But Emmy honors for Latinas didn’t stop with the Puerto Rican actress. Selena Gomez and showrunner Issa López also broke entertainment barriers.

One of the night’s biggest surprises at the Emmys this year came when actress Liza Colón-Zayas secured the win for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for “The Bear.” Colón-Zayas plays the outspoken and talented sous chef, Tina Marrero, who relishes standing up for herself and the rest of the kitchen staff in the hit series “The Bear,” now in its 3rd season. If you’re unfamiliar with “The Bear,” it’s about a professionally-trained chef, Carmy (Jeremy Allen White, winning Best Actor in a Comedy Series this year), who comes back to revitalize his family’s restaurant after his brother passed away. Conflict arises when Carmy brings in new staff and attempts to work with the existing staff, often resulting in explosive situations that both invigorate and debilitate Carmy’s mental state.

Liza Colón-Zayas’ character (Tina) often bumps heads with Carmy. But she does so endearingly and authentically, and that’s why she was victorious against her equally talented nominees as she gushed about on the Emmy stage, who share the category: the incomparable Meryl Streep (“Only Murders in the Building”), Carole Burnett (“Palm Royale,”), Janelle James and Sheryl Lee Ralph (“Abbott Elementary”), and Hannah Einbinder (“Hacks”).

Emmy-winning Colón-Zayas began her entertainment career by writing, starring, and producing her one-woman off-Broadway show Sistah Supreme in 2000. She segued to television and had supporting roles in shows like “In Treatment” and Law & Order: SVU,” Her portrayal of Tina Marrero is Liza Colon-Zaya’s first Emmy Award nomination and win. With her humbled appreciation for the Emmy acknowledgment and tears of joy, she ended her speech with these parting words:

“To all the Latinas looking at me, keep believing and vote. Vote for your rights!”

Her sound advice couldn’t be more timely as far-Right extremists are looking to roll back reproductive freedoms, institute archaic education policies, and dismantle union worker protections.

*Did you know today is National Voter Registration Day? You can check if you’re registered to vote here.

Sidenote:

Other Latinas who made their mark at the 76th Annual Emmy Awards are Selena Gomez and showrunner Issa López. Gomez is the most Emmy-nominated Latina to date with a third production nomination for the mystery-comedy series “Only Murders in the Building,” receiving her first lead comedy actress nomination this year, becoming only the fourth Latina in history nominated in this category. Moving to the executive producer category, showrunner Issa López garnered three Emmy nominations for directing, writing, and producing the HBO/Max anthology series “True Detective: Night Country.”

While this year’s Emmys included more diversity (the number of people of color nominated increased to 30 of the 96 acting nominees), here’s hoping recognition of creative diversity in all Hollywood award shows will accelerate in coming years.