In The Community
DRAFTED x Verizon: A Historic Super Bowl Presence
At this year’s Radio Row, where top media outlets gather for exclusive access to players, executives, and cultural moments, DRAFTED took its place among the biggest names in sports journalism.
DRAFTED’s Nicole Fernandez led interviews at the Verizon booth, bringing an authentic Latina perspective to the media frenzy surrounding the NFL’s biggest event. DRAFTED highlighted the Latinas shaping the Super Bowl, showcasing the power of culture, community, and representation in one of the most-watched sporting events in the world. They also had the chance to interview Oscar Budejen, Philadelphia Eagles’ Spanish-speaking announcer, Carlos Mauricio Ramírez, 49ers’ Spanis-speaking announcer, and NFL legend Eli Manning.
They also featured the voices of a diverse array of Latinas in sports media, paving the way for a new standard in how all sports should be covered, not just the NFL.
Sujey Luna
Photo taken by Sujey Luna during week 2 of the Super Bowl LIX.
Sujey Luna is a participant in the Behind the Lens program, an initiative launched by the NFL and Verizon to boost the representation of women in sports media. Through this program, women photographers and videographers gain first-hand experience covering major sporting events, working alongside seasoned professionals to build their portfolios and break into the industry. Luna brought her skills as a videographer to the table and captured Super Bowl LIX events, bringing a fresh perspective to the NFL’s biggest stage.
Elisa Hernandez
Elisa Hernandez also added her Latino talent to the mix. A bilingual host, producer, and two-time Emmy winner, Hernandez is currently the Team Reporter for the Denver Broncos. Her career has taken her from NBC/Telemundo Deportes, where she covered Sunday Night Football, to the NFL Network, where she launched El Snap NFL, the league’s first-ever Latino-focused Instagram account. As a proud Los Angeles native and University of Southern California graduate, Hernandez’s career is one example of the power of Latina representation in sports media.
Luz Media asked Hernandez via email what she would say to Latinas who struggle with feeling like they don’t belong in spaces with few women and few Latinas. She stated, “It's fair, it's validated, it's warranted, but understand that there is room for all of us, and the biggest thing when there isn't a lot of us is to come together. There's strength in numbers. And I think even for us, it's understanding that we have to, you know, band together and be together, to understand we're not outnumbered. We have to just connect.”
Marissa Solis
DRAFTED also had the opportunity to interview Marissa Solis, Senior Vice President of Global Brand and Consumer Marketing at the NFL. From her roots in Mexico to leading one of the most recognizable sports brands in the world, Solis has made it her mission to keep the NFL relevant to younger and more diverse audiences. She has also played a pivotal role in uplifting Latinos through initiatives like the NFL Latino Youth Honors, which celebrates outstanding high school football athletes.
Solis had this to say to Luz Media about Latinas who may feel like they don’t belong in male-dominated, white-dominated spaces: “Don't base your success on how many other Latinas are around. Claim your place [...]. Have your passion, know your goal, know what you want, and go get it. It doesn't matter if there's 100 men in the room and you're the only one. It really doesn't matter, you know? Go out there and make your name, and then once you're in the room, bring others with you.”
MJ Acosta-Ruiz
With such diminished visibility in the media overall, Afro-Latina representation in sports media was critically important for DRAFTED. Dominican-American MJ Acosta-Ruiz is an award-winning, bilingual sports journalist and broadcaster, currently working as a sports reporter for ESPN and the NFL Network. Acosta-Ruiz is also the creator and host of Becoming Undefined, a freshly launched YouTube show where she sits down to have empowering conversations over cafecito. The first episode featured Cuban-American actress Gina Torres, and they talked about the barriers she has broken as an Afro-Latina in TV and film.
In her interview with DRAFTED, Acosta-Ruiz talked about the importance of representation at events like the Super Bowl. She stated, “Representation is everything. If we're not visible, one, we can't get more folks in front of the camera, and two, I think it starts to desensitize folks to not being so, like, ‘Oh my god, there's a Latina. Oh my god, there's a black woman,’ right? Like, we're here. Trust we are here. I want it to just be normal for us to occupy this space the way that we are working so hard to do so.”
Paola Mannan
Adding to the mix is Colombian Paola Mannan, a force in multimedia marketing at Fox Deportes, the U.S.’s first sports television network in Spanish. Mannan has been the Director of Marketing at the network since 2022 and with her expertise in strategic planning, project management, and relationship building, she’s proving how valuable the Latina perspective is in the space of sports entertainment.
Luz Media asked Mannan via email what she’d say to Latinas struggling with belonging, her advice was to remember that we can create space for all of us. “Maybe there's no one here because it's my responsibility to be the one, the first. Right? And then to open up the door for everyone that's coming behind me. So in a few years, I can see more people that look like me representing here with me, right? It’s that mentality of ‘If I can win, everyone else can win with me, and we can all win together,’” she said.
