This is part of a compensated campaign with Latina Mom Bloggers and Orgullosa.
For so many years, I stifled my culture. I remember cringing inside when someone asked me “where I was from.” I realize that so much of that fear of being different came from being naive and culturally unaware. While I grew up in Los Angeles, a place as diverse as it is populous, I can’t recall meeting a single Puerto Rican during my childhood years apart from my family. It wasn’t until I was a young adult that I truly began exploring my cultural origins to embrace the Latina woman that I am. I only wish I had Adrienne Bailon’s confidence and self-awareness.\
Last week, I had the honor of participating in an intimate Facebook chat with the singer/songwriter/actress/dancer, who’s best known for her role on Disney’s The Cheetah Girls. During our chat, she talked about growing up in a bicultural home, how she has managed to embrace her culture despite her career, and what defines La Nueva Latina.
It was difficult enough for me to make sense of being Puerto Rican in circles that were predominantly Caucasian so I can imagine the challenges of biculturalism. Bailon talked about how her father’s strong personality was the impetus for her to learn Spanish. Her father refused to speak English and that commitment to maintaining his culture instilled a pride within her. Visiting her parents’ respective countries was also a way for Bailon to learn about, appreciate, and embrace both cultures.
Having lived in the US all my life, I see how easy it is for one to “lose” their culture by forgetting those traditions that set them apart. Bailon managed to remain grounded in her culture by regularly spending time with her family and committing to speaking and teaching the children in her family to speak Spanish.
As the first Latina character on the Disney Channel, Bailon was inspired to leave her mark and represent her culture well. She recalls watching shows on television and failing to relate to the characters because they didn’t look like her or talk like her. Her advice to young women and those seeking to advance their career is to be courageous, spontaneous, and original. Most women can relate to feeling self-conscious or inadequate. Bailon recommends finding something you love about yourself and owning that. “Building character will build confidence.”
So who is La Nueva Latina? According to Bailon, she is passionate and that passion permeates every aspect of her life…her role as a wife, a mother, and an entrepreneur. She is driven, ambitious, and makes things happen. What really resonated with me during this discussion was the confidence the Nueva Latina exudes. She is proud of who she is and where she has come from.
In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, Orgullosa wants to celebrate our roots and our posterity. The brand recently launched a Facebook app that allows the community to honor their heritage by uploading a photo and selecting their nationality, which can then be shared with friends and family.
One of the things I took away from the chat was the importance of remembering my roots, while still continuing to embrace the opportunities presented to me here in the US. Being bicultural means that Latinas don’t have to choose one or the other and this freedom is what is fueling the passion and confidence of la Nueva Latina.
To learn more about Orgullosa or to become part of the community, visit Orgullosa.com.
Images: Orgullosa
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