When I first met Jenni Rivera’s eldest, Chiquis, she told me her dream was to be on the cover of Latina magazine. It was very special for me to write this one.
Click here to read the cover story.
Tag Archives: latina magazine
Christy Haubegger profiled by Makers: Women Who Make America
How did I not know this existed?!
Makers: Women Who Make America is a historic video initiative developed by AOL and PBS. It aims to “be the largest and most dynamic collection of women’s stories ever assembled.” And so far, it’s on the right track.
Some of the extraordinary women profiled include Madeleine Albreight, Christiane Amanpour, Sandra Cisneros, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Ellen DeGeneres, Tavi Gevinson, Oprah, Sheryl Sandberg and tons more.
Among them is Christy Haubegger, Founder of Latina magazine and a personal she-ro. Every day that I worked there from about 2007 to 2011 (a dream come true, for sure) I wanted to make her proud. And that’ll never change, no matter where I go.
What she’s built is incredible — and she’s nowhere near done. As big of a power player as she is in Hollywood (she transitioned from publishing to the agency life in 2005 and joined CAA, where she continues to create opportunities for Latinas), Christy always has time to listen, and for that, I’m eternally grateful. This only reaffirms the importance of mentorship for Latinas in any field.
Take a minute to watch her profile at Makers.com and I promise you’ll walk away newly inspired!
William Levy cover story for Latina Magazine
Latina flew yours truly down to MIA to interview William Levy for the June/July Issue, tied to his new telenovela on Univision, La Tempestad.
Check out an excerpt on Latina.com, plus there’s a behind-the-cover-shoot video for you to enjoy, too…
Zoe Saldana cover story for Latina magazine
Shattering box office records (Avatar), energizing a franchise (Star Trek), dominating in drama (The Words, Out of the Furnace) — Zoe Saldana can do it all on screen. Yet do we really know her? In this cover story I did for Latina, Zoe opens up about the controversy surrounding her portrayal of legendary jazz singer Nina Simone, her relationship ups and downs and finding the perfect balance between work and play.
This was a fun one and I was flattered when Latina‘s executive editor Damarys Ocaña called it “the best cover story we’ve done on Zoe yet.”
Exclusive: behind the scenes interview with Pitbull on ‘Dancing With The Stars’
Bossing around Armandito on set.
Recently, I scored an exclusive invite to the set of Dancing With The Stars in LA, where Armando Christian Perez (better known as Armandito, or that lil’ chico Pit), was shooting a promo for the upcoming 16th season of everyone’s favorite reality dancing competition.
I happily watched as Mr. Worldwide injected everyone in the room with his dose of feel-good energy to the tune of his latest single, “Feel This Moment,” featuring fellow Latina A-lister, Christina Aguilera.
Though Xtina wasn’t there, we took the opportunity to ask El Señor Worldwide about how she and all the other iconic Latinas that he’s collaborated with (J.Lo, Shakira, Paulina Rubio, the list goes on and on) have influenced him.
He also told us why he thinks people continue to connect globally with his videos, the first artist that made him want to bust a move, why he loves Miami and what his mother, tia and abuelita have taught him about life.
Watch the exclusive video at Latina.com and tell me: what do you love most about him?
Latina magazine’s tribute to Jenni Rivera
It was incredibly special to me to be a part of this special tribute issue to the late Jenni Rivera. I got to interview people close to her, and they shared some amazing anecdotes, which really helped me understand and appreciate Jenni in new ways. The feedback I’ve been getting is all positive, including from Jenni’s own daughter, Chiquis.
Thank you, Latina, as always, for the work.
Salma Hayek Cover Story for Latina Magazine
November 2011 issue
Exclusive: Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez on what their marriage was like
In what turned out to be one of the last interviews Marc Anthony and J.Lo gave as a couple, both husband and wife talked candidly with me about their marriage, their kids, and their life in and out of the spotlight.
The interviews, which were conducted separately just a few weeks ago, were for a planned upcoming story in Latina magazine around their many collaborations, including their Kohl’s line.
