Top 10 Latina Ladies to Watch

After 10 years as Dr. Callie Torres, Sara Ramirez left Grey's Anatomy in the Season 12 Finale. In the
world of television, Callie was a groundbreaking character as an openly bisexual, body-confident, Latina, kick-ass surgeon. Never pigeonholed as the token Hispanic, Callie developed into a fully fleshed out character with imperfections and all, contributing to the future development of realistic and relatable representations of LGBTQ and Latina characters in the media.

With her departure, Ramirez now has the chance to explore new roles, return to her theatre roots, or finally take a well-deserved break. Whatever she decides, we’ll always recognize her as was one of the many Latina actresses who have inspired and entertained us. So, here are the top 10 Latina ladies that have not only made significant contributions in TV and film, but also have upcoming projects we can all look forward to this year.

1.              America Ferrera

When I think of America Ferrera, the first thing that comes to mind is her role on Disney Channel’s Gotta Kick It Up! with its positive “Si Se Puede!” cheer. This Honduran-American actress has garnered fame as both a film and television actress. She’s gone from starring roles in The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants and Ugly Betty to her current lead role in Superstore.

2.              Gina Rodriguez

This Puerto Rican actress plays the titular role of Jane Villanueva on Jane the Virgin. She’s received critical acclaim, numerous nominations, and even won a Golden Globe Award for her performance, so it will be exciting to see her return to the role when Season 3 premieres in the upcoming 2016-2017 season.

3.              Aubrey Plaza

Best known for her deadpan comedy-style as April Ludgate on Parks and Recreation, the half Puerto Rican actress Aubrey Plaza will have audiences laughing again when her next movie Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates hits theatres this July.

4.              Bella Thorne

The Cuban-American actress rose to prominence playing one of the main characters in the Disney Channel show Shake it Up. Thorne has shown her versatility as an actress starring in both horror and comedy movies and series. Her fans can look forward to her upcoming film Amityville: The Awakening and TV show Famous in Love.

5.              Jennifer Lopez

As one of the most recognizable names in the entertainment world, Jennifer Lopez has undoubtedly left her mark as an actress. From her Rom-Com films like Maid in Manhattan to her current TV show Shades of Blue, it seems as though this Puerto Rican actress can transition just as easily from film to television as she can from her roles as an actress, singer, dancer, fashion designer, and more.

6.              Eva Longoria

Mexican-American actress Eva Longoria starred as Gabriella Solis in the award-winning comedy-drama Desperate Housewives. Since then, she has starred in Telenovela and currently serves as the Executive Producer for Devious Maids, two shows that feature predominantly Latino casts.

7.              Selena Gomez

Gomez, who played the sarcastic, yet loveable Alex Russo in the hit TV show Wizards of Waverly Place, has made the jump to the big screen. The Mexican-American actress starred in Spring Breakers, Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising, and has two more films scheduled for release later this year, The Fundamentals of Caring and In Dubious Battle.

8.              Sofia Vergara

The Columbian American actress stars as the hilarious Gloria Delgado-Pritchett in the award winning show Modern Family. Although we won’t get to see Vergara in all her Gloria glory until the show returns in Fall 2016, we can still enjoy her other comedic work in films like Hot Pursuit and Chef.

9.              Alexis Bledel

While Alex Bledel’s father is Argentinian and her mother is of English and Scottish descent, both of her parents grew up in Latin America. Bledel made her television debut as the beloved Rory Gilmore in Gilmore Girls. She will reprise the role in the much-anticipated four-part Netflix series to be released this year.

10.            Sara Ramirez

Aside from her role on Grey’s Anatomy, this Mexican-American actress is also known for her role as The Lady of the Lake in the musical Spamalot, for which she won a Tony. In the future, Ramirez might return to the stage or she might even come back home to Grey’s, hopefully one day soon.  

Right now, the possibilities for these 10 talented Latina actresses seem endless, so I can’t wait to see what they’ll do next. And while I wait for their new TV shows and films, I can always just re-watch their classics.

Celebrate Valentine's Day 2016 with the Kardashians

It is Sunday February 14^th, 2016. Valentine’s Day. Across the country, the Kardashians and normal people alike celebrate the love-filled holiday the best way they know how—by sharing it via social media. On Snapchat, a girlfriend shares the breakfast her boyfriend made her— a stack of pancakes, half a grapefruit, and a tall glass of orange juice. She captions it, “When bae makes you breakfast,” but bae is nowhere to be seen. A married couple enjoys lunch inside a packed Red Lobster. The restaurant is still riding that Beyonce wave from last weekend’s release of “Formation,” which mentions the suddenly popular seafood chain. Two college girls share stories from their weekends over a candle lit dinner. One girl updates her Snapchat story with the decadent arrangement of food and her “Hot Valentine’s Date,” who winks at the camera. People love sharing their Valentine’s plans and the Kardashians are no different. So, let’s take a look at how they spent Valentine's Day.

Kourtney Kardashian

Kourtney Kardashian receives a handmade card with a butterfly on the front that reads, “Love You Mom. Happy V-Day,” written in slanted glitter pen letters. She also enjoys a red and white heart shaped Rice Krispie Treat made by her three kids Mason, Penelope, and Reign.

