Showing posts with label CommunityOnline. Show all posts
Showing posts with label CommunityOnline. Show all posts

Wednesday, June 23, 2021

How Becky G’s New Beauty Brand Empowers the Latinx Community

How Becky G’s New Beauty Brand Empowers the Latinx Community

  • In an exclusive interview with E! News, Becky G is spilling the beauty tea about her new cosmetics line, Treslúce Beauty, and what it means for the Latinx community.
  • Watch: Becky G’s Tresluce Beauty Is a “Celebration” of Her Latin Culture

    Is there anything Becky G can’t do?

    The answer, of course, is no. For one, there’s no denying the 24-year-old singer has taken over the music industry with hit after hit. And while the Mala Santa artist is still booked and busy with her music, she’s ready to embark on an exciting new chapter.

    Enter: Treslúce Beauty.

    That’s right, the Mexican-American pop star can now add makeup mogul to her ever-evolving resume. However, don’t expect her cosmetics line to be like other celebrity-owned brands. Per a press release, Treslúce Beauty “celebrates [Becky’s] Latinx roots, with a mission to uplift the community through authentic and true representation.”

    Her message couldn’t ring more true with her first collection, which focuses on the eyes. From a vibrant 18-eyeshadow palette that’s infused with Mexican Blue Agave to an eyelash case inspired by Mexican Talavera tiles and her grandmother, the California native’s products are not only pretty but purposeful.

    Stars with makeup collections - Drew Barrymore
    photos
    Stars With Beauty Brands

    To celebrate her new endeavor, Becky exclusively spoke with E! News about creating her own cosmetics line, and why it felt like the perfect time to take this next step in her career.

    Becky G, TresluceMichele Andersen, John Parra/Getty Images for The Latin Recording Academy

    E! News: You’ve collaborated with brands in the past, but why did it feel like the right time to branch out and launch your own line?

    Becky G: “There’s been something in the air for me, as a creative person, that felt it was just time. It’s something that I’ve dreamt about since I was so, so young and it’s been on my list of things to accomplish. But there’s two sides to it: There’s a personal side for me that makeup has always been that lane of self-expression. My music is something that I share with everyone, but makeup was always very personal to me and it was something that I was now ready to share on a bigger scale. And then, on top of that, as a consumer of makeup, I think what Treslúce is about and what it represents is something that is very much needed in the beauty space.”

    “There’s so many pioneers in the makeup space that I looked up to and been inspired by, and I would just think to myself, ‘What does that look like for me? What would I be about in the makeup space? What would we stand for?’ And as we’ve put together our brand pillars, it’s never felt more right. I know it sounds crazy to say at 24 years old. Like, ‘Now’s the time!’ It could’ve come much later but the truth is, I started wearing makeup so young. We wear makeup so young now, and everyone wears makeup…so, it just felt right.”

    Becky G, TresluceMichele Andersen

    E! News: Beauty is so ingrained in Latinx culture and it’s empowering that this brand’s mission is to uplift the community. How does it feel to create a space for people to celebrate that part of their heritage?

    BG: “I love that you use the word ‘celebrate’ because that’s something that I speak a lot about with the team. When it comes to our Latinidad, one thing I love about our culture is that we love to share. We love to share our food, we love to share our music, we love to share our homes, our drinks—and now, I’m ready to share Treslúce. That part of our culture has definitely inspired me.”

    “And going back to what makes Treslúce unique, it’s that celebration. And it’s taking ownership. I know some people are like, ‘Well, you’re pretty without makeup.’ Well, I don’t wear makeup for you. I wear makeup for me because it makes me feel good. It makes me feel identified with myself because this is my favorite way of self-expression. So empowering individuals with knowing, like, you wear makeup for you, not for anyone else. And re-writing that story as Latinas…and I think that that’s really powerful.”

    Watch: Becky G Says Makeup Boosts Her Mental Health

    E! News: Touching on how beauty can be a way to express yourself and be that “me-time,” does beauty ever feel therapeutic for you and does it help with your mental health in any way?

    BG: “100 percent. Even on days where I feel a little sick, I’m just like, ‘I gotta get a face on and I’ll feel so much better.’ [laughs] It’s a peaceful time. To really paint a picture for you: Those times before I go on stage, and I’m doing my own makeup and I’m staring at myself in the mirror, I get to be a part of that transformation of becoming a more elevated and powerful version of myself.”

    “That says everything about even who I’ve become outside of being a daughter, a sister and being a partner. All of those things are so important to me, but the fact that I’ve been able to come as far as I have at the age that I am…it’s because of that connection with myself. I think my beauty journey has a lot to do with it because as I’ve learned more, I feel I have a place where I belong.”

    Michele Andersen

    E! News: Your eyeshadow palette also includes affirmations that are positive reminders to feel good about yourself. Can you share a little more about why it was it important for you to incorporate those messages? 

    BG: “The beauty space is filled with a lot of fun and cool trends, but sometimes trends can make you think, ‘Am I good enough for it? Am I cool enough to do that?’ Growing up on the internet and getting discovered off of the internet, it’s not always been the most positive and uplifting place. But I’m definitely more of a glass-half-full, not a half-empty kind of person…It’s that process of self-discovery and part of that self-discovery has been self-acceptance. That’s something that is a daily practice—some days I’m tuned into that higher frequency and some days me cuesta un poco más [it costs me a little bit more].”

