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.