#RepresentationMatters

When I was little, my favorite princess was Belle. Out of all the great characteristics Belle had for me to admire, there was only reason I chose this princess as my favorite: her brown hair. I dressed up as her every Halloween and even played her in a small production of Beauty and the Beast in my after school club (it sounds lame, but was a big deal at the time). This admiration I had for Belle was endearing because, after all, what kid doesn't dream about being a princess? Now that I look back on it, it's unbelievably sad. 

I was so desperate to see myself in movies, that once I found a small sliver of something I recognized, I took hold of it and didn't want to let go.

This need stayed with me throughout middle school and even on to high school. I wouldn't even allow myself to fantasize about being Hannah Montana, because I wasn't white or even Gabriella Montez, because I wasn't skinny. I grew up in a world where the only place I saw somebody that looked like me, was in my mirror. I was and still am desperate to see myself in movies and it wasn't until I watched "Real Women Have Curves" at 20 years old, that I did.

This movie stars America Ferrera as an unapologetic, curvy Latina who aspires to make something of herself. After 20 years of searching, I finally found myself and she wasn't just the sexy Latina prop, she was real. And she wasn't the best friend who has a couple of lines, she was front and center surrounded by other Latinas. 

You'd think I'd be satisfied after finding my reflection in a movie, but it still isn't enough. I want my brothers to continue to see themselves as the heroes in movies they love like "Star Wars: The Force Awakens", where a Latino is the best fighter pilot in the galaxy. I want to see more diversity in superhero movies, because the trailer for "Black Panther" is better than any marvel movie I've ever seen. And finally, I want a goddamn Latina Disney princess. 

When was the first time you saw yourself in a movie? Tweet at me using the trending #firsttimeisawme 

#movies #representation #latina #latino