The recent increase in Latino representation onscreen is a sign that Hollywood is moving in the right direction, but there's still a lot of work left to do. Despite Emmy and Golden Globe wins for actors America Ferrera (Ugly Betty) and Gina Rodriguez (Jane the Virgin), there remains a dearth of roles for Latino and Latina leads.
In the 1990s, however, it was even rarer for Latino-Americans to see themselves on television or in movies. Popular entertainment during that time, including shows like Friends, Sex in the City, and Beverly Hills 90210, only told stories of white characters—despite being set in cities with large multicultural populations.
So, who did Latinos and Latinas growing up in the ‘90s relate to? We rounded up a list of 10 characters who added a little brown to whitewashed screens, and sent the message that our stories matter, too.