    “It’s one of those honest things that I share with my fans all the time. It takes work and it takes effort, and you are worthy of putting that effort into yourself. Especially in minority communities, we’re dealing with so much pressure, not just as young women or young individuals to look a certain way or speak a certain way, but then on top of that, we have to become successful. We have to carry around all of these generational cycles, and prevail, and do great things. And it’s like, ‘Can I just have a moment?!’ So practicing those affirmations has done so much for me, and to infuse that a little bit into something, even if it goes over one’s head, they’re touching something that is so intentional. And I think that that’s really beautiful.”

    You can shop Becky’s new line here. Products range from $8-$35.

    This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.

    Monday, June 14, 2021

    LinManuel Miranda Admits In the Heights "Fell Short" of Representing AfroLatinx Community

    LinManuel Miranda Admits In the Heights "Fell Short" of Representing AfroLatinx Community

  • After In the Heights faced criticism for its lack of Afro-Latinx representation, Lin-Manuel Miranda addressed the backlash and apologized for his "shortcomings."
  • Watch: Lin-Manuel Miranda Responds to “Hamilton” Criticism

    Lin-Manuel Miranda is addressing the backlash In the Heights has received.

    Just last week, the movie adaptation of the 2008 Broadway musical—which was a book by Quiara Alegría Hudes and featured original lyrics by the 41-year-old star—faced criticism for its lack of Afro-Latinx representation.

    After people expressed their disappointment on Twitter, which became a hot topic on the platform this past weekend, Lin-Manuel issued an apology.

    “I started writing In the Heights because I didn’t feel seen,” the Hamilton creator began his statement on Monday, June 14. “And over the past 20 years all I wanted was for us—ALL of us—to feel seen.”

    But despite his good intentions to celebrate the Latinx community, Lin-Manuel said he’s recognizing where he and others “fell short” when adapting the musical for the big screen.

    “I can hear the hurt and frustration over colorism, or feeling still unseen in the feedback,” he continued. “I hear that without sufficient Afro-Latino representation, the work feels extractive of the community we wanted so much to represent with pride and joy. In trying to paint a mosaic of this community, we fell short. I’m truly sorry.”

    Roseanne
    photos
    TV Shows Canceled Following Controversy: From Roseanne to Honey Boo Boo

    Lin-Manuel reassured his fans that he’s “learning from the feedback” and appreciates that this conversation is taking place.

    As he explained, “I thank you for raising it, and I’m listening. I’m trying to hold space for both the incredible pride for the movie we made and be accountable for our shortcomings. Thanks for your honest feedback.”

    Lin-Manuel MirandaMat Hayward/Getty Images for The Latinx House

    The playwright and actor promised that moving forward, he plans to “do better” with his future projects.

    He concluded his message, “I’m dedicated to learning and evolving we all have to do to make sure we are honoring our diverse and vibrant community.”

    On Sunday, June 13, the movie became a trending topic on Twitter after an interview by The Root went viral on the platform. The outlet’s Felice León spoke to director Jon M. Chu, as well as several of the cast members, including Leslie GraceMelissa Barrera and Gregory Diaz IV, on Wednesday, June 9.

    During the interview, Felice asked Jon, who was previously called out for “whitewashing” Crazy Rich Asians, why there was a lack of Afro-Latinx representation in the film. He admitted it was a subject “I needed to be educated about.”

    Macall Polay/Warner Bros. Pictures

    “In the end, when we were looking at the cast, we tried to get people who were best for those roles,” he shared. “But I hear you on trying to fill those cast members with darker skin. I think that’s a really good conversation to have, something that we should all be talking about.”

    Although Jon noted that they cast diverse background dancers, Felice pointed out why it would’ve been more powerful to cast Afro-Latinxs as the leads.

    “Those are roles that, historically, we’ve been able to fill. We’ve been able to be the dancers, we’ve been able to be in the hair salons…but, like, a lead? That’s the breakthrough,” she explained. “We want to see Black people In the Heights. We wanna see Afro-Panamanians, Black Cubans, Black Dominicans. That’s what we want to see. That’s what we were yearning for and hoping for.”

    Jon responded, “I hope that encourages more people to tell more stories, and get out there and do it right then.”

    Warner Bros. Pictures

    Mexican actress Melissa Barrera, who plays Vanessa, touched on the subject as well and commented on the casting decisions. 

    “In the audition process, which was a long audition process, there were a lot of Afro-Latinos there. A lot of darker-skinned people. And I think they were looking for just the right people for the roles,” she told Felice, adding, “And because the cast ended up being us, and Washington Heights is a melting pot of Black and Latinx people, Jon and Lin wanted the dancers and the big numbers to feel very truthful to what the community looks like.”

    Additionally, Leslie, who is Dominican-American and plays Nina, opened up about what it meant for her to star in the film.

    “I didn’t realize until making this movie that I didn’t really get to see myself or people that looked like my siblings, that are darker than me, onscreen,” she shared. “And I didn’t realize how much that affected the limitations that I put on myself—being someone who wanted to be an artist, an actress and even be in the Latin music industry being Afro-Latina.”

    “I feel so blessed that we get to express the diversity that is within the Latinx community in a way that we haven’t been able to see onscreen,” she added. “I hope that this is cracking that glass ceiling. Because I do hope to see my brothers and sisters that are darker than me lead these movies.”

    E! News previously reached out to reps for the cast members interviewed by The Root, as well as Jon and Warner Bros. Studios for comment. We haven’t received a response.