Todos Quieren Ser Latinos, Pero Les Falta Sazon
Bad Bunny's recent album, 'Un Verano Sin Ti,' has him on the top of the Billboard charts, among others, despite his songs being entirely Spanish. According to CNN, 13.5% of the US population speak Spanish, and another 18.7% are Latino. However, Bad Bunny's diversity in music has helped him gain a following among non-Spanish speakers. His versatility throughout his seven albums makes it impossible for him not to appeal to everyone's liking. However, Bad Bunny's music isn't the only part of Latino culture that has hit the mainstream.
Within music in general, so many more artists are becoming popular with North American audiences. Spaniard singer Rosalia has had her songs in Spanish go viral, like the infamous 'BIZCOCHITO.' Another singer who is making her way through is Colombian Kali Uchis, with songs like 'telepatia' and 'fue mejor' using both Spanish and English throughout.
TikTok has popularized many things that were predominantly deemed part of Latino culture that many Latinos have once been bullied over. Most notably, the clean girl aesthetic has girls with straight hair slicking it back with gel into buns and ponytails. While the trend is stylish and looks great on everyone, many forget the origin of it all. Many Latinas have wavy or curly hair, and the only thing that would tame our hair would be with our hair pulled back into a ponytail. The struggles of curls would be widespread throughout the community of Latinas with curls. Sam Santos, a Puerto Rican from New York, explains having curly hair as a blessing and a curse. "Dealing with a parent that doesn't have curly hair was difficult; she would relax my hair when I was younger…" she explained. Hair relaxers would chemically alter curls, making them easier to work with, but over time would severely damage your hair. Fernanda Mayorquin, a Honduran from Florida, explains how she feels about this now becoming a trend. She stated that she would be discriminated against simply because she didn't look like the other kids at her PWI.
Another 'trend' that's coming back is gold jewelry, especially if it's stacked. Like many other cultures, it is very common for Latinos to receive gold pieces from relatives or inherit them from their parents. Girls would rock their nameplates while the guys would humbly show off their chains. However, gold jewelry is now making its way as a part of fast fashion, and now everyone and their mom has some form of gold jewelry from what seems like Amazon. Remember who did it first, whether it's the gold hoops, nameplate necklaces, or Cuban links.
With New York Fashion Week just passing, another aspect of Latin American culture pops up in fashion: Catholicism. Rosaries, wall decor of Jesus, and crosses all over the house come to mind. This season, Brazilian Mirror Palais founder Marcelo Gaia released several pieces inspired by his heritage, paying homage to such simple yet delicate and beautiful pieces and where they originated from. Pieces included dresses with eyelets reminiscent of looks that many of our seamstress grandmothers would make for us.
While Gaia is a proud part of the Latino community, his new collection sparked a new trend on TikTok, as videos of white dresses, braids, rosaries, and crosses flooded the feed. His ode to the old-world styles and feminine pieces will soon be more prominent throughout the upcoming trends. As strange as it may sound, religious motifs are coming back into style.
Certain stereotypes about Latinos projected from other racial groups have made it hard for them to participate in things without fitting the stereotype. Uruguayan Agustina Lincz speaks on her troubles, "I can't wear hoops, a nameplate, or long nails without feeling like I'm being seen as the typical Hispanic girl, but when a white girl does it, it's cute. And you don't want to be labeled as 'that' Hispanic girl." So why can a white girl be passionate about something and be "empowering," but Latinas are then viewed as "spicy" or "feisty?" This is a prime example of fetishization, as they believe that "spicy Latinas" are hypersexual beings due to personality mixed with body type. Latinos should be able to participate in things like trends without having to hear the discourse of whether or not they fit into a specific category.
This Hispanic Heritage Month, remember where your fave trends and faves came from and who influenced them, as they were most likely Latinos. And don't forget to tell the DJ at the club to specifically play Bad Bunny's Un Verano Sin Ti.
Strike Out,
Emily Fiorini-Casamayouret
Emily Fiorini-Casamayouret is a Content Writer for Strike Magazine Boca. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys listening to sad music, doing some retail therapy, and eating pasta. You can reach her at emily.fiorini710@gmail.com