Eva — a native of Corpus Christi, Texas — says Selena’s success gave her the confidence she needed to move forward. “She was the reason I dared to dream that a better life was possible.”
Selena taught her that she could branch out without forgetting her roots. “So many people become famous and leave a place without ever crediting it with the role it played in shaping their lives. Selena was proud of being from Corpus Christi, Texas. And that made me proud to be from Corpus.”
The “Telenovela” actress couldn’t contain her glee on Instagram, “OMG I’m so honored to be receiving a STAR on the Hollywood Walk of Fame! I remember moving to Hollywood nearly 20 years ago and going straight to the iconic street and looking at the stars saying “I wanna have a star on this street one day!” Twenty years later she’d be immortalized right next to her greatest idol. “Thank you Selena. I know I will receive my star on the Walk of Fame because you dared to dream it first.” #daretodream
Fact: When you tell people you’re from Miami, most assume that you’re Cuban. I mean, that’s a totally valid assumption because, duh, it’s Miami. But here’s what happens when you’re a Miami Latinx (in my case, Colombian-Ecuadorian) but, no, you’re not Cuban:
You quickly learn that Cubans speak really, really fast.
Sure, I have family members who speak fast, but they understand my struggle-bilingualism and keep things cute and slow. But ask for directions in Hialeah, and your head will literally spin off onto the Palmetto, especially when Cuban slang words are thrown in there.
Since I grew up speaking mostly English, most of the Spanish I heard and learned was Cuban, which is nearly another language. If you could only see how my cousins look at me confused whenever I say “fuacata!” Other examples: When it’s time to hit the road and go to the beach, you say “dale!” Also, a “ventanita” isn’t just a tiny window — it’s a divine portal to cafecito heaven.
People always ask if you’re Cuban.
Credit: Fox
I mean, it’s not a bad thing, it just gets a little annoying because, like, we have plenty of other Latinx people here! Nicaraguans! Puerto Ricans! Venezuelans! Colombians! Brazilians! Hondurans!
But you don’t mind because Cubans gifted us with good things… like food!
Mami’s arroz con pollo is LEGENDARY within the fam, but Cubans just had show off and add mayonnaise and a heaping layer of cheese on theirs. It’s decadent, over-the-top and it’s the only way I eat rice now because that’s how I like my food to be.
But, again, you can eat pastelitos, patacones, arepas, croquetas…
I honestly thought all Latino kids were doused in violetas as a kid, but I learned that was something my Ecuadoran mom picked up from her Cuban friends when my parents moved down to Miami. I’ve asked a Puerto Rican friend (who wasn’t born in Miami) if she ever used violetas, and she said, “What’s that?” So, case proven, right?
You realize no amount of coffee consumption can prepare you for Cuban coffee.
CREDIT: TEAMCOCO
Latinos love café. It’s a fact. My family in Miami is mostly Colombian, so we know a little bit about coffee. But really nothing compares to the dizzying, addictive, sheer power of a Cuban cafecito.
You pick up the idea that you can never leave the house with wet hair.
OK, this might be an all-Latino thing, but my Cuban friends were the ones that would literally choose death rather than break this rule, and it’s rubbed off on me.
…But, you’re super lucky to have the best of both worlds.
