People en Espanol 50 Mas Bellos 2014 Party

It’s not everyday that you get to hang around the world’s most beautiful people, but May 12th was the exception as I had a treat to be a guest of People en Espanol Magazine’s 50 Mas Bellos 2014 Party – on behalf of the awesome community of Orgullosa. The grand event took place at Capitale on Bowery, where the red carpet trailed on as if it were a mile long and it was overflowing with the most exquisite singers, actors, movers and shakers in the Latin entertainment world.

I was greeted with champagne and moved on to the rest of the party where trapeze artists hung from the ceiling over famed guests like Emilio Estefan and Ricky Martin – and with a few out-of-this-world swings from above – the atmosphere was entrenched in the carnival theme of the evening. There were tons of booths from household brands like Colgate, Covergirl, Olay, Facebook and M&Ms showcasing their newest products and goodies to all the beautiful people in the room.

When I initially walked into the party, I hadn’t the faintest clue that I was about to encounter the incomparable Rita Moreno and hear her deliver an acceptance speech for a lifetime achievement award. I observed her closely as she is a public figure that I hold dear to my heart. As a Puerto Rican woman, Rita Moreno has single handedly broken cultural boundaries and barriers in the entertainment industry and has paved the way for Latinas today in show business. She is a woman that commands your attention and you just can’t look away. She is a undeniable force and continues to be at 82. It’s women like Rita that make me feel liberated to be a Latina in media, un Nueva Latina.

I feel grateful that I was able to join in on the evening’s festivities on behalf of Orgullosa and their Nueva Latina initiative that empowers Latinas to define what it means to be a bicultural, modern Latina, by capturing real-life voices, stories and experiences straight from the community that knows and lives it best. You can join in on the conversation on Facebook where all the action happens here. Check out the video series, “the Nueva Latina Monologues” created by Latina writer and director, Linda Nieves-Powell that tells the stories, struggles and triumphs of powerful Latinas like Dascha Polanco of Orange is the New Black who are looking to achieve balance between their American and Latino cultures.

For more info on Orgullosa’s work, check out my post here. It was a cool experience to be there for this year’s #50MasBellos party, looking forward to many more!