Photo: getty; Nick jr.Becky Gis paying tribute to a Latinx icon.TheMala Santaartist, 24, said she’s “so happy"to see the growing amount of Latinx representationin film, television and music. She told actorDiego Bonetaon the latest episode of her Facebook Watch seriesFace to FacethatDora the Explorerwas the only form of representation she saw growing up.“The only thing that I had growing up was Dora,” Becky said. “And she was like an icon for me, but I didn’t get a princess. I didn’t get a superhero. I didn’t get anything.“She also opened up aboutbringing Latinx and LGBTQ representationto thePower Rangersfranchise when she played Trini Kwan (a.k.a. the Yellow Ranger) in the 2017 theatrically-released installment.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.“I was a hugePower Rangersfan growing up… But I remember when there was a shift for there to be a Latina power ranger,” she said. “And it was terrifying, because there was layers there to Trini, my character, that were clear that she was figuring out who she was. And some of those layers were of LGBTQ+ representation.“And everyone was trying to throw these labels at Trini. And I’m, like, ‘Guys, she’s — she’s 16 years old in high school. She’s still figuring it out. She doesn’t know if she has a crush on Kimberly or if she wants to be with Zach.'“And I think that that’s — that’s me trying to protect the authentic representation of what it is to be… to be her,” Becky concluded.Becky previously spoke to PEOPLE about theimportance of representation and identity. “Representation is so key, right? I hate labels but at the same time, they’re so important to recognize and be able to make progress,” she said in November 2020.RELATED VIDEO: Becky G Calls New Talk Show Her Passion Project: “It About Unfiltered, Authentic Conversations"“When people told me I was Latina, I was like, ‘Yeah, I’m Latina.’ When they told me I was Hispanic, I was like, ‘Yes, I’m Hispanic,’ not knowing what these things meant,” Becky added. “And as you get educated on these things and you recognize, ‘Oh, okay, where does my Latina come from?’ "
Photo: getty; Nick jr.
Becky Gis paying tribute to a Latinx icon.TheMala Santaartist, 24, said she’s “so happy"to see the growing amount of Latinx representationin film, television and music. She told actorDiego Bonetaon the latest episode of her Facebook Watch seriesFace to FacethatDora the Explorerwas the only form of representation she saw growing up.“The only thing that I had growing up was Dora,” Becky said. “And she was like an icon for me, but I didn’t get a princess. I didn’t get a superhero. I didn’t get anything.“She also opened up aboutbringing Latinx and LGBTQ representationto thePower Rangersfranchise when she played Trini Kwan (a.k.a. the Yellow Ranger) in the 2017 theatrically-released installment.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.“I was a hugePower Rangersfan growing up… But I remember when there was a shift for there to be a Latina power ranger,” she said. “And it was terrifying, because there was layers there to Trini, my character, that were clear that she was figuring out who she was. And some of those layers were of LGBTQ+ representation.“And everyone was trying to throw these labels at Trini. And I’m, like, ‘Guys, she’s — she’s 16 years old in high school. She’s still figuring it out. She doesn’t know if she has a crush on Kimberly or if she wants to be with Zach.'“And I think that that’s — that’s me trying to protect the authentic representation of what it is to be… to be her,” Becky concluded.Becky previously spoke to PEOPLE about theimportance of representation and identity. “Representation is so key, right? I hate labels but at the same time, they’re so important to recognize and be able to make progress,” she said in November 2020.RELATED VIDEO: Becky G Calls New Talk Show Her Passion Project: “It About Unfiltered, Authentic Conversations"“When people told me I was Latina, I was like, ‘Yeah, I’m Latina.’ When they told me I was Hispanic, I was like, ‘Yes, I’m Hispanic,’ not knowing what these things meant,” Becky added. “And as you get educated on these things and you recognize, ‘Oh, okay, where does my Latina come from?’ "
Becky Gis paying tribute to a Latinx icon.
TheMala Santaartist, 24, said she’s “so happy"to see the growing amount of Latinx representationin film, television and music. She told actorDiego Bonetaon the latest episode of her Facebook Watch seriesFace to FacethatDora the Explorerwas the only form of representation she saw growing up.
“The only thing that I had growing up was Dora,” Becky said. “And she was like an icon for me, but I didn’t get a princess. I didn’t get a superhero. I didn’t get anything.”
She also opened up aboutbringing Latinx and LGBTQ representationto thePower Rangersfranchise when she played Trini Kwan (a.k.a. the Yellow Ranger) in the 2017 theatrically-released installment.
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
“I was a hugePower Rangersfan growing up… But I remember when there was a shift for there to be a Latina power ranger,” she said. “And it was terrifying, because there was layers there to Trini, my character, that were clear that she was figuring out who she was. And some of those layers were of LGBTQ+ representation.
“And everyone was trying to throw these labels at Trini. And I’m, like, ‘Guys, she’s — she’s 16 years old in high school. She’s still figuring it out. She doesn’t know if she has a crush on Kimberly or if she wants to be with Zach.’
“And I think that that’s — that’s me trying to protect the authentic representation of what it is to be… to be her,” Becky concluded.
Becky previously spoke to PEOPLE about theimportance of representation and identity. “Representation is so key, right? I hate labels but at the same time, they’re so important to recognize and be able to make progress,” she said in November 2020.
RELATED VIDEO: Becky G Calls New Talk Show Her Passion Project: “It About Unfiltered, Authentic Conversations”
“When people told me I was Latina, I was like, ‘Yeah, I’m Latina.’ When they told me I was Hispanic, I was like, ‘Yes, I’m Hispanic,’ not knowing what these things meant,” Becky added. “And as you get educated on these things and you recognize, ‘Oh, okay, where does my Latina come from?’ "
source: people.com
