A girl’s hands have an image of its own and are able to express themselves through colors and accessories just like any outfit. Dressing your fingertips in colorful nail polishes has taken a twist from the average French Manicure every lady was sporting a few years ago. Stickers, rhinestones, stripes, hearts, polka dots, and a [...]

Nowadays, more and more beauty products include natural ingredients that can be found right in your kitchen. Instead of spending on expensive treatments, revive your skin using these age old “mascarilla” (facial mask) recipes. Quenching Agua-cate Mask for Dry Skin Vitamin E in honey helps sooth and heal dry skin. At the same time, the [...]

As a teenager with Hispanic roots, Victoria Banuelas has experienced first-hand the physical demands of a Hispanic female. Banuelas is a high school junior who feels that while in El Paso her “culture” focuses on the importance of being “religious and educated”, but soon found “that experience opened [her] eyes to reality” and that she [...]

This holiday don’t worry about spending loads of money for your wintery look. You will be the talk of the town with these simple pieces. Need an outfit for your friend’s party? Grab some strappy heels, add a Fab Metallic top and pair it with the earrings and the shrug. Cowl Neck Empire Tunic: $12.50Available [...]

Have you been thinking of new ways to change your wardrobe? Are you bored with the current fashions in your hometown? Do you want to stand out from the crowd? Look to our hermanas abroad for inspiration. From Tokyo to Paris to Latin America, and back to the U.S., look around the globe to get [...]

When María Eugenia Bermudez went shopping for makeup, she always felt like something was missing – colors for her complexion. Wanting to address the absence of makeup products specifically catering to the unique needs and rich skin tones of Latinas, María Eugenia Bermudez decided to change that. It was in May of 2008, that Bermudez [...]

Finding that perfect, stylish outfit to wear out with friends or family can be difficult to do on a budget. One of the best ways to look trendy and cute for less this summer is shopping at a thrift store, such as Buffalo Exchange, Savers or Goodwill. Buffalo Exchange, a chain thrift store, offers the [...]

Elida Rivera* watched her middle school daughter lose 50 pounds in less than five months. She was shocked to discover that her daughter had an eating disorder. This is often not a subject talked about in Latino families, but it is affecting a growing number of Latinitas. Some Latinitas are taking drastic measures to loose [...]

Need a new shirt? Try swapping instead of shopping. Clothing swaps are a fun way to get rid of the old clothes that you don’t wear anymore and to get new clothes for free. There is a saying that goes: “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure”. Well, the clothes that you don’t like anymore [...]

Growing up was somewhat difficult for Stephanie Gatica. As an individual facing vitiligo, a skin condition which makes certain areas of the skin color different from the rest, she encountered teasing, stares and rude comments. As she grew older, however, she soon learned how to tackle these challenges and to accept herself as well. The [...]

Healthy foods often get a bad rap in a world filled with diet fads, endless salty and sweet snack foods, and a media that says it’s “okay” to be curvy but better to be thin with an endless supply of enticing snack products. These contradictory messages and food influences are especially dangerous for Latinas. The [...]

By Olga Ochoa & Laura Werthman If there was a contest for best body would it be Sofia Vergara’s bodacious behind, Selena Gomez’s girl next door look, or the tiny Eva Longoria? How do you think these women see themselves, and how much pressure might they get from the media to alter, sculpt or color [...]

You are never too young to make a difference. Take it from Julia Bluhm, 14-year-old blogger and inspiration for the 2012 Keep It Real Challenge.  Fed up with the digitally enhanced and altered photos in magazines, Julia decided to start a petition on Change.org and partner with the nonprofit SparkSummit.com to convince popular teen magazine, Seventeen, [...]

With a busy schedule many girls think that means there’s no time for healthy eating.  Latinitas share helpful tips to eating healthy snacks. Many high school students like 17 year old Rosie Martinez, find little to no time to eat or snack healthy. “I am always busy, class after class and even after school so whatever [...]

