What Does a Latina Look Like?
I told a Brazilian friend about my new blog. He came here to check it out, and then he told me something that started an interesting conversation:
He - You don't look like a Latina, if that's your face on the first post (we haven't met in person yet).
Me - Well, that is my face. Yes, that's true. The question is, Latina is a pretty wide definition; one that includes almost three continents.
He - Yes, I agree.
Me - I don't look like a Latina, but I am Latina.
He -By the way, I think it's an awful term, mainly because most of the time it's used as a synonym of race.
Me - It's true, but I'm proud of being Latina.
That got me thinking about two things. First, about the looks. It's funny (and sad) how we all are expected to fulfill certain standards and labels. If you're Latina, you should look like it, right? Wrong! Because, what does a Latina look like?
That takes me to the second question: the "race" remarks. We are not a race; Latinos are people who belong to the Latin culture. Sure, there are physical characteristics shared by a very large number of us, but this doesn't apply for all Latinos. blond women are less Latinas? I don't think so.
I've read an interesting testimonial about this: No, really, I'm Hispanic – found via Hispanic Trending. Elizabeth Welch says "(…) there are times when I wish my ethnicity showed.". She doesn't look like she's supposed to, and people get surprised when she says she's Mexican. You see, she doesn't fit the label. Neither do I. Give me a break! Being Latina/o is a cultural matter, and it shows in your language, in your opinions, on the way you act and how you see the world. Not necessarily on your skin or your hair.
TÚ que piensas?
July 30th, 2008 at 1:31 pm
I get that all the time to. Even though I have dark hair and olive skin, I tend to get that remark from those who are not “Latinos”. Why is it? What do these people expect Latinos to look like?
April 6th, 2009 at 8:52 pm
yea.i agree i am Hispanic/black/white but i don\’t look anything like these 3 races.i definitely dont look white b/c im more of a \”black-atina\” but i dont look hispanic.ive tried even to dye my hair darker,but what does it really mean to look hispanic or a latina?
April 27th, 2009 at 8:17 am
im latina too. Im Uruguayan, and when people ask me where im from, i say Uruguay, and that im latina, and their respond is always, [you don't look latina] i guess people expect latinas to look like Francia Raisa. I have a big ass, but i look white. Uruguayan’s are mixed with Italians,and Russians, so we aren’t as tan as mexicans. In uruguay you would find, blue eyed,and blonde hair people. Some are brunnette, with light brown eyes, but their skin color is really light tan. but at the end of the day we are latina and latios, we have to be proud, it does not matter what we look like, we know who we are, we don’t need other people to stop us from becoming who we wanna be.
May 4th, 2009 at 9:17 pm
I think that that is totally true. I’m mexican american but still half of me is mexican. ok anyway i have black hair and green eyes and i’m tanish. When i tell people i’m mexican they just do a look over at me and they’re like what? and i’m like yea. so this is a big deal for me considering that it’s weird to be both american and mexican
May 24th, 2009 at 11:13 am
Thats So True! Im half Colombian and half Italian. I say im latina, and people look at my green eyes and my not that tanned skin, and think about it deeper. Yes people think that a latina should hav tanned skin dark brown eyes and black strater hair, when all the latinas i kno, naturaly have verry curly hair. thats steriotypical and in latin american countries theirss a hugelywide mixture of looks. x
October 1st, 2009 at 9:04 am
I agree. I have green eyes and light brown hair and I am latina. I donīt know why people think that if you are latina you have to have dark eyes and dark hair. That doesnīt make sense.
January 7th, 2010 at 9:21 pm
My mom is from the US virgin islands and my dad is from Belize which is in central america and people always say “but you look black you cant be hispanic” as in we all look alike, i know hispanics from being very pale to really dark
February 1st, 2010 at 10:00 am
i like this article. like my dad is cuban, and my mom is black but i guess i look more black (even though i always thought i look sorta mixed) but anyways, whenever i tell my friends im cuban (probably b.c. there in HS and stupid anyways) they’re like “u dont look cuban” and im like, what does that even mean??? i mean my dad has the curly jet black hair, and i have jet black hair and stuff. idk i think what someone said is right. just b.c. some hispanic ple look a little different, people think “o, your not hispanic”
i hate ignorant plee ><
April 17th, 2010 at 9:17 am
I am also Latina and sometimes people look at me like I’m lying to them because I have very white skin tone.
Latinas can be of any race, and many of them are mixes. You can see an asian girl and she can be latina because her parents were born in a latin american country but her ancestry goes back to asia… bu she is stil latina, right? Well she is. She was brought up differently than an asian girl.
August 30th, 2010 at 10:21 pm
Well, I’m half French-Canadian and half Italian, and to be honest, if you say hispanic, I would think of a caramel skin and dark-eyes girl with straight brown hair. And for me, Italian girls or Arab girls look a bit the same, but with curly (or not) black hair and olive skin, and bigger eyes as I have noticed hispanics to have smaller eyes…
But you’re right, those are only stereotypes as Italians can be blond and hispanics too. But when talking about latinos, people often forget that latinos also include French, Italians, Spanish, Portuguese, Catalans and Romanians (even if those Europeans are white, their culture and language is latin from Roman origins)
That is why I consider myslef as a latin, but not as an hispanic
September 20th, 2010 at 2:29 pm
Im puerto rican and black.i get that shoked face to evertime i mention my latin heritage.then these responces usually follow; your a liar..seriously whatever..then speak spanish.then how come you dont look like one. its so annoying!!!! that starts to mess with your self esttem especially mine since ive always been raised in a hispanic household…and if you ask me i look latin…just like all my puerto rican family. ALL the ones in san anton are black…just like me!!!
September 29th, 2010 at 12:41 am
No such thing as looking latina since its not a race!!! JUST A TERM MEANING YOU COME FORM LATIN AMERICA.
Many LATINAS COME IN DIFFERENT RACES. AMERINDIAN, ASIAN, MESTIZA, WHITE, BLACK, MULATTO, ZAMBO, JEWISH.
Morena means TAN SKIN
Negra means BLACK GIRL
RUBIA means white blonde girl
January 28th, 2011 at 11:56 pm
I’m Dominican (of native american descent) and Brasilian (of irish&portuguese descent) and I HATE when people tell me that I am african american. I’m curvy, a big ass (for lack of a better word), caramel skin, strong dominican accent, light brown curly hair with amber eyes (golden/yellow&orange/copper eye color). I always feel like a disgrace because i’m not as light as some other latinas and because my hair is soft&curly but it doesn’t slip like silk.. I hate how I look.
March 9th, 2011 at 5:21 am
I really like this post! I am latina too! from Ecuador! I came to Canada like 6 months ago and I have this problem too! I am short with white skin color long brown wavy hair, brown eyes, big ass, I’ve always thing I look latina because my body and my hair! but people in here said I look Asian, Canadian, American, etc etc! when I said i’m from south america they dont believe me! and I have to speak spanish or make the sofia vergara accent! (so funny)anyways! I think it’s just a stereotype! but I do hate when people said I’m not Latina because I am really proud of being a SexyLatina!!
April 2nd, 2011 at 7:52 pm
you cant look latina you just are latina– whether u r or aren’t embrace who you are!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
I have olive skin but straight black hair so some people think i can pass for philipino but no i am latina and proud of it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!