Kendall Jenner

 

Kendall and her friends wear matching outfits, a black beanie and a white baggy sweatshirt with a giant red heart that reads, “PIZZA BOYS.” Although there are no boys present in the post, their love of pizza is clearly strong along with their love of Jeopardy, playing in the background.

                                 

Khloe Kardashian   

Khloe Kardashian receives a box of 42 red roses by boutique florist Venus et Fleur. Although she doesn’t disclose the name of her romantic gift giver, her Instagram followers have their fair share of guesses.

Kim Kardashian 

Kim Kardashian, also a fan of roses, spends the day rolling around in them. She posts the short video to Instagram, although it is unclear whether her husband Kanye West filmed it or if this is another case where #Northpostedthis. The world may never know.

             

Rob Kardashian

Rob Kardashian answers the age-old question, “When bae asks what she’s getting for Valentine’s Day” with a meme of a man throwing an eggplant emojii. Not only does he know how to express himself, but remains true to his word with girlfriend Blac Cyna.

Kylie Jenner

Kylie Jenner gives on-again-off-again boyfriend Tyga a peck on the check before they hop aboard their helicopter ride. She dons pink hair and matching pink lips for the occasion/photo shoot.

It’s 8:55 PM. The newest episode of Keeping Up with the Kardashians premieres in five minutes. Kendall may still be eating pizza, Kim may still be rolling in roses, and I may be tuning in for the latest Kardashian installment. And in three hours and five minutes, it will no longer be Valentine’s Day. Until next year.

           

Modern Family Recap: American Skyper

The season six finale of Modern Family centers on Alex’s graduation party, where the whole family gathers at Jay and Gloria’s house, except for Phil, who is stuck in Seattle. Luckily, Phil is able to be present as Robo-Phil, communicating via Skype through an iPad attached to a Segway. 

Throughout the episode, family members give the most amazing gifts to the high school grad, causing a competitive Claire to try and find the best gift for her daughter. Cam made Alex a handmade scrapbook of every note and drawing she ever gave him. Jay gives Alex a trip to Europe. Gloria delivers a heartwarming toast to Alex, sharing that Alex was the first one to make her feel a true part of the family. In the end, Alex gives Claire the best gift by not only telling her mother she gave Alex the best gift by helping her get into MIT, but also by inviting her on a joint European adventure.

Meanwhile, there is trouble in paradise with Cam and Mitch. After Mitchell was fired from his job, Mitchell has been pretending to go to work for the past month in the hopes that he would quickly find a new job. Instead, he befriends and plays checkers with an old unemployed man named Spencer at the park. Cam suspects that Mitchell is having an affair and eventually confronts him. Mitch explains and confesses the truth about his job situation, to which Cam is relieved, creating another neat and tidy ending. 

The relationship between Hayley and Andy, however, is not completely resolved by the episode’s close. Andy confides in Phil that he’s considering proposing to Beth, but that he also feels a strong connection with another girl. Phil advises Andy to propose to Beth, to which Andy agrees. Meanwhile, Hayley is dealing with Andy's psychotic girlfriend Beth, who believes that Hayley is secretly in love with Andy. While talking to her dad, Hayley realizes that Beth is right, but also that she can’t pursue those feelings because she believes Andy loves Beth. Phil eventually pieces together that Hayley and Andy like each other, but don't know that the other feels the same. Although he tries to fix his mistake by yelling out the truth, the iPad volume is not working and the two don't hear him.

The new fall season is sure to bring exciting new plot twists; maybe someone or something  will bust up Andy and Beth’s engagement! I don’t know about you all, but I want to see this "will they/won’t they" dynamic between Hayley and Andy finally go to a "yes, they did."

Young and Hungry Recap: Young and Pretty Women

In this week’s episode of ABC Family’s original comedy Young and Hungry, Cooper moved from China to be with Gabi, his girlfriend who he recently exchanged “I love yous” with. Cooper isn’t the only one in love with Gabi though; Josh finally admitted to Gabi that he loves her. After he tells her, she reveals to her best friend Sofia that she felt nothing and loves Cooper. She even took the advice of Allan, Elliot’s boyfriend, to kiss Josh and ensure, once and for all, that she has no feelings for him. After she left his apartment, Josh ran after her and passionately kissed Gabi. Although she admitted to Yolanda that there is chemistry between her and Josh, she wonders if she should ultimately choose Cooper or Josh. 

Meanwhile, Allan opens a karaoke bar, which Elliot disapproves of. At the grand opening, Allan proposes to Elliot, adding that his only regret is not making that move twenty years ago. His speech and proposal moves Gabi to choose Josh. Cooper, feeling rejected, reveals to Gabi that Josh thought he loved her three months ago, before he called off his wedding, and told everyone about it. Then, when Josh changed his mind, he convinced everyone to lie to Gabi about his feelings for her. After the truth was finally revealed, Gabi storms out of the party. Tune in next Wednesday at 8 PM ET/PT to find out what happens next!

