Channel series “Hannah Montana” at just 6 years old.

An avid horror fan, she has now cemented herself as an iconic scream queen, starring in the slasher movie saga “X” and the revival of “Scream” in 2022. We love a spooky queen!

Born in Coachella Valley, California, Jenna is of Mexican and Puerto Rican descent and is vocal about loving her heritage. She often talks about the importance of representation and diversity in the entertainment industry and is known for using her platform to celebrate and showcase her culture along with its traditions, music, and art through her roles.

But aside from her stunning performances and unique dance moves, Jenna is a strong advocate for education and literacy. She is currently a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, and since 2020, she’s been actively using her platform and voice to raise awareness on Child’s Rights and even hosted virtual events to raise money and support for UNICEF USA. Having suffered from anxiety and depression, Jenna is also an advocate for mental health and actively promotes self-care, self-acceptance, and self-love.

Mic. Drop.

Salma Hayek

Mexican-American actress, producer, and entrepreneur Salma Hayek arrived at the 2023 Golden Globes to present this year’s awards alongside her Puss in Boots costar Harvey Guillen, but not without her favorite Mexican treats Pulparindo and Mazapan De La Rosa in hand!

Salma began her acting career starring in Mexican telenovelas and later transitioned to Hollywood films, receiving her first Academy Awards nomination for her leading role in the 2002 film “Frida,” a biographical film about the life of Mexican painter Frida Kahlo, which she produced herself.

A vocal advocate for Latine representation in Hollywood (which she made abundantly clear by leaning into her culture and taking her fave Mexican snacks with her), Salma is also very involved in philanthropy and activism. She established the “Salma Hayek Foundation,” which aims to improve women’s and children’s living conditions in impoverished communities, particularly in Latin America, through programs that target education, health, and violence against women.

She is also a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Development Fund for Women. She serves on the Vital Voices Global Partnership board, an organization dedicated to empowering women worldwide, and she actively advocates for Gender Equality, Education, and Women’s Rights.

Selena Gomez

Nominated for Best Actress in a TV Series, Musical, or Comedy for her performance as Mabel Mora in Hulu’s true crime satire “Only Murders in the Building,” Selena arrived at the Golden Globes as stunning as ever and brought her little sister along as her red carpet date.

Having started her career in the entertainment industry as a child actor, Selena appeared on the children’s television series “Barney & Friends”. She later starred on Disney Channel’s “Wizards of Waverly Place” as the lead character. In 2008, Gomez began her music career by forming the band Selena Gomez & the Scene, then decided to pursue a solo career in music and released her first solo album, “Stars Dance,” in 2013. In addition to her iconic work in music and TV, Gomez has also appeared in several films, including “Ramona and Beezus” (2010), “Spring Breakers” (2012), and “The Fundamentals of Caring” (2016), as well as being credited as an executive producer for many TV series.

Selena has been open about her struggles with mental health, including depression and anxiety, and has used her platform to raise awareness and break the stigma around mental health issues. She has advocated for more accessible mental health resources and partnered with organizations such as the Child Mind Institute, The Jed Foundation, and the American Heart Association to promote mental wellness.

She’s been a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador since 2009, and has worked to raise awareness and funds for the rights of children worldwide, traveling to countries such as Ghana, Nepal, and Mexico to meet with children and learn about the challenges they face and advocate for education, child protection, and clean water access. She has also advocated against bullying and supported organizations such as the Born This Way Foundation and the Cyberbullying Research Center, which work to create safe and inclusive online spaces for young people.

Selena continues using her platform and resources to bring attention to important issues, help those in need, and make the world a better place.

We absolutely stan an agent of change queen.

Ana de Armas

Ana de Armas was nominated for an award in Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture for her portrayal of Marilyn Monroe in “Blonde.”

The Cuban-Spanish actress began her acting career in her home country, appearing in a number of Cuban films and television shows before transitioning to Hollywood. She made her English-language debut in the 2017 film “Hands of Stone,” in which she played a supporting role. Her role as Marta Cabrera in the 2019 film “Knives Out” (a role she almost dismissed for its reductive character description, the “pretty Latina caretaker”) is widely described as her “breakthrough role,” though her earlier performance as holographic character Joi in “Blade Runner 2049” is just as iconic.

Ana is fluent in Spanish and English and continues to work in Hollywood and Spanish-language films. She has since appeared in many high-profile films, including the blockbuster hit “No Time to Die” (2022) as a Bond girl opposite Daniel Craig and the psychological thriller “Wasp Network” (2019), directed by Olivier Assayas. She also appeared in the horror film “The Nurse” (2020).

