Best of 2025: 10 Rising Latina Stars Who Owned the Year

2025 saw unforgettable moments by Latinas in entertainment from Zoe Saldaña taking home an Oscar to Shakira’s Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour becoming the highest-grossing tour by a Latina ever. While we all know the achievements of these household names, it is also important to recognize Latinas whose stories are just getting started.

This year saw plenty of rising Latinas having their breakthrough moment, dropping albums, making history, or being the creative voices behind some of the most culturally resonant moments. From Nezza’s moving rendition of the national anthem in Spanish to Loren Aldarondo breakthrough as Puerto Rico’s next big star, we’ve compiled rising Latinas in entertainment who have made this year their own. Read along to learn more about these poderosas of 2025.

Florencia Cuenca

Mexico-born actress and singer Florencia Cuenca made history as the first Mexican immigrant to originate a role in a Broadway musical for her work on the musical adaptation of Real Women Have Curves. Cuenca initially moved to the U.S. for her honeymoon, but eventually she and her husband decided to take a leap of faith and stay. Inspired by the play by Chicana playwright Josefina López, which was also adapted into a film starring America Ferrera, the musical made its Broadway debut on April 1. Cuenca played the role of Estela Garcia, the eldest daughter of Carmen and sister to Ana. Her character oversees a textile factory where workers are overworked and underpaid, even as she navigates her own dreams and the harsh realities she faces.

Nezza

Dominican-Colombian singer Nezza made headlines this year after performing the national anthem in Spanish at Dodger Stadium despite allegedly being told not to do so. She showed tremendous bravery in her performance—taking a stand for immigrants as the threat of ongoing ICE raids in Los Angeles affected communities in the city and at large. She continued to show her support for the Latine immigrant community by releasing a studio version of “El Pendón Estrellado.” From her cover, the proceeds went to an LA-based children’s nonprofit, A Place Called Home, and immigrant rights organizations, including Esperanza Immigrant Rights Project. Earlier this year, she released her single “Classy” and just dropped a new one titled “Tasty.” We will see more of Nezza in 2026, as it was recently announced that a documentary about her Dodgers game performance will be headed to Sundance. The film titled La Tierra del Valor (The Home of the Brave) is directed by Cristina Costantini and will screen at the festival as part of its short film program.

Sophie Castillo

British Latina indie singer Sophie Castillo, who has Cuban-Colombian roots, started her career on TikTok and Instagram to gain visibility as an independent artist. In 2024 alone, she released her debut EP Venus, opened for Colombian reggaetonero J Balvin in London, and went on her first U.S. tour. Through her career, she has represented British Latinas and shown how Latin music transcends borders. This year, she released her second EP, Like A Star, a dreamy work centering divine femininity and the Latin musical influences she’s grown up with. Her bachata track, “Call Me By Your Name,” currently has nearly 5 million streams on Spotify.

Alejandra LaPilusa

Argentine and Peruvian-American stylist Alejandra LaPilusa was behind SZA’s Super Bowl Halftime Show look. The first-gen Latina stylist dressed the artist—who was a special guest at Kendrick Lamar’s show—in a red leather ensemble that included a jacket from the Los Angeles-based brand Born X Raised. The jacket had “CRYBABY” on the back and SZA’s album title, Lana, on the front.

Renell Medrano

Dominican-American photographer and director Renell Medrano made waves this year as the director behind Bad Bunny’s “NUEVAYoL” music video. The video, set in New York City, was an ode to immigrant life with themes of community and resilience. Medrano has never shied away from showcasing her culture. Her first solo exhibition, “Peluca” (2019), was a tribute to the Dominican salons from her youth. “NUEVAYoL”  wasn’t the first time Medrano showed her talent behind the camera. She has made a name for herself working with artists like Kendrick Lamar and Solange Knowles. In 2022, she was the creative behind the cover photo of Lamar’s Grammy-winning album Mr. Morale and the Big Steppers.

Loren Aldarondo

Lorén Aldarondo Torres is the lead vocalist of the Puerto Rican group Chuwi. Formed in 2019 by her two brothers and a family friend in Isabela, Puerto Rico, the group blends activism and Caribbean sound. Their music champions land protection and anti-gentrification on the island. Lorén’s career skyrocketed this year after their collaboration with Boricua superstar Bad Bunny on the track “WELTiTA” from his album DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS. Chuwi also appeared in every show of his historic residency in Puerto Rico, where Lorén performed “LO QUE LE PASÓ A HAWAii” solo. Their newfound success led Lorén to new opportunities, including becoming the face of Gabriela Berlingeri’s brand D29’s first swimwear collection and performing an NPR Tiny Desk Concert with Chuwi. They’re currently working on their debut album with their signature blend of bomba, plena, and salsa. More recently, the Puerto Rican band has continued their partnership with Benito as the official opening act for his DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS world tour.

Stephanie Nogueras

Another Latina who made waves at this year’s Super Bowl was actress Stephanie Nogueras. She made history as the first deaf Puerto Rican actress to perform American Sign Language (ASL) at the Super Bowl LIX. Nogueras performed for both the national anthem and “America the Beautiful.” The actress has been a strong advocate for the deaf and disabled community and made strides for inclusion on screen prior to her Super Bowl gig. She’s appeared in shows like Criminal Minds and Switched at Birth, and in films like Unfriended: Dark Web.

Jordan Chiles

This year, Olympic gymnast Jordan Chiles was on everybody’s radar for her stellar performance on season 34 of Dancing with the Stars. The 24-year-old athlete was partnered with dancer Ezra Sosa, who is of Argentine and Mexican descent. After weeks of bringing the heat to the dance floor, they made it all the way to the finale before ending the season in third place. In addition to her DWTS run, Chiles was also honored with a Barbie doll made in her likeness in honor of International Women’s Day. In 2024, Chiles made waves at the Paris Olympics, helping the U.S. earn its fourth overall Olympic team gold medal.

Isabel Castro

Mexican-American filmmaker Isabel Castro directed Selena Y Los Dinos, the latest documentary on Tejano music icon Selena Quintanilla. The documentary premiered as part of the U.S. Documentary competition at the Sundance Film Festival. The film tells the story of Selena through never-before-seen footage, including interviews with loved ones and home videos. Castro has brought immigrant and Latine stories to the screen many times before. Her directorial debut, about transgender asylum seekers, Crossing Over won a 2015 GLAAD Media Award. She is best known for directing the documentary Mija, which follows two daughters of undocumented immigrants as they navigate their careers in music and the pressure of being first-generation children of immigrants.

Keyla Monterroso Mejia

Actress Keyla Monterroso Mejia, of Mexican and Guatemalan roots, was named to Forbes’ 30 Under 30 in Hollywood & Entertainment. This major win comes after an incredible year for her, during which she appeared in five projects, from television to film. Monterroso Mejia had her breakout role on HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm in 2021. Since then, she’s starred in the sitcom Abbott Elementary, Netflix’s Freeridge, and more. In 2025 alone, the actress appeared in the comedy film One of Them Days, the Apple TV series Acapulco, the Emmy Award-winning series The Studio, the Prime Video film You’re Cordially Invited, and the sports comedy series Running Point. The 27-year-old actress has been everywhere in 2025, and we’re excited to see what’s next.