Here are some highlights from the exclusive interview:
On What It’s Like At Home:
Marc: Nothing floats and there are no lights or fans or smoke. Jennifer loves to cook, loves family time, loves when we eat together—all of us, the kids, just everybody. The house is awfully loud with the pitter-patter of their feet. It’s very Puerto Rican—salsa playing in the background and kids in the pool. ‘Max, watch out!’ You know, just real normal stuff when we’re home.
Jennifer: I do cook, I do lay out Marc’s clothes, I do pack him when he’s about to go away. I do care, I do do things that are going to make their lives better, easier. I do hold them [Max and Emme] when they’re crying—all those things that you do as a mother and a wife are so much more rewarding than anything else in life. I do get a lot of joy out of that.
A Timeline of Marc Anthony & Jennifer Lopez’s Love
On Making Time for the Family:
Marc: We could take any job and any responsibility, but the biggest one we have is to our family. That’s the biggest job of all.
Jennifer: You can have tons of success and all of that is so great and I would never downplay that; I love the fact that I get to do everything that I do; but my biggest joys in life are being able to be a good mom, the moments when I can say, ‘Ah, I was a good mom right there! I did something right for my kids. Or you know what, I’m a good wife.’
On What It Takes to Make a Marriage Work:
Jennifer: I mean it’s about time, it’s about making the time for each other; it’s about being there for each other for the good moments and for the bad moments, you know, it’s just about caring. To say how to care for somebody is a long list, but that’s really what it takes.
Marc and J.Lo’s Kohl’s Line to Hit Stores, Regardless of Split
On Their First Time Working Together:
Marc: My favorite duet is the first one [‘No Me Ames,’ off Lopez’s debut album, On The 6, in 1999] because of the way it was born. We had just met and it was such a hopeful time. There were a lot of things that we hadn’t seen yet in life—not being together, and we sort of dated a little back then and it was just a magical time. That song gave me an excuse to be around her. And she gets the title of [People’s] ‘Most Beautiful Woman in the World.’ I’m like, ‘You think I didn’t know that?’ I mean, I went all in seven years ago. I’m like, ‘Finally, world, you’re just catching up!’
Jennifer: I’ve always been a fan of his music— seeing him work on his music for me was something that I always felt was very sexy. To see where his music came from and when he sang and recorded, kind of those private moments where I felt him to be powerful and confident and easy and not trying— it was just a very sexy thing.
EXCLUSIVE: Jennifer Lopez on Why She and Marc Were “A Good Combination”
On How Being Puerto Rican Helped Their Relationship:
Jennifer: I think it’s definitely something that helps in a relationship when you have a similar upbringing to the person that you’re with and you have a shorthand. You understand the same things, you were brought up in the same ways, you have the same beliefs, and the same things are important to you. There’s just a shorthand that comes with that that makes it easier.
On How They Made Each Other Better:
Jennifer: We do make each other better. Because we have respect for each other, we’re able to listen to each other’s, I wouldn’t say criticism, but critiques of each other, and take them as a constructive thing, not as something that’s meant to hurt you, and we’re able to grow from that. I can say to him, ‘You know, I think it would be better if, when you’re onstage, you had this back-up singer’ or whatever, and he can listen to me and not say, ‘Well, I don’t think so.’ We really do listen to each other’s opinions knowing that the other person really wants to help you.
This post was originally posted on Latina.com.
Cameron Diaz’s hot bod secret: ‘I eat every three hours’
Cameron Diaz has been looking amazing lately, so when we caught up with the Cuban actress in Miami we had to ask, how does she do it?
Your car wash scene in Bad Teacher obliterates every other car wash scene in cinematic history and we don’t blame you for flaunting your hot bod.
I didn’t even have time to work out [during the making of this film], I literally was working out 10 minutes a day in my trailer, doing what I call my horizontal workouts, which are not what you think! [Laughs]
Those sound like fun!