Apart from her acting, she is also an ambassador for UNICEF and works to support the organization’s mission to protect the rights of children around the world. She has used her platform to raise awareness for the organization and its work and has traveled to visit children in need in various countries. She has helped raise funds for the fight against COVID-19, donating money, supplies, and resources to hospitals and health organizations in need, and actively advocating for the protection of natural resources and their sustainable use.

Anya Taylor-Joy

Nominated for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy category for “The Menu,” American-Argentinian actress Anya Taylor-Joy arrived at the Golden Globes as confident and vibrant as ever.

Anya began her career in the entertainment industry in 2015 when she appeared in the independent film “The Witch.” Her performance in the film received widespread critical acclaim and helped to establish her as a rising star. Taylor-Joy then went on to star in many other films, including “Split” (2016), “Thoroughbreds” (2017), and “The Miniaturist” (2017).
In 2020 she took the lead role of Beth Harmon in “The Queen’s Gambit,” a Netflix original series that became a huge success and brought her widespread recognition and many accolades. She’s fluent in Spanish and English (which she says she learned by reading Harry Potter books), and she continues working in Hollywood and independent film projects.

In addition to her work in film, Anya Taylor-Joy has also appeared in many stage productions and has been praised for her versatility as an actress. She supports organizations such as the NSPCC, which works to protect children from abuse and neglect.

Tefi Pessoa

Brazilian-Colombian content creator from Miami, Estefania Pessoa is a viral social media star who has made a name for herself with her YouTube talk show “Tefi,” where she shares pop culture news and celebrity chismesito. She is currently the host of MTV’s YouTube competition series “Merch Masters,” in which designers produce merchandise for musicians to win a cash prize.

She is also InStyle’s official social media anchor and appears on the magazine’s TikTok channel on a regular basis. In 2021, she was named a TikTok Latinx Trailblazer as part of their Hispanic Heritage Month creative spotlight series.

She’s a welcome addition to Latinas in entertainment media.

Emily Uribe

Emily, born in California to Mexican parents, is a content creator known for her comedic skits, lip-syncs, and dance videos. She began posting on TikTok under quarantine and now has approximately 1 million followers, establishing herself as one of the platform’s most popular and trending creators. She co-hosted TikTok’s Oscars live broadcast on the red carpet in 2022 and now attends dozens of film and television premieres.

In addition to her online presence, Uribe is also known for her philanthropic work and advocacy. She has used her platform to raise awareness and funds for various charitable causes and organizations, such as breast cancer research and suicide prevention.

Although Uribe is just starting out, it’s clear we’ll be seeing much more of her. Bravo to that!

From Your Site Articles
Related Articles Around the Web
movies
politics

Bop the Bigot: Can a Video Game Turn Out Voters?

bop the bigot video game logo

In 2024, voting campaigns have evolved greatly, to say the least. Creativity is now the name of the game and tongue-in-cheek humor is expertly leveraged to drive action. One example of that is Bop the Bigot, a revival of a viral game created in 2016 by Bazta Arpaio, an Arizona activist group, as part of a campaign to unseat Maricopa County’s Sheriff Joe Arpaio. Arpaio lost his re-election to Paul Penzone that year.

The game has now been updated for the current election cycle and relaunched by On Point Studios, with new features added to enable players to find out what’s on their ballot, confirm voter status, and register to vote.

Much like its former 2016 version, the game allows users to take out their political frustrations by virtually “bopping” GOP candidates in the head. It’s very similar to whack-a-mole, except the mole is replaced by former President Donald Trump, Ohio’s Senator J. D. Vance, and Kevin Roberts, President of the Heritage Foundation, which is spearheading Project 2025.

cartoon renditions of Donald Trump and J.D. Vance around a Bop the Bigot logoPromotional image provided by On Point Studios.

B. Loewe, Director of On Point Studios, came up with the concept for this game when working as the Communications Director at Bazta Arpaio in 2016, and is the executive producer of this revamped version. In the first version of the game, Bop the Bigot players used a chancla (flip flop) to “bop” the characters, tapping into Latino culture by leaning on the childhood experience of being set right by a flying chancla from a fed-up mother or grandmother.

This year, the chancla is replaced by a more current element, a green coconut, referencing Kamala Harris’ coconut tree meme. There are also side characters like “the couch,” cat ladies, and more coconuts. All references to jokes about Vice-Presidential candidate Vance, or insults Vance has made about women on the campaign trail.

Another new addition is that Harris’ laugh is immortalized as the game-over sound effect, an unexpected detail that adds even more humor and levity to the game.

cartoon renditions of Donald Trump, Kevin Roberts, and J.D. Vance around a Bop the Bigot logoPromotional image provided by On Point Studios.