You may have felt pressured or may feel pressured into trying drugs someday, but why? According to drugfree.org teens do drugs, “for a variety of reasons. To party and get high, in some cases, but also to “manage” or “regulate” their lives.” Drugs may seem like an “easy” escape from life, but in they are [...]

Latinitas readers share their tips to destress. Tip 1: Listen to Music “Music is love. Every song has a meaning that you can relate to at any time or how you feel. Music is a big part of my releasing stress.”-Daisy Fuentes. “I usually listen to music to calm me down.  I like music because [...]

Over the years, Latinas in the media and the presence of a stronger Latina voice in the United States have influenced the ideal body image of the Latina, or what is thought to be the ideal. Before actresses like J. Lo and Salma Hayek, Latinas were virtually off the map. However, they have been and [...]

We have all been through a time when we had an awful pimple or pimples that just wouldn’t go away. Acne can be embarrassing and here are a few simple tips that could help get rid of unwanted blemishes. Tip 1: Drink Water Drinking water is incredibly good for your body overall. This may sound [...]

Like many other Hispanic families, my family has its battle with diabetes. My mother was the first to be diagnosed. Her diabetes was set off by her first pregnancy. It later developed into a permanent condition. Afterward, my uncle and my maternal grandmother where diagnosed with diabetes. A few years ago my paternal grandmother was [...]

For years it was considered a disease of white, middle-class women.  Society considered Latina women “culturally immune” to anorexia nervosa, but with more and more Latinas adapting to the standards of United States culture, this is no longer the case. Anorexia nervosa, more simply known as anorexia, is a psychological disorder characterized by a pathological [...]

Writing should be super fancy, long, and sound as if you’re a  academic all-star, right? Wrong! Writing has come a long way since Ernest Hemingway’s times. Writing is a great way of expressing yourself, unrestricted and free, and can be something very fun and entertaining to do. In fact many creative writers, such as Sandra [...]

By Areli Gonzalez & Jasmine Villa In recent years, there has been an influx of Latina women in the workforce. Women have been gaining momentum as successful entrepreneurs in the business field and opening paths for the next generation of future business leaders. If you dream big and work hard, you’ll be part of the [...]

Friendships are often complicated and can end up in sticky situations where people get hurt. There are certain guidelines than can damage your relationship. Here are 5 friendship mistakes you should avoid : 1.) Using toxic words: Verbal abuse entails, yelling, using profane language or belittling others. When you are verbally abusive to someone, you are damaging your [...]

It’s that time of year again. You are out of school, your parents and siblings are driving you crazy, and its 100 degrees outside! Yes summertime is here, but that doesn’t mean you have to suffer from bad case of summer boredom. Summer is a great time to get active, build your resume, gain some [...]

Choosing a career is not easy. Starting to explore your career options early will give you a headstart in preparing for future success in your field. The first step in exploring career fields is to take a calming breath and reassure yourself that you will find a career that is a good fit for you. [...]

My hero is MY DAD. He is the most unselfish person I know The one who lets me be selfish The one who listens to me The one who never buys for himself because he thinks of his daughter and kids first The one who has no favorite dish because he likes all The one [...]

ELIZABETH My hero is MY DAD. He is the most unselfish person I know The one who lets me be selfish The one who listens to me The one who never buys for himself because he thinks of his daughter and kids first The one who has no favorite dish because he likes all The [...]

With spring rapidly approaching, many high schools are preparing to have the perfect prom night that is, probably, as important as getting a good grade on that math test next Friday. It takes some planning but achieving a great and fun prom night is possible. Here are some tips in order to prepare for prom. [...]

For many young people, it seems hard to picture yourself as a mentor. Being idolize by children and teenagers can be an eye opener to the role model and at the same time a little sense of pride. A pride that can make you feel important and can allow you to say “Yeah…I changed someone’s [...]

Sisters, Strangers and Starting Over marvelously continues Belinda Acosta’s Quinceanera Club series following the debut her first published novel: Damas, Dramas and Ana Ruiz. Sisters is told in third person and adequately depicts the life of an average Mexican American family. Acosta invites us into Beatriz Milligan’s “casa” with detailed accounts of place, people and [...]

