America Ferrera was nominated for a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her performance as Gloria in Barbie. And one of the reasons she was nominated – and one of the defining moments of the movie, and 2023 in general, was her Barbie monologue about what it means to be a woman. Now the non-profit organization Poderistas invited a group of Latina actresses to recite that Barbie monologue, and in light of Ferrera’s nomination, the words hit even harder.
“It is literally impossible to be a woman…” the monologue starts, as the recognizable face of Xochitl Gomez gives way to Lisa Vidal and then to many other familiar faces that switch off as they recite the entire monologue – sometimes repeating the same line over and over for emphasis.
The Latinas in the video include actresses Angelique Cabral, Constance Marie, Diana-Maria Riva, Gina Torres, Jaina Lee Ortiz, Jessica Marie Garcia, Julissa Calderon, Lisa Vidal, and Xochitl Gomez.
Ferrera’s monologue comes at the defining moment in the movie, and the words have struck a nerve with women – and men – worldwide. The monologue went viral after Barbie was released, and Ferrera became a household name thanks to it in a way she hadn’t been even during her Ugly Betty or The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants days.
Poderistas is a nonprofit organization created by and for Latinas that looks to celebrate Latina culture and amplify Latina voices. It was founded by Alexandra Martinez-Kondracke, America Ferrera, Carmen Pérez-Jordan, Christy Haubegger, Elsa Marie Collins, Eva Longoria, Jess Morales Rocketto, Mónica Ramírez, Olga Segura, and Stephanie Valencia in August 2020.
Watch the full monologue with America Ferrera from Barbie below.