TV's has a new kind of heroine: The Latina genius

Los Angeles Times

One Day at a Time's Isabella Gómez, On My Block's Sierra Capri, The Expanding Universe of Ashley Garcia's Paulina Chávez and Diary of a Future President's Tess Romero portray Latina characters that have been rarely seen on TV. "It’s a sudden growth spurt of on-screen representation for Latinas, a vastly underrepresented group in both TV shows and movies," says Monica Castillo. "Most notably, they’re shows built around a specific kind of Latina, one who’s gifted beyond her years and appears destined for greatness." These new shows, Castillo points out, are like younger cousins to Ugly Betty and Jane the Virgin, which both featured ambitious young Latinas. "It’s exciting to watch these brilliant Latina characters and their potential to inspire young audiences," says Castillo. "Until recently, it was so rare to see any Latinx character whose strength lay in their smarts — I even wish Ashley’s doctorate-wielding mom was more central to the show, as a nod to the generations of smart Latinas who never saw their experiences on TV. After all, Latinas like her have always been a part of our communities. It’s television that’s just starting to catch up."