Blog Posts by MadeInSpanglish

From old-guard designers to cutting-edge newbies, Latino fashion said presente at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York City, showing a world of exciting new options for the 2013 Summer/Spring season.

Life changed completely for Jessica Alba and husband, Cash Warren, when daughters Honor and Haven entered their lives. See how the busy actress is enjoying life to the fullest with her two little girls.

Some traveled; some worked, but they all seemed to have had a great time. Find out what your favorite Latin celebrities did over their summer vacation.

Michelle RodriguezWhen it comes to her Latin roots, Michelle Rodriguez knows exactly what she likes and what she doesn't like. To stay connected to her cultural background, the actress of Dominican and Puerto Rican heritage enjoys listening to artists from the 40's like Los Panchos, Celia Cruz and Perez Prado, as well as making the occasional trip to Latin America. But Rodriguez admits that she's been closed off from her own culture thanks to one thing: machismo.

"I'm such an independent woman; I don't match with the mentality of the [different Hispanic] cultures," says Rodriguez of the misogynistic reputation that traditionally identifies Latinos. Nevertheless, she tells Shine Latina she plans on dedicating the next few years to exploring her heritage. "There are so many beautiful things about the various cultures," says Rodriguez.

Watch Rodriguez speak about her love/hate relationship with Latin culture:

The Latina, who is well-known for her strong female roles in action films, says

This Yahoo! original series will introduce you to success stories, to the public figures who have crossed cultures and languages to leave a mark in the Latin and US markets. In this episode, get to know Dania Ramirez, a former tomboy growing up in the Dominican Republic who has taken her energetic personality and sexy ambition to Hollywood where she's paving her own way to stardom.

Actress Dania RamirezShe's beautiful, talented, sexy and one of the entertainment industry's brightest stars. Her acting résumé includes roles on TV powerhouses like "Entourage", "Heroes" and "The Sopranos". However, this young Latina's journey to Hollywood began with a glimmer of ambition mixed with an exceptional dose of unconditional love.

Raised by her grandmother in the Dominican Republic, Ramirez knew she wanted something more out of life. "I wanted to do more. I wanted to reach the skies," says the actress. She was a tomboy who played with the neighborhood boys, liked to jump on rooftops and occasionally steal

This month's birthday celebrations include some of our favorite Latinas in entertainment, a Brit music sensation we lost last year and a trio of "bad boys". ¡Feliz cumpleaños to all!

Surprise your tailgating buddies by swapping the usual football fare with some Latin-inspired dishes. And, don't worry; we're bringing along suggestions for cerveza and music before the big game, too. Go team!

A tailgate with a Latin twistSporting events bring people together to support favorite athletes, cheer local teams, and especially, indulge in sports snacks. Whether it be enjoying a tailgate in the park or on the back of a pickup truck at the football stadium, check out these fun, Latin-influenced recipes to give your sports menu a twist. We've matched the regions of football teams with the Latin countries that most heavily influence (or relate to) their culture. Here's everything you'll need for the party: a menu, a beer selection and a music playlist to match. Game on.

Northern US & the Andean Region (Chile, Argentina and Peru)

Both these regions boast the marked influence of German immigrants in food culture and communities. This tailgate features spicy sausages cooled by an avocado soup with

If your skin has olive or dark undertones, you may not be getting the right facial treatment at the spa. Here's why.

Your cultural background may influence your spa experience.Sometimes, not all skin treatments are created equal. There may in fact be a need for special attention given to olive or warmer-colored complexions when it comes to spa skin care therapy.

According to spa and skin care specialist Linda Harding-Bond there is a link between darker skin tones and subpar treatments.

"An esthetician's education is always done from the European perspective. This limited training places professionals in a disadvantage from the get-go, so women with darker skin end up at the bottom level of the professional's learning curve," says Harding-Bond who believes women need to take charge when it comes to their skin by researching individual needs, spas before visiting and knowing which questions to ask.

VIDEO: Find out how to build the right skin care regimen

Panamanian spa client Arlene Pitterson found herself the unfortunate