17 Latinx TV Characters That Made People Feel Seen
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In honor of Latinx Heritage Month, we asked the BuzzFeed Community which Latinx characters made them feel seen. Here's what our audience had to say:
1.Rosa Diaz and Amy Santiago from Brooklyn Nine-Nine
"Having two wildly different Latina women being main characters in a big-time show was a big freakin’ deal. And they weren’t housekeepers or trophy wives. They had brains and abilities. And even though the show was awesome about incorporating so many cultures with their main characters so effortlessly, having them both made me so proud."
"As a nerdy know-it-all, Amy made me feel so at home. I had never really identified with any other Latina character. They were all sexy and loud. But Amy was this book-smart dork who loved to organize stuff and was a great leader. She’s been my favorite since the beginning."
"Rosa’s arc made me come to terms with my own sexuality. I felt very seen."
2.Betty Suarez from Ugly Betty
"She inspired me to be steadfast and courageous in chasing my dreams. The ways she took space in an industry that didn’t really embrace ALL types of women was so inspiring. I still carry a little of her with me as I make moves in the city today."
3.Blanca Rodriguez-Evangelista from Pose
"She is so strong and caring. She continues to give and make connections, despite facing a world that's against her and battling a constant internal attack from the HIV/AIDS virus."
4.Penelope Alvarez from One Day at a Time
"She's a single mom, Army veteran, and proud Cuban. Seeing Penelope interact with her family on the show made me want to become the kind of mom that isn’t often portrayed in Latino culture, meaning one who is vocal about complex issues like mental illness, drug use, sexuality, racism, and more. Even though the world is changing and she’s adapting, she still tries to instill her Cuban roots in her kids."
5.Jasmine Flores from On My Block
"She has all of the confidence and self-love that I'd love to have in myself and my quirkiness."
6.April Ludgate from Parks and Recreation
"She's hilarious, deadpan, and Puerto Rican. It was great seeing a character so different than any stereotype!"
7.Amy Sosa from Superstore
"She didn't have the easiest life, but she was super hardworking and a good person, and she eventually gained the confidence she needed to pursue her career goals. Plus, she managed to be kind and patient with her frequently aggravating co-workers."
–Evelina Zaragoza Medina
8.Oscar Martinez from The Office
"He's intelligent, funny, and Mexican American! There are so few Mexicans on TV."
9.Jane Villanueva from Jane the Virgin
"Jane helped me feel seen as a Mexican American who does not fit the stereotype. I am a hopeless romantic, and I will work damn hard to get what I want. Growing up, I never felt represented in the media, so being able to see someone so similar to the way I perceive myself felt great."
10.Maddy Perez from Euphoria
"She's a little problematic, but I'm the drama in my household, too."
–Rae
11.The entire crew from Los Espookys
"I finally feel represented seeing a group of lovable, goth, queer, Latinx weirdos on TV."
12.Cisco Ramon from The Flash
"His character makes me proud to be Latina and nerdy!"
13.Elena Alvarez from One Day at a Time
"She made me realize and accept that it is OK to be gay and Latina all at once, and have a Christian family. She also does a lot of activist work."
14.Carla Espinosa from Scrubs
"She is a badass woman who is proud of her culture!"
15.Julie Molina from Julie and the Phantoms
"She's sweet, funny, and talented. And she's very close with her family, which is always lovely to see."
–Evelina Zaragoza Medina
16.Rogelio De La Vega from Jane the Virgin
"He is hilarious and reminds me of my dad, who is Mexican. His character shows the ways Latinos work to fit into American culture while also maintaining their own."
17.And finally, Santana Lopez from Glee
"She is the queen bitch and the best character on Glee. Her character development was the best of the series, and her coming-out storyline and relationship with Brittany are nothing less than perfect. She is a badass who tells it like it is and never apologizes for who she is."
Which Latinx character made you feel seen? LMK in the comments below!
Join BuzzFeed as we celebrate Latinx Heritage Month from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, and explore more content celebrating la cultura.
