13 Times Latinx Stars Celebrated Their Roots

Stars from Eva Longoria to Mario Lopez have long paved the way for Latinx excellence and representation in Hollywood. In celebration of Latinx Heritage Month, ahead are 13 celebrities who've shared what their heritage means to them.

“There are so many different aspects that make [America] beautiful, the Latinx community being one of them. We are prevalent, and we should be heard. With everything I do, I would like to make them proud,” Mexican and Puerto Rican actor Jenna Ortega told Elite Daily.

"Every little bit of time off I had in [El Internado], I went back and back and back [to Cuba]. Life is so different there that I think that was what actually kept me centered and connected to that," actor Ana de Armas told Flaunt, adding that she's "very proud of being Cuban."

Afro-Latino actor Colman Domingo told EW it’s “been nice for people to recognize that part of my identity” as “it’s just gone by the wayside.” He added, “You rarely see Afro-Latinos in the press ... There’s been a dim light on that, so I feel proud that I get to represent both.”

“Latin women are go-getters by nature. We have a certain charm and finesse that gets us what we want,” the late Puerto Rican actor Naya Rivera told Cosmopolitan, adding that Latinas are “really great nurturers who are great to our men” and “very independent and strong.”

Cuban actor Gina Torres told her Afro-Latinx community, “I love you, I see you, I am you ... Know that I am dedicated — doggedly dedicated — to bringing more stories about us. About all of us. And what we look like. And the breadth of our depth and what we are and who we are.”

Mexican host Lopez told SFWeekly that “being Latino is a beautiful thing all the way around. The people are warm, they’re hardworking, they’re proud, they embrace their culture, they’re about family, faith — and I celebrate all of those things. I wouldn’t want it any other way.”

“Incredibly proud” of her heritage, Mexican actor Jessica Alba wrote in Popsugar, “I want my girls to embrace their Latino roots, know how much we have contributed to this country, and understand that the road ahead is richer when we acknowledge and embrace our heritage.”

“Being Mexican is who I am,” Eva Longoria told Yahoo. “It exudes in everything that I do every day from how I style my hair, to putting on my lip liner, to putting on my hoops, to what I make for breakfast, how I have my café con leche ... It seeps into every aspect of my life.”

When asked where she gets her courage from in a video by the Associated Press, actor Sofia Vergara responded, “I’m Colombian, I’m pretty courageous.”

"I really want to learn how to be an amazing Hispanic cook," Dominican and West Indian rapper Cardi B said in an episode of Cardi Tries. "I want to cook like my aunt and my grandmother. I want to cook with feelings, you know, it's like the food got feelings."

“I’m a strong Black woman, a strong Afro-Latina woman. Strong all-of-the-things,” Afro-Puerto Rican actor Michaela Jaé Rodriguez told Refinery29, later adding that her understanding of her Latinx heritage “has grown and continuously grows every single day.”

"Being Latina and a woman, people assume we can't be successful or we can't own a business or we can't be the boss but ... Latinas are fearless and powerful, and they can accomplish anything that they set their minds to," Puerto Rican multihyphenate Jennifer Lopez said in a JLo Beauty video.

Singer Camila Cabello wrote in Popsugar that she's "so proud to be Cuban-Mexican," adding, "This country was built on immigrants. People who were brave enough to start over. How strong we are to leave behind everything we know in hopes of something better."