Latino winners at Golden Globes include ‘West Side Story’ stars, ‘Encanto’ and Mj Rodriguez

Sunday’s Golden Globes proved to be a golden night for multiple prominent Latino performers.

Among them was Ariana DeBose, who won best supporting actress for her performance as Anita in the latest adaptation of “West Side Story,” following in the footsteps of Rita Moreno, who won the same honor for the role in 1962.

Fellow “West Side Story” star Rachel Zegler won best actress in a musical or comedy film for her portrayal of the love-struck Maria.

Zegler, who was born in New Jersey, has Colombian roots, while DeBose has Afro-Puerto Rican heritage.

“West Side Story,” which follows a New York City turf war between white and Puerto Rican gangs, was also named best musical or comedy movie on Sunday, tying it for the most wins of any project with three.

On the TV side, another New Jersey native, Mj Rodriguez, was named best actress in a drama series for “Pose.” Rodriguez, who has Puerto Rican heritage, became the first trans actress to win a Golden Globe.

“This is the door that is going to Open the door for many more young talented individuals,” Rodriguez wrote on Instagram after her win.

“They will see that it is more than possible. They will see that a young Black Latina girl from Newark New Jersey who had a dream, to change the minds others would WITH LOVE. LOVE WINS. To my young LGBTQAI babies WE ARE HERE the door is now open now reach the stars!!!!!”

Disney’s musical movie “Encanto,” which centers on a magical household in Colombia and features a predominantly Latino voice cast and music from Broadway maestro Lin-Manuel Miranda, was named best animated feature Sunday.

Sunday’s ceremony at the Beverly Hilton in Southern California wasn’t televised and didn’t have an audience following multiple controversies involving the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, including the Los Angeles Times reporting last year that the HFPA, which organizes the Globes, didn’t have a single Black member.

The HFPA has since introduced a board for “transformational change,” partnered with the NAACP and added 21 new members, including six Black journalists.