Jenna Ortega celebrated her 21st birthday, and it had been an incredible journey. This year marked a seismic shift, with Ortega lighting up the silver screen in major films, becoming the face of global campaigns for heavyweights like Dior and Adidas. The Addams Family reboot also showered with nominations, including an Emmy and a Golden Globe. All in all, Ortega soared to the A-list, where the digital age’s unblinking gaze delivered viral memes and an army of adoring fans.

Even after reaching such great heights, Ortega once struggled with cultural identity. Her Latina heritage led her to contemplate dyeing her hair in a quest to transform into a Disney princess.

The transformation quest of Jenna Ortega

As one of six children born to parents of Mexican and Puerto Rican descent, Jenna Ortega proudly identifies as a Latina. Her journey in the entertainment world began at a tender age as a child actor. Reflecting on her early career, she candidly noted that her roles typically fell into two categories: portraying a younger version of a character or someone’s daughter. In her path to stardom, she faced a scarcity of leading Hispanic actors for whom she could play such roles.

The entertainment industry’s stringent beauty standards posed a challenge for Ortega, as she did not fit a particular mold. These pressures took a toll on her self-esteem, leading her to contemplate a drastic change. In a conversation with Harper’s Bazaar, Ortega confessed, “I wanted to dye my hair blonde so that I would look like Cinderella”. However, as time went on, she found the strength to embrace her authentic self, realizing that being true to who she was would ultimately make her a powerful role model.

Today, it is no surprise that Ortega proudly stands as a fiercely independent actress. Her Latina heritage not only defined her identity but also catapulted her into the spotlight when she attempted to connect with her fans by speaking Spanish to promote her show Wednesday.

Ortega’s journey of reconnecting through the Spanish

Ortega found herself in hot water within her own community. Back in 2022, a video of her grappling with Spanish during an interview went viral. It amassed over 10 million views on TikTok. In the clip, she faced difficulties while trying to promote Netflix’s Wednesday in Spanish. Moreover, it sparked a wave of criticism from fans. They began to scrutinize her Latina authenticity solely based on her language abilities.

Camila Cabello stood by Ortega’s side but found herself mired in similar criticisms. Ortega courageously unveiled her own journey. Further, revealing the relentless pressure she faced to assimilate and diminish her Spanish identity to blend in. The actress has charged forward, gracing the screen in the Scream franchise, poised to etch her name into the annals of record-making.

What do you think of this candid revelation by Ortega? Share your thoughts in the comments below.