Spotlight: Latina Sorority Omega Phi Beta

Striving for positivity and leadership, Omega Phi Beta, a Latina sorority, opts for Illumination Week, instead of the hazardous initiation activities of Hell Week, associated with most sororities.

To seriously be considered, potential members must show leadership qualities. Established in 1989, Omega Phi Beta promotes community events, networking parties, volunteer work and anit-domestic violence demonstrations.

"Cell" star Jennifer Lopez lead actress in biographical film on the life of Mexican artist, Frida Kahlo

Hollywood's highest-paid Latina, Jennifer Lopez, is set to film Frida Kahlo, a biography on the life of the female Mexican artist. Lopez reportedly made $1 million for her role in Selena and $4 million for The Cell. She is expected to make $9 million for her upcoming film, The Wedding Planner, set for release in 2001.

Born in New York City, Lopez is 30 years old. This Puerto-Rican dance diva and actress was among People magazine's "50 Most Beautiful People in the World."

A former In Living Color Flyy Girl, Lopez's debut album, On the Six has sold more than 5 times platinum.

In 2000, Jennifer Lopez co-host the 1st Annual Latin Grammy Awards, seen internationally in over 120 countries, with Gloria Estefan, Andy Garcia, and Jimmy Smits. This was the first time a largely Spanish-language program aired in prime time.

A leading force in the indusry, opening doors for other Hispanics, Lopez made her feature film debut in 1995 in My Family/Mi Familia, in which she received an Independent Spirit Award nomination.

Jennifer Lopez's film credits include Steven Soderbergh's Out of Sight, Oliver Stone's U-Turn, Money Train with Woody Harrelson and Wesley Snipes, Francis Ford Coppola's Jack with Robin Wiliams, Blood and Wine with Jack Nicholson, Anaconda with Jon Voight, Eric Stolz, and Ice Cube, the animated feature Ants by Dreamworks as the character "Azteca" with Woody Allen and Sylvester Stallone.

Mexican artist Frida Kahlo

The National Musuem of Women in the Arts proclaims "without question that she is the 20th Century's quintessential autobiographical artist." Of European and Mexican parents, Frida Kahlo died of pneumonia in 1954 at the age of 47.

Her artistry visualized physical and emotional pain stemming from her having polio at 7 that left her with an atrophied leg, and at age 18 a spine injury from a bus accident.

Frida Kahlo was influenced by Mexican folk art and indigenous culture, in art, as well as personal. She wore traditional costumes and elaborate braided hair.

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Ricky Martin - Sensational!

Enrique Martin Morales, of San Juan, Puerto Rico started his rise to his present sensational stature in the entertainment industry as a member of the popular music group, "Menudo," at the age of 12, for five years.

Ricky Martin's self-titled debut album was in 1991. He acted on General Hospital from 1994 to 1996, performed on Broadway in Les Miserables, and released his chart-topping hit CD Vuelve in 1998. Vuelve's international hit, "La Copa de La Vida/The Cup of Life," became the anthem for the 1998 World Cup.

Martin's 1999 Grammy performance received a standing ovation and set the stage for his explosive career. He received a Grammy award for Best Lain pop performance that night.

The 1999 release of his 5th CD, by Columbia Records, Ricky Martin's self-titled English crossover production, was number one on Billboard's pop charts within a week.

Latino stereotyping in the media - Taco Bell dog

There is controversy and a debate over the socio-political and societal implications from the advertising campaign Taco Bell has employed to push their tacos.

The Chihuahua, named Dinky, is the focus of ads portraying Latin culture. The controversy is over ad images, sublimal messages, and what they suggest about Mexican culture.

• Taco Bell's marketing thought "Yo quiero Taco Bell," was a cute line, representing their quais-Mexican image
• Not negative, dog is clever when he gets from the car to the balcony and answers the Jeapordy question correctly, so represents Latinos as clever.

• Use of dog to depict Mexicans is demeaning, a reflection of the culture could have been better represented, by live, 2-legged Latin Americans, the dog is equivalent to animal, and articulate in Spanish. This personifies Mexicans as animals. Advertising has elements of sexuality and aggression for success. The Taco Bell ad has two sides: cute and seductive, and debasing.
• Latin American portrayals on TV are so few, and usually are negative, so leery of any kind of portrayal
• Ads show that Latinos have to scamper for their food, the context of the ad: dog appears near a brothel (love hotel), in low-riders, and with blacks sitting in chairs, snacking, while lazily watching TV all day

Selena

Selena Quintanilla Perez's short, stellar career has touched many lives, in spite of. Born in Lake Jackson, Texas, Selena's crossover success occurred with the release of her first English-language CD, Dreaming of You, which was number one in July 1995.

Selena's credits include: 1994 Grammy Best Mexican-American album, "Selena Live", six Tejano Music Awards, 1995 Grammy for album, Amor Prohibido.

Sadly, Selena was shot a few weeks before her 24th birthday, by Yoland Saldivar, presiden of her fan club, who was found guilty in October 1995.

Jennifer Lopez starred in the 1997 Warner Bros movie about her life.