Have you been thinking of new ways to change your wardrobe? Are you bored with the current fashions in your hometown? Do you want to stand out from the crowd? Look to our hermanas abroad for inspiration. From Tokyo to Paris to Latin America, and back to the U.S., look around the globe to get [...]

Gap is a store for people who care about how they look. They give people ideas on what would look good. The clothes are pretty fashionable clothes for all people. The Gap website has great security so even if someone robs a Gap, your card I.D number is still safe. They also have a Privacy [...]

Thinking about your future and what comes after you finish high school can be a stressful step in your life. Many girls feel a little confused and might even feel overwhelmed with information the college application process.  There are no hidden college ready secrets, but the key to getting ready for college is to start [...]

As the freedom of the summer comes to an end to welcome the new school year, students go back to their normal routines of school, homework, projects, presentations, quizzes, and tests. All the stress comes back and our life focuses on school. Many students spend their time going to school, then going home, eating, relaxing, [...]

If you are anticipating stepping into the halls of a high school for the first time this fall, there is always something to be learned when it comes to being prepared for the challenges of high school. Here are a few tips to keep you ahead of the game! Eat Breakfast! -Starting the day without [...]

Careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) are booming and on the rise, with an estimated increase of 20.5 million jobs between 2010 and 2020. While we hear a lot of news about the poor state of our economy  and the job market, STEM fields offer that glimmer of hope for a brighter future [...]

What are the secrets to school success?  These Latinitas share their top tips to help you move to the top of the class. Tip 1: Be Confident A key to academic success is being confident. It helps you feel comfortable to work in team, to make presentations in front of the class and to approach [...]

Latinitas talk to college admission officers about how to start preparing for college and a successful future. Why do you think college is important? “It teaches you how to think. You don’t learn everything in college, but you learn how to find answers for the rest of your life. Also, you learn to live with [...]

Tap, tap, tap. The pencil in your hand keeps hitting the desk. Your eyes wander around the room. You look at the clock. Tick, tick, tick. You look at your classmates. Scribble, scribble, scribble. They write on the paper in front of them. You look down at your paper. It is a test and you [...]

“Those sweaters make her look like a homeschooler.” To others, this snide comment taken from the popular FOX show Glee is just one of many quick, witty jibes that make the show so entertaining. But to me, watching from my living room with homework piled on my lap, it was just another reason I valued [...]

High school is an important time for your educational career. These four years are when you meet friends that can either help you succeed or bring you down. During this time, you may want to only spend time with your friends and forget about school, but high school is not the time to do that. [...]

Most college bound students hear about college through teachers, counselors or parents. They usually say things like, “You have to study very hard; no one is going to remind you about an exam,” or “You pay a lot of money for a class, so you better go,” or the favorite, “They’re not going to baby [...]

Staying in the loop of things has become as easy as logging onto Facebook. There, you can find out what your friends from school are up to and what’s on their mind. Nowadays, networking sites like Facebook serve as our main source of our information and communication. Through the power of the Internet, people can [...]

1) Get on the level of your subject When photographing someone smaller than you (ex: pets, children, fruit bowls), get down on your subjects’ level. This creates a more personal feel in the photos. Also, it will give the photo dimension and life as the photo will be on the same eye level as the [...]

As technology becomes more closely tied to our daily lives, a growing problem for young drivers is using gadgets while behind the wheel. Cellphone texting is distracting and endangering the lives of its users. A group being seriously affected is teenage drivers who despite being new to driving are risking it all to send that [...]

In today’s wireless world, many teens cannot live without being connected. Cell phones are fast becoming the portal from just simply staying in touch to managing entire social lives.  There’s a plan for everyone, yes even chicas who have to have all the latest chisme. If you are like most teens, you probably have a [...]

Do you think you know it all when it comes to cyber safety? Take the net safety quiz and test your knowledge. 1. It is okay to give your personal information (real name, age, address, phone number) to friends over the web. A. True Incorrect B. False Correct No matter how well you think you [...]