Growing up, I could probably name about three TV shows that featured Latinx characters: "Dora the Explorer," "Mucha Lucha" and "Wizards of Waverly Place." As a Latina, this was difficult for me. Growing up, I never thought about my skin color and it never bothered me. Even being the darkest (by far) with my siblings, I was always cherished and my beauty was always affirmed.
One of the first times that I had to think about how I was "different" was when I dressed up as Jesse from Toy Story for Halloween. I felt that I looked just like her. I had my hair in two long braids, I had the outfit, and my mom even put freckles on me with some eyeliner. I remember walking around my school when I grown man approached me asked me who I was supposed to be. I was a little thrown off because I thought that it was obvious! When I told him who I was he told me, "You don't even look like her."
I was so annoyed by his comment. How many times am I supposed to dress up as Jasmine or Pocahontas? Why can't I dress up as who I want to? I was even angrier when I realized that I look like no one in kids TV shows or movies.
I have wanted a Latina Disney Princess for as long as I can remember for this very reason. Representation in the media might not seem like a big deal to everyone, but for people of color it means so much.
The first time that I felt that I could actually relate to a character on TV was probably from the show Jane the Virgin. I thought to myself, finally, a Latina who isn't sexualized, "spicy," or dumb. She was going to college and she was working hard to make her family proud just like I am doing now. This show debuted when I was 20 years old. I spent two decades feeling like I was invisible to the media, two decades of my experience being silenced.
This is where Elena of Avalor comes in. Finally, a Latina princess, someone young girls could relate to, something that I never had when I was their age. While some people have their doubts when it comes to Elena, there are several things that are positive. For one, the overwhelming Latinx cast. The woman who voices Elena is of Dominican descent. Not only that, but they mix in a lot of Latinx culture as well.
Lastly, this is the the best and most important reason:
Little girls can have someone who they can actually connect to. I think that this is a first step in many to actually make the media more inclusive to all, even Latinas everywhere.