Bop the Bigot, which is playable on desktop and mobile, is intended not just as a way to vent political frustrations, but also as a tool for activism and securing voter engagement.

For example, the game supports the work of Mexican Neidi Dominguez Zamorano, Founding Executive Director of the non-profit organization Organized Power in Numbers by using the “game over” screen to prompt players to donate to it and support their efforts.

Organized Power in Numbers is focused on empowering workers in the South and Southwest of the U.S. through collective action and comprehensive campaigns. Their mission is to create a large-scale movement that challenges the status quo and advocates for workers' rights, and racial and economic justice.

Currently, Dominguez Zamorano is leading worker outreach to 2 million working-class voters in the South and Southwest through doorknocking, texting, and calls with the help of local groups in North Carolina, Arizona, New Mexico, and more.

“We have been blown away by the enthusiastic reception for the video game. We knew we wanted to be part of its creative approach because our movement needs more fun and laughter. We need more ways to connect with nuestra gente so we can feel joy among all the absurdity we witness every day,” Dominguez Zamorano shared with Luz Media via email.

“Our people are gente trabajadora and we deserve to feel uplifted even in our toughest moments. We are deeply involved in the South and Southwest so we know what’s at stake in this election and we’re happy this can be a resource to mobilize, raise spirits, and get out the vote," she concluded.

Dominguez Zamorano is a committed activist for immigrants and workers' rights, known for her strategist skills and expertise. She played a key role in the campaign to win DACA and has also held roles in major campaigns, including as Deputy National States Director for Bernie Sanders' 2020 presidential campaign. In addition to her work with Organized Power in Numbers, Dominguez Zamorano is serving as a Senior Advisor to Mijente’s Fuera Trump Initiative.

Grassroots efforts like these have taken on new life in 2024, with Bop the Bigot adding to the larger, ongoing fight against political apathy and disinformation. Just as it did during the 2016 race, the video game uses humor to soften the serious task at hand—getting people to the polls.

"We want the game to be a fun and comical outlet for anyone who’s been insulted, frustrated, or harmed by Trump in the past and everyone who is ready to move forward as a country after election day," explained Loewe in a press release. "The proposals in Project 2025 and the beliefs of Trump and Vance aren’t just weird, they’re truly harmful. We wanted to give people a humorous and peaceful way to smack down their racism and sexism. We hope it makes people laugh and also feel empowered and motivated to get to the polls on or before election day."

With a mix of satire, sharp political critique, and nostalgia, the game is a call to action. The upcoming election, which is getting closer by the minute, has sparked fierce activism and creative yet grounded initiatives like these aim to ensure voters are engaged, especially young Latinos and disenfranchised groups.

From Your Site Articles
Related Articles Around the Web
mental health

Are They Jerks or Narcissists? There's a Disturbing Difference

a woman giving the side eye to a man

Have you ever met someone who seems overly confident, self-centered, or even downright rude? Maybe they constantly talk about themselves, disregard your feelings, or even manipulate situations to their advantage. And, if you're anything like us and countless other Latinas, you might've thought, is this person just a purebred a**hole, or are they a narcissist?

Keep ReadingShow less
impact

Nathalie Molina Niño on Why Latinas Belong in Boardrooms—and How to Get There

woman surrounded by colorful illustrations
Image by Sayuri Jimenez.

Nathalie Molina Niño has never been one to shy away from breaking barriers, and now, she’s focusing her attention on a new mission: demystifying corporate boardrooms for women, especially Latinas. Molina Niño is the President of Known, an asset management and financial services firm, a veteran tech entrepreneur and builder capitalist, and a board member at the iconic lingerie Brand, Hanky Panky, and others.

Like many corporate boards, Hanky Panky hadn’t publicly disclosed its board composition until recently. After the brand survived the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, Molina Niño decided it was time for more women, specifically more Latinas, to know what it means to be on corporate boards.

Coincidentally, the decision to finally be more vocal about this topic aligned with the start of Hispanic Heritage Month, which served as the perfect kick-off to the work.

"Something that rarely gets talked about and I think almost gets kept opaque by design is boards,” she explains in a recent Instagram announcement. “[This Latinx Heritage Month], that’s what I’ll be talking about.” Her goal? To equip more Latinas with the knowledge they need to navigate onto for-profit boards, where they can thrive and build multi-generational wealth.

For-profit corporate boards often feel like an exclusive club. And in many ways, they are, especially for Latinas, who hold the smallest percentage of board seats in Fortune 500 companies compared to other racial groups. According to the latest report from Latino Board Monitor, while Latinos hold 4.1% of these board seats (compared to 82.5% held by white people), only 1% go to Latinas. Molina Niño, a first-generation American of Ecuadorian and Colombian descent, is part of this boardroom minority.