Mayra Gomez
Mexican-AmericanMayra Gomez has built an international career as a Spanish Raiders Color Analyst (providing analysis and insights during live games alongside commentators) and International Marketing Coordinator for Orlegi Sports. She has been the voice of some of the most historic international competitions, including the Women’s Gold Cup and Copa América USA, bringing Spanish-language sports broadcasting to new heights.
In her DRAFTED interview at Radio Row, Gomez shared: “It's an honor to be here with you, to see so many more Latinas being present here at Radio Row. I think the NFL has done a great job at expanding when it comes to their market, with the Latino community, obviously having a lot of exposure [in the U.S.], and in Mexico, with the NFL Mexico, and so just seeing everyone else here has been quite heartwarming.”
Uplifting the Next Generation: The NFL Latino Youth Honors
Hispanic Heritage Foundation via Instagram
The Latino Youth Honors, presented by Procter & Gamble in partnership with the Hispanic Heritage Foundation, were present at the Super Bowl as well and DRAFTED touched base with quite a few of the honorees. This program recognizes outstanding high school football athletes—both in tackle and flag football—for their academic and athletic excellence, and there are many Latinas among them.
One of the honorees DRAFTED interviewed was Cecilia “CeCe” Beauchamp, a Puerto Rican standout quarterback from the Bronx who has led her flag football team since her freshman year, ranking among the top quarterbacks in New York City’s PSAL. With a 4.0 GPA and a position as class president, CeCe represents the next generation of Latina athletes breaking barriers on and off the field.
Also making waves is Paula “Nicole” Cruz, a wide receiver from Calexico, California, whose journey began in Mexicali, Mexico before she made the leap to the U.S. to pursue her dream. With over 2,200 yards and 26 touchdowns, she earned a spot on the U.S. National U17 Girls Flag Football Team and a college scholarship offer.
Sophie Guitron, a Mexican-American athlete from Redondo Beach, California, overcame a congenital heart condition and open-heart surgery at age 11 to become a league MVP and a member of the U.S. National U17 Girls Flag Football Team. Her resilience and passion for the sport have made her a role model for young Latinas.
Another honoree, Paola Cruz-Ramos, has been a standout in Putnam County’s flag football scene, earning spots on the Jaguars All-Prep Team and the All-State Second Team, all while maintaining a perfect 4.0 GPA and dedicating time to community service.
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The term “Chola,” a moniker now cherished by the indigenous women of Andean Bolivia, wasn't always delivered with affection. Once, it was a derogatory phrase aimed at indigenous Aymara or Quechua women, their unique pollera skirts and high bowler hats scorned. They were barred from public services and looked down upon. But as the times changed, the Cholitas reclaimed the term, and their traditional attire slowly became a vibrant display of identity and resilience.
A garment born from the 16th-century Spanish conquest, polleras were once forced upon the indigenous population. Yet, as centuries passed, the pollera transformed from a symbol of subjugation to an emblem of cultural pride.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/
At the heart of the Imilla Skate story is Dani Santiváñez, a fearless 26-year-old skater from Cochabamba. Together with two friends, Dani formed Imilla Skate in 2019. Imilla, meaning 'young girl' in Aymara and Quechua, the dominant languages of Bolivia, was more than just a name for their collective. It was a powerful symbol of their deep-rooted connection to their ancestral heritage.
Their cultural pride didn't stop at their skirts. Even their long, flowing hair is a testament to their tradition. Each stroke of the brush is a purifying ritual, a ward against negative energy. The act of brushing each other's hair isn’t just about beauty; it’s a symbolic ritual that strengthens their bond.
Imilla Skate's story converges with the tale of La Coronilla, a neglected part of Cochabamba that was once riddled with crime. However, in 2019, an old parking lot was transformed into Bolivia's first park dedicated solely to skateboarding. The once-forgotten corner of the city was reborn, filled with skaters, breakdancers, and parkour enthusiasts, all thriving in a newfound connection.
The girls of Imilla Skate claimed this revitalized space as their own, turning their daily practices into a community skate school for local kids, nurturing the rebirth of La Coronilla into a pulsating hub of community activity.
As they glide and flip through the streets of Sucre, their bold moves and vivid attire turn heads. Their influence has sparked a movement, inspiring other women to form their own skate crews. Bolstered by the encouragement of their families, the Imilla Skate collective has ignited a revolution, offering a fresh perspective on the perception of women in 'pollera.'
As the Imilla Skate women glide through the park in their polleras, they aren’t just skateboarders - they are symbols of resistance, cultural preservation, and empowerment.
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