Spotted: Lonely Boy on Campus

Hey Upper East Siders, do I have the biggest news for you. Spotted on my college campus, Lonely Boy jamming with his band Mothxr. Dan Humphrey played an hour long set to an outside crowd that was unsurprisingly majorly female. Like me, the rest of the girls there had never heard of Penn Badgely’s music before, but were still excited to see the band perform because it was Gossip Girl, after all. If you’re a fan of indie music this Brooklyn based band is definitely worth checking out. You know you love me. XOXO, Gossip Girl. 

Girl Meets World Recap: Girl Meets Gravity

Season Two of Girl Meets World premiered this past Monday. It’s the first day of 8th grade at John Quincy Adams Middle School, where Riley and Maya believe they are the kings of the school, seemingly at the center of the universe where everyone and everything revolves around them. To lock this independent ruler status, they want to avoid another year of Cory as their teacher, so the best friends transfer to another history class. Their new teacher, however, is very strict and forces the girls to sit separately. They later transfer back and Cory gladly welcomes them back.

 The girls are frustrated because they feel as though their parents are a hovering presence, circling around them like planets, with Cory once again as their history teacher and Topanga and Katy, Riley and Maya’s mothers respectively, working at the bakery. Mrs. Svorski, the former owner of the bakery, asked Topanga to take over the bakery and by the end of the episode, has passed away. At the funeral, Riley realizes that she isn’t the center of the universe with planets revolving around her, but instead that she and the rest of us should circle loved ones as long as they’re here and hold them close, because they hold you in place like gravity. She concludes that people are not kings, but just tiny little speaks in this great big universe, invoking a similar message from Thornton Wilder’s Our Town, a play Cory was teaching the class earlier in the episode. Cory later calls Mr. Feeny to make sure he's still there, and he is.

Girl Meets World returned with a big bang, a fitting compliment considering the use of planets, the sun, and the greater solar system in this episode. Not only did we take away the always-important, but often forgotten message to appreciate life and our loved ones, but also we, as loyal Boy Meets World fans, squealed in excitement when Mr. Feeny made his special appearance. Stay tuned for other familiar faces this season like Rider Strong as Shawn Hunter and Will Friedle as Cory’s older brother Eric. Other future guest stars include Anthony Tyler Quinn as Mr. Turner, Trina McGee-Davis as Shawn's ex-girlfriend Angela, and Blake Clark as Shawn's late father Chet. I simply cannot wait!!

Four Female Fronted Comedies to Heal your Mindy Project Broken Heart

Last week, Fox cancelled The Mindy Project leaving many loyal fans heartbroken. The series may be headed to Hulu, but, until there is confirmation on that move, you can heal your shattered heart with these four female fronted comedies still on the air. Soon, those angry, bitter tears will be replaced with happy tears as you laugh out loud, trying not to pee in your pants, while watching these shows.

New Girl (2011-present)

Zooey Deschanel stars as Jess Day, a bubbly young woman who teaches at a Los Angeles middle school. She moves into an LA loft with three men, Nick, Schmidt, and Winston. Jess' best friend Cece and old-turned-new loftmate Coach also appear regularly. The series follows these characters, all in their early 30s, as they deal with a myriad of career choices and maturing relationships. Not only is there a strong female friendship, but also romantic relationships, like that between Nick and Jess, which arguably rivals Friends’ Ross and Rachel will-they-won’t-they tango. The offbeat, quirkiness of all the characters also makes this an irresistible show to watch. 

2 Broke Girls (2011-present)

Set in Brooklyn, the series follows roommates and waitresses Max Black and Caroline Channing. The two work together at a Brooklyn diner, but dream of one day opening a cupcake shop. The show also features Han Lee, their Korean boss; Oleg, an upbeat but perverted Ukrainian cook; Earl, a 75-year-old African American cashier; and Sophie, their neighbor and part-time boss who runs a house-cleaning company. The eccentric characters mesh well and are entertaining to watch.  Also, the honest writing, where no topic seems to be off limits, adds a raunchy comedic element to the show.

Girls (2012-present)

This comedy-drama follows a close group of twenty-something friends living in New York City. Aspiring writer Hannah navigates this time in her life alongside her circle of friends including Marnie, Jessa, Shoshanna, Ray, and on-and-off again boyfriend Adam. The show is inspired by some of Lena Dunham’s, the creator and star, real-life experiences, which makes for extremely relatable storylines and authentic portrayal of women. I’d like to think of Girls as our generation’s Sex and the City, not only because both are HBO shows set in New York, but also because they are both honest, humorous series that tackle women’s issues and can happily marathon watch again and again. 

Orange is the New Black (2013-present)

The comedy-drama show revolves around Piper Chapman, who is sentenced to 15 months in a women's federal prison for transporting a suitcase full of drug money to her former girlfriend Alex Vause, an international drug mule. Since Piper committed the crime ten years prior to the start of the series, her sudden and unexpected arrest disrupts her relationships with her fiancé and her family. In prison, Piper is reunited with Alex and they re-examine their relationship and deal with their fellow prisoners, whose pasts are revealed through flashbacks. Not only does the truthful portrayal of diverse women deserve applause, but also the show’s ability to capture a wide range of human emotions and stories have got me forever hooked on this Netflix series.