Laysha Macedo, Author at HipLatina

My Señora Era: Cooking Childhood Comfort Foods Improved My Mental Health

Laysha MacedoAugust 31, 2022August 31, 2022

by Laysha MacedoAugust 31, 2022August 31, 2022041261

During the second half of my third year of college, my mental health was at its lowest. My anxiety and depressed moods came and went too often that I was concerned as to why it was happening. I had experienced...

Culture

How ‘Selena’ and ‘Real Women Have Curves’ Made Me Feel Seen

Laysha MacedoApril 14, 2022April 14, 2022

by Laysha MacedoApril 14, 2022April 14, 202203962

To say that films have formed an important part of my life is an understatement. The movies I grew up watching were vehicles through which I navigated and made sense of the world around me. They have made lasting impressions...

Culture

What it’s Like Existing as a Plus-Size Body in a Latinx Family

Laysha MacedoMarch 30, 2022March 31, 2022

by Laysha MacedoMarch 30, 2022March 31, 2022021834

When it comes to my perception of body, I learned early on that being “gorda” is perceived as a bad thing in our culture. At family functions, the women and men in my family would talk in circles separately and...

News and Entertainment

Maddy Perez: It Girl on ‘Euphoria’ and More than a Latina Stereotype

Laysha MacedoFebruary 15, 2022February 16, 2022

by Laysha MacedoFebruary 15, 2022February 16, 2022016941

Warning: Spoilers ahead if you’re not caught up Latinas in television have been represented in numerous ways, some stereotypical, some barely visible, and some completely whitewashed. Recently, a Netflix show created by Neil Patrick Harris faced backlash for their stereotypical...

Culture Family

Mal Hija: The Strain of Not Meeting My Mom’s Expectations

Laysha MacedoFebruary 8, 2022February 9, 2022

by Laysha MacedoFebruary 8, 2022February 9, 20220541

After being sent back home from school due to the COVID-19 pandemic , I once again spent a lot of time with my family. During that time, coupled with many gaps of time spent alone in my room, I had...

Culture News and Entertainment

Acclaimed Latinx Short Films You Need to Watch

Laysha MacedoJanuary 4, 2022January 14, 2022

by Laysha MacedoJanuary 4, 2022January 14, 2022012403

The work of Latinx creatives in Hollywood is worth celebrating year-round and here at HipLatina, we are highlighting some short films that center narratives of the Latinx community. As we’ve seen a rise in Latinx representation in mainstream media with...

News and Entertainment

“Real Women Have Curves” is Headed to Broadway

Laysha MacedoDecember 10, 2021

by Laysha MacedoDecember 10, 202108029

America Ferrera was just 17 when she filmed the now iconic film Real Women Have Curves (2002) and the powerful feel continues to resonate with viewers decades later. The groundbreaking movie made history in 2019 when it was added to...

Culture

Giving Tuesday: 11 Latinx Organizations to Support

Laysha MacedoNovember 30, 2021

by Laysha MacedoNovember 30, 20210246213

Today is Giving Tuesday and we are highlighting organizations working to address issues affecting the Latinx community and uplifting our stories. From the Alejandre Foundation (sister to Latinx Therapy) destigmatizing mental health to Justice for Migrant Women supporting migrant women,...

Culture Lifestyle

11 Latinas Using Their Platforms to Empower Through Education

Laysha MacedoNovember 24, 2021November 24, 2021

by Laysha MacedoNovember 24, 2021November 24, 2021015269

Academia is a difficult one to breakthrough especially as a woman and person of color, especially when it comes to Predominantly White Institutes (PWIs). According to a report from the Pew Research Center, Latinx adults are less likely to earn...

Culture

Melissa Lozada-Oliva’s ‘Dreaming of You’ Explores Selena Nostalgia, Idolatry and Latinidad

Laysha MacedoOctober 26, 2021October 27, 2021

by Laysha MacedoOctober 26, 2021October 27, 202104461

Poet and writer Melissa Lozada-Oliva is an unstoppable force within the poetry world. Throughout her career, her poetry has captured intimate, yet relatable experiences centered around her Latina identity, most notably her poetry chapbook, peluda. The Guatelombian (Guatemalan-Colombian) poet went...

Culture

Latinx, Latine, Hispanic, Latino/a: What Do We Call Ourselves?

Laysha MacedoOctober 13, 2021October 13, 2021

by Laysha MacedoOctober 13, 2021October 13, 2021011026

Scrolling through the #Latinx tag on Tiktok you’ll find a mix of your everyday relatable content such as “Hispanics Be Like” or plenty of educational videos highlighting topics important to the community like immigration and Indigenous history. In the midst...

Culture

18 Must-Read Books By Latinxs About Latinidad

Laysha MacedoOctober 1, 2021April 20, 2022

by Laysha MacedoOctober 1, 2021April 20, 20220419

Our history may not often be taught in schools but there are countless books dedicated to telling our stories and for Latinx Heritage Month (but really all year long) we want to honor those stories. We at HipLatina love to...