When asked about her experience as a Latina board member during a recent Zoom interview, she said, “It’s been lonely. There’s not a lot of Latinas on boards.” She went on to explain that even serving on boards of Latina-founded businesses gets lonely because, “A lot of the times, people who serve on their boards represent their investors and, as a result, [...] you still don’t see a lot of Latinas on those boards.”

This lack of representation drives Molina Niño’s determination to increase Latina presence in corporate boardrooms. By sharing her insights, she hopes to give Latinas a roadmap to claim their seats at the table. “If you don’t know where to go, it’s impossible to figure out how to get there,” she says.

The Road to the Boardroom

Getting onto a for-profit corporate board isn’t an overnight achievement, but it’s not an unattainable dream either. People often think you need to be a CEO or have a certain type of background, but that’s one of the biggest myths about boards in Molina Niño’s experience. What they’re really looking for is expertise — whether that’s in finance, marketing, sustainability, or even technology. If you have that expertise, you’re already an asset. It’s simply a matter of which road you should take.

Understanding what boards are and how they operate is key to unlocking opportunities. For-profit boards serve as the governing body for companies, overseeing direction and financial stability, and guiding CEOs and executives in decision-making. But Molina Niño emphasizes that not all for-profit boards are created equal.

“There are two kinds [of for-profit boards] [...]. There’s the publicly traded business board and then, on the privately held side, there are, I would argue, two types of boards [...] the traditional business board and the venture-backed business board,” explains Molina Niño. Traditional businesses are often family-owned or long-established and may only form boards to meet requirements, like securing financing or transitioning through an ESOP. Venture-backed boards, on the other hand, are typically filled by investors who hold major stakes in the company.

According to Molina Niño, understanding the difference between them is how you can create a successful strategy. With publicly traded business boards, the whole world is privy to them, so, “The way that you get in there is a little bit more transparent. Sometimes those publicly traded companies will hire a recruiter to help them find new board members,” explains Molina Niño. For private companies, on the other hand, there’s no legal requirement to make announcements. As a result, most people don’t know anything about them or their inner workings.

“Usually what happens in traditional businesses that don’t have venture-capital investments is that the Founders, Executives, or the board members, if one existed already, they usually go to their friends,” and people they deem experienced to fill board seats. In other words, it’s the founder’s decision, and that’s an entirely different approach than hiring recruiters. When it comes to venture-backed business boards, the seats on the board are filled by whichever investor writes the biggest check.

This is why an understanding of the different types of boards and acknowledgment of their own strengths is what will help Latinas define a sound strategy. Whether that’s working with a recruiter, networking and connecting with founders to build trust, or making the biggest investment.

The Path for Latinas

For Molina Niño, the key to getting more Latinas into corporate boardrooms is education. Knowing what a board looks like and how it functions is how you can position yourself to get on it. In openly talking about this, without the mystique it’s usually shrouded in, Molina Niño is providing women, especially Latinas, with invaluable insights. “If we had Latinas understanding what are the three types of for-profit boards I think that, on their own, they would be able to figure out what their best chance is and adjust their careers to make themselves more competitive,” states Molina Niño.

When asked about the impact of increased Latina representation in boardrooms, Molina Niño flips the narrative. “Boards don’t help Latinas by offering them seats; Latinas help businesses thrive by being on their boards,” she says. “The whole point of sitting on a board is that you have experience and expertise, and as Latinas, you also have some cultural experience that everyone wants. [...] At the end of the day, we [Latinas] have to realize that we have a ton to offer and we have to be selective about where we put that expertise,” she explains.

As demand for access to the Latina consumer rises, Molina Niño predicts that more Latinas will find themselves recruited into boardrooms. But she’s not content to sit back and wait for that moment. By openly sharing her journey and insights, she’s making sure other Latinas know their worth and have the tools to claim their place at the table. “I realized that quietly being on boards that helped me personally is not helping other Latinas. [...] I was lucky enough to have friends who could advise me and share their experiences, so that’s why I’m doing this,” she stated.

With Hispanic Heritage Month as the backdrop, Nathalie Molina Niño’s mission is clear: “My goal is just to give Latinas enough information so they can make a plan for how to eventually get on a board that they’re paid to be on and that will eventually help them build generational wealth.”

From Your Site Articles
Related Articles Around the Web
AboutCookies PrivacyTerms Shop Terms
Advertise with UsWrite for Luz MediaNominate an Alpha Latina