While many of us turned to women’s magazines to help us navigate difficult teen years, the truth is, they didn’t always represent us. To this day, the journalism industry continues being overwhelmingly white, and even with niche publications popping up, many people are still completely left out. For Afro-Latinas – often deemed as either not Latina enough, not black enough, or both – it’s hard to find a space that recognizes and celebrates all of their identities. Thankfully, with the rise of of blogs, vlogs, and social media in the last decade or so, many women have stepped up to fill this void. Today, young Afro-Latinas – who likely won’t see women who like them on TV or in magazines – can find role models online.
But in case you don’t know where to look, here are five Afro-Latina bloggers who will inspire you:
1
Monica Veloz
Monica Veloz – aka MonicaStyleMuse – is a beauty and lifestyle blogger with nearly 200,000 followers. In between videos of her Rihanna-inspired makeup tutorials, reviews of Kim Kardashian’s KKW Beauty, and comparisons between expensive and inexpensive products, Monica is also posting videos about Dominican slang, how to dance bachata, and what it’s like to navigate life as an Afro-Latina.
One of her most poignant videos came in July 2015. Titled “I Am Too Dark to Be Dominican,” Veloz broke down the comments she received after she participated in the Latina Tag. Some told her she should label herself as Afro Latina and not Latina. Understandably this upset because she completely embraces her Afro-Latinidad and also has a right to call herself Latina. In the video, she explained how she’s unfairly had to defend herself and who she is her entire life. It’s a powerful and honest video in the midst of her usually more lighthearted content.
Check out her vlog here.
2
Melissa Burgos
As a child, all Melissa Burgos wanted was straight hair that didn’t make her stand out. “One day at home, I was caught dancing in front of a full-length mirror with a bedsheet wrapped around my head (like a towel) with a scrunchie holding the top,” she said, according to Xo Jane. “While I was playing, I imagined that the sheet was a long, straight ponytail – the kind of hair that I wanted, but I knew I would never have in real life. When my family saw me, everyone laughed. I wondered: What was so funny? I felt beautiful with the bed sheet on.”
A few years later, a teacher persuaded her to get a relaxer, so by age 13, she was putting harsh chemicals in her hair. It wasn’t until she saw Mel B – aka Scary Spice – proudly rocking her curls that she decided to go natural. Her newfound confidence even motivated her to stand up to a bully.
Now years later, Melissa Burgos is inspiring others with her blog, Rock Yo Rizos. She started off gaining a following on Instagram and when she realized that people were shocked to learn that she was Puerto Rican, she knew it was something she wanted to further explore in a blog. “[The fact that I’m] Latina shocked a lot of people, so I felt like it was a great platform to create a discussion and awareness that we Latinos wear our hair in braids, dreadlocks, and, of course, afros,” the Navy veteran told Refinery 29.
Check out her blog here.
3
Iris Beilin
Panamanian makeup artist Iris Beilin’s YouTube channel is a great place to learn about the best $3 concealer, a quick, everyday makeup routine, and how Khloe Kardashian’s jeans measure up. Her effervescent personality alone makes her videos worth watching, but every once in a while she also talks about more serious topics. A few years ago, for example, she frankly talked about depression and bullying.
Check out her vlog here.
4
Carolina Contreras
Carolina Contreras, aka Miss Rizos, is well-known for starting one of the first natural hair salons in the Dominican Republic. She has worked to encourage Dominicans to reject Eurocentric beauty ideals and to embrace their pajóns.
“I think it’s a historical thing and it started with media,” Miss Rizos told Remezcla. “It’s normal for black people and black Latinos to desire to be more Eurocentric, as these are the people who hold the power in our communities. When people relax their hair or bleach it, they do it because they want to be closer to the people who hold the power. The beauty standard that we constantly see in Dominican television and magazine says that the straighter your hair, the better it is. If you look at all the families that hold political power, they don’t look like me, so you do things to resemble them more.”
On her YouTube channel, the perpetually busy Contreras continues to empower women, but also includes videos about her accomplishments, milestones, and updates on her life.
Check out her vlog here.
5
Alba Ramos
Alba Ramos, aka SunKissAlba, is a beauty blogger and curly hair expert originally from the Dominican Republic. She started her YouTube channel seven years ago and has amassed an audience of nearly one million since then. Her vlog started off with just beauty, but over the years, it’s evolved to include other facets of her life, including her son’s autism, fitness, and her marriage.
Check out her vlog here.