Did you know that actress Penelope Cruz is also Latina? This may sound absurd, but not if you’ve heard of the ARIA (American Recording Industry Association) chart. The ARIA is a sales-tracking system used by Nielsen to monitor sales of recorded music. It is based on reporting from record stores, online retailers, and other vendors that sell recorded music. As part of this survey, anyone who identifies as having South American ancestry can be officially designated as Latina even if they are not actually of Latin descent or do not speak Spanish. With so many people in the entertainment business being called “Latino” and “Latina” all the time, most people don’t know where these terms come from or what they really mean. Are there any clear definitions? Is it possible for someone to be both Latino and Latina at the same time? What about celebrities like Ariana Grande – are they considered Latino or Latina?
Is Ariana Grande Latina?
No, Ariana is of Italian descent, and her last name is Grande. She has Spanish ancestry in her family. The word ‘grande’ in Spanish means ‘big’ or ‘great’. So it’s a surname that came from her Italian lineage, and it’s not a Spanish word.
Why Ariana Grande Is Latina Why It Doesn’t Matter If She Isn’t?
1. She’s Proud of Her Roots
Being proud of one’s roots is something that all people should be able to relate to, regardless of their background. Being proud of where you are from is good for both your mental and physical health. It gives you something to look back on and be grateful for, while also providing you with a sense of belonging. When asked whether she is proud of her roots, Ariana said that she is very much so. She has also said that she loves the culture and that she feels very connected to her Latin American side through her mother’s family. This is a sign that she really is proud of her roots.
2. Latin Food Is Part of Her Culture
One of the things that people often associate with Latin cultures is great food. Latino dishes such as tacos, burritos, and quesadillas are staples in the diets of many people around the world. We’ve all heard the expression “you are what you eat” – so if someone is consuming Latino food, are they not technically Latino? Although this isn’t a definite indicator, the types of food that Ariana grew up eating are traditionally Latino dishes. She lived in Florida, which has a high Latino population, and therefore probably grew up with a lot of Latino food in her diet. This gives us another clue that she is Latino.
3. She Speaks Spanish
If you’re going to argue that Ariana Grande isn’t Latina because people who are Latino typically speak Spanish as a second language, you need to know that she speaks Spanish as a first language! This means that her mother is probably a Spanish speaker and has passed this on to Ariana. This means that she is fluent in Spanish and is able to speak it without a translation. This is significant because it means that she is fully bilingual and has been brought up speaking both languages. This tells us that she definitely has a Latin background and is therefore part of the Latino community.
4. She Admires Influential Latinas
Another sign that Grande is proud of her roots and that she is Latino is that she admires influential Latinas. She has said that she looks up to Selma Hayek, Jennifer Lopez, and Salma Hayek. All of these women are Latinos. Hayek is Mexican, Lopez is Puerto Rican, and Salma Hayek is Lebanese-Mexican. This is significant because if Grande admired non-Latinas for their work in the industry, she wouldn’t be mentioning her Latino heritage. This is an important indicator that Grande wants to be associated with the Latino community and that she wants to be known as a Latina.
5. The Latina Community Supports Her
The Latino community has been very accepting of Grande and her roots. This is because as soon as she came into the spotlight, she became a role model for many Latino girls. She has also been praised and accepted by many Latino figures because they can see that she is a positive role model. This means that the Latino community has welcomed Grande into the community and has supported her through the years when people have questioned whether she is Latina or not. This tells us that Grande feels a connection to the Latino community and that she is proud to be a part of it.
What Does Being Latino Mean?
- The word Latino is an abbreviation for “Latin-American”. It refers to people from countries in Central and South America, Spain, and the Caribbean region. Most people in the United States who are Latino (or identify as Latino) have Mexican ancestry.
- Latinos are very diverse in terms of race, culture, and language. The majority of Latinos living in the U.S. speak Spanish. Although Latinos make up roughly 17% of the total U.S. population, they account for a disproportionately high percentage of the U.S. labor force. Being Latino simply means that one’s ancestors are from countries in Latin America, Spain, or the Caribbean.
- There is no official government definition of the word Latino. Latinos can be of any race and can come from any background. The only common element is that their ancestors came from this part of the world.
When Can You Be Both At The Same Time?
- Someone can only be both Latino and Latina at the same time if they are both of Latin American descent and also identify as being a member of the Latino community. For example, an American of Mexican heritage who identifies as a Latino and lives in the United States would be considered both Latino and Latina.
- In other words, it’s not possible for someone to be both Latino and Latina unless they are from Latin America, Spain, or the Caribbean. There are some rare cases where someone can be both Latino and Latina at the same time even though they aren’t of Latin American ancestry.
- For example, a person of Puerto Rican descent who lives in the United States and identifies as Latino could be considered both Latino and Latina. This is because Puerto Rico is considered to be a Latin American country.
What Determines Whether Someone Is Latino Or Latina?
- If you’re trying to decide whether someone is Latino or Latina, there are a few things that you can consider. First, you can ask them. This will work best if you know the person well enough to have a casual conversation about it.
- You could also look at where they were born and raised. If they were raised in a Latin American country, this would make them Latino. If they are from the United States or Spain, they would be Latina.
- You could also consider each person’s ancestry. If someone has Latin American ancestry, then they would be Latino. If they have ancestry from the United States or Spain, they would be Latina.
- You can find this information by doing a simple search online. You can also talk to the person and ask them what they think they are.
The Bottom Line
If you’ve ever wondered whether you can be both Latino and Latina, the short answer is yes – but only if you’re of Latin American ancestry. Being Latino and being Latina are two very different things, and there are only a few cases where someone can be both at the same time. For most people, it’s either one or the other – there’s no such thing as being both Latino and Latina simultaneously.
