You may know her from the hit CW series Jane The Virgin, a show most acclaimed for its representation of the lives and struggles of three generations across Latinx women. Gina has maintained a reputation since her early stages of her acting career, one following her “I can and I will” speech from the Golden Globes where she gives thanks for the opportunity she was given to represent Latinos.
Since the speech, she has become even more outspoken in hopes of giving more representation to Latinos on our screens. Rodriguez's every career move is a step toward her promise of giving Latinos more opportunities in the industry.
This Bill of Rights award honored her for her strive in keeping those promises. Since the Golden Globes speech and the uproar from #OscarsSoWhite, she has made an effort to give a spotlight to people of color in the industry. Her #MovementMondays are a weekly contribution to the cause, where each week she picks a minority in the industry whose work she can promote on her Instagram page.
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“Hollywood likes to pride itself as a Mecca for liberalism and cultural progress. But the America I see represented in Hollywood films and television has never represented the America I know," said Rodriguez in her acceptance speech.
The award was not just given to her because she is one of the few Latinx leads on a popular TV show, but because she’s working to do the same for others. Gina Rodriguez has created her own production company, I Can & I Will productions, that has already greenlighted two shows about Latinx immigrant families and their lifestyles of living in America.
She doesn’t stop at the Latinx community, though.
“I accept this award and in doing so, the responsibility to present a positive image to all those who look to me for inspiration," said Rodriguez.
Gina Rodriguez has not only put an effort for the Latinx community, but to whoever she can lend a spotlight to.
she truly fucking means her words i love gina rodriguez with everything in me
This tweet gives us insight into a fan’s experience with Gina. She is a Muslim fan who has longed for hijabi representation, and it meant so much to her when her favorite actress granted her wish and asked the showrunner to put a hijabi on her screen.
Gina Rodriguez’s light does not stop at her talent, it comes from her heart too. “I can and I will” remains the front of her movement, where the representation she wanted growing up is something she works to give to people with each next career move.
"The more power I have, the more you will see yourself," which is a promise she made to her fans and the thousands of underrepresented minorities in America.
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