There’s a particular notion attached to Latinas who don’t speak fluent Spanish or look a certain way, which leads many fellow Latins to unfairly criticize them. “Not being Latina enough” is something many have had to deal with, especially famous celebs that don’t fit a certain mold. While it couldn’t be further from the truth, it can still be hurtful and cause an internal identity crisis. Many of Hollywood’s A-list ladies — namely those among second, third or fourth generations of Latin families who have grown up more assimilated to American culture — have been ridiculed for lack of fluency or for not speaking out more about their culture. But many, from Gina Rodriguez to Demi Lovato, talked back against the harsh critics to defend their culture and how they choose to represent it. Read on to learn about six outspoken Latinas who won’t let haters bring down their heritage.
6 Latinas Who Have Spoken Up About Not Being "Latina Enough"
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Gina Rodriguez
Gina Rodriguez received criticism for not being a fluent Spanish-speaker, but she made sure to shut down her critics and stand up for herself. "You want to tell me I’m not Latino enough? Why don’t you stop speaking and look in the mirror and speak to yourself, because you’re telling me something that you actually probably feel about yourself. Because hurt people hurt people. ... I am as Latina as they come. And I am not defined by anybody’s definition of Latina. I don’t actually sit in a definition. I walk in my world, happily and confidently," she said in a HuffPost Live interview.
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Jessica Alba
Although Jessica Alba is a third-generation Mexican-American, she's spoken out against critics who feel she doesn't represent her roots by taking on Latin roles or speaking Spanish. "No one gives Cameron Diaz a hard time for not speaking Spanish," she told Latina. "Her dad’s Cuban, and I was telling her I feel so bad because everyone is so nasty to me for not speaking Spanish." More recently, she told Glam Belleza Latina, "I’ve always felt closer to being a Latina than anything else, because I grew up with my dad’s family, who are Mexican American. I never really identified any other way."
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Christina Aguilera
In March 2012, Christina Aguilera famously addressed those who have tried to make her feel like she isn't Latina enough. "I’ve dealt with that [criticism] my whole life," Christina told Latina. "I don’t speak the language fluently. And I’m split right down the middle, half Irish and half Ecuadorean. I should not have to prove my ethnicity to anyone. I know who I am." The unapologetic singer added, "All I know is no one can tell me I’m not a proud Latina woman... I dove headfirst into a Spanish-language album for that reason and I’m planning another one even though I don’t speak the language. I’m sure that doesn’t sit well with some people."
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America Ferrera
Before America Ferrera became a household name, the actress told Contactmusic.com about balancing embracing her American pride with her Latin roots. "There’s this tug-of-war between two cultures. Am I Latin? Am I American? What the hell am I?" she said. "I love my culture and I'm very proud of my culture... I want to learn so much about where my family is from and my roots and to know Spanish. But when you've lived your entire life in American schools, you don't get that."
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Eva Longoria
Although the actress and her family's past generations lived in what is now Corpus Christi, Texas,Eva Longoria took it upon herself to learn Spanish to become multilingual, not because she needed to feel closer to her Mexican heritage. "We’re ninth-generation Americans," Eva told Los Angeles magazine. "We never crossed the border; the border crossed us. We’ve owned the same ranch land since 1603. That’s a big faux pas to think 'Latino' is synonymous with 'immigrant' or with 'not from here.' I’m not an immigrant. I’m more American than Bill O’Reilly. But America is the only country that promotes monolingualism. Here it’s English, English, English. Every other country makes their children learn a second language very early on. So as my political and social activism grew, I was like, 'I really need to learn Spanish.' So I did."
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Demi Lovato
Demi Lovato was just a toddler when she listened to the tunes of Tejano music star Selena Quintanilla, but the music and her Mexican culture resonated with the singer. "I’m really proud of [my heritage], especially the way that the Latin community is kind of taking over and rising above politically," she told The Huffington Post. "Even though I don’t speak fluent Spanish, I love singing in Spanish. I love being able to represent the curvy sassiness of a Latina woman. It’s just a part of who I am, and I couldn’t be more proud to represent that."
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