Yeah, but in my trailer with my gay trainer it was not like that [Laughs]. I did 10 minutes every day because I didn’t have time for longer workouts. I shot Knight and Day for six months before I started this movie and I only had two weeks off. I was tired. I was like, ‘I should’ve taken a nap before I did this movie.’ Luckily, my character gets to nap a lot. [Laughs] I’m burning so many calories when I’m working like this, so I would go to my trailer during lunch, I would eat, I would do my 10-minute workout on the floor laying down—just whatever exercise the trainer would give me— and then I would eat the last bit of my food and go back to work.
What are your views on nutrition?
People think that eating less is better but it’s actually the other way around. It’s more food, smaller portions throughout the day of the right food. I have to eat every three hours or else I’m no good to anybody. You keep your metabolism burning and that’s how you give the fuel to your body to do what you have to do.
What are some of your favorite healthy foods?
I do proteins, and the right carbs like brown rice, oatmeal, quinoa, and sweet potato. I stay away from the white stuff as much as possible. I don’t deny myself, though. Once a week, I’ll have pasta. I do it not because of the aesthetics but because of the nutrition. Whole grains are just better than those that have been refined, even though they taste really good. But just like anything in life, you have to work hard for it. I can’t look the way that I look by not working hard. There’s no way. The reward of things only comes when you work hard for them.
My mom always said, “Nothing’s for free. You always have to pay for it somewhere.” And I would rather pay for it with hard work than have to pay for it with something else down the line.
You seem to just live a healthy life all around.
For me, it’s about being fit and strong. My body is at its best when I’m my strongest. So when you’re skinny and you’re not eating and you’re not working out and you starve yourself, you’re useless. For me, it’s about being capable and being consistent with my fitness. I wanna be able to go surfing whenever I want, or hiking, or play golf— I wanna do all the things that I wanna be doing in my life with the people that I love, so I have to be physically capable.
That’s my purpose of going into the gym three to four times a week. And when I don’t do that, my brain doesn’t work, it’s hard for me to keep my head together and I’m not happy. I’m happiest when I’m strong, fit, clear-minded, and I can do all the things I know I’m capable of. Even though I’m a skinny little girl, I’m strong and I love it!
This post was originally published on Latina.com.
Does this work? Dr. Perricone MD No Foundation Foundation
For Latina.com’s “30 Days of Beauty Road Testing,” I tried a product recommended by none other than Eva Mendes. “I’m a huge Dr. Perricone fan,” Eva told me at a recent press event. “I carry his No Foundation Foundation with me everywhere. It has SPF, moisturizer, and a little tint all in one.”
So I gave it a try, because, c’mon—who doesn’t want to attempt to look like Eva! Check out my review below.
The Product: Perricone MD No Foundation Foundation SPF 30, $50
The Claim: Keeps skin looking dewy and flawless and delivers many benefits of a traditional foundation without the heavy matte finish. Provides natural translucent coverage, corrects skin undertones, instantly smoothes fine lines and boosts skin’s natural moisture throughout the day, all while delivering antioxidant benefits. Also has a non-chemical SPF 30.
The Process:
Pump a small amount into fingertips, then apply to an already cleaned and toned face in gentle, circular motions until product is evenly distributed. Because of the SPF, it’s recommended for day use. Depending on your skin texture, you may or may not need to apply a separate moisturizer underneath. Can be used underneath your make-up or alone as moderate cover-up.
My Results:
I’ve been wearing this to work everyday as coverage for the past few weeks. I don’t even need a moisturizer and it’s great because it has a built-in SPF protection—which we all know is key. It’s perfect for the summer because it’s super light (and I have oily skin, so I opt for lighter moisturizers anyway) but it still has pigmentation to cover up minor imperfections. However, I’ve found that when I have a big, lingering zit, it doesn’t quite do the trick of hiding it entirely. In those cases, I’ve had to apply my regular foundation on top of it. It does, however give me a nice, even complexion on most days. I use it as my base and then I apply a bit of bronzer and eye make-up and voila! Not a total Eva, but a vast improvement.
Overall Score: I’m loving it. If it weren’t for the sticky texture and slight smell (I wouldn’t call it fishy but there’s a definite odor to it), I’d give it a perfect 5. But for now, I’m giving it a 4 out of 5 stars.
This story was originally posted on Latina.com.
Angie Romero 