Get to know Mary Jane Montoya, the Latin baby who recently became the new star of the Gerber

Generation campaign.

Entering their daughter, Mary Jane, into the 2012 Gerber Generation Photo Search was almost an afterthought for Latino parents Sara and Billy Montoya of Fresno, California. Thinking that their 8-month old daughter looked just like the baby in the Gerber logo, they went ahead and submitted her picture on the company's Facebook page just as the deadline was ending. To the Montoyas' great surprise, their beautiful baby was chosen as the new face of iconic Gerber last November, beating out over 308,000 photo entries.

"Like parents everywhere, we think our baby is cute, but to have this honor is something we'll cherish for forever," says Sara, who has also won $50,000 for her family in addition to having her daughter become a nationwide recognized baby. And despite the excitement of the moment, Mary Jane's parents are already thinking ahead. "It's going straight to he

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Abuela Rigo lived a life full of adventures and hardships. She loved and fought for what she believed in and for those she loved the most. Her stories growing up very rich (and then very poor) in Puerto Rico are the stuff of legends, and I'll try to share them- and her- with you. Welcome to The Abuela Chronicles.

"This is your home, so when you get ready to die, come back and die in your own bed!"

And with those words, Petra slammed the door behind her husband as he left, suitcase in hand.

It was over. Over when Petra found out that Pepe had a girlfriend in every town they had lived in and had set each one up with an apartment, car, driver and housekeeping staff. Over when Petra learned that the endless sacks of money her husband spilled onto the mahogany dining table were not the result of his work overseeing the tobacco fields, but the illegal gains of his long nights gambling and moonshine-making. And now, with the police after him and a pregnant lover demanding

him b

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By Liliana Moyano for Shine Latina

I always wonder why the most flavorful (and popular) dishes are the unhealthiest ones.There is something about eating fried food that satisfies not only the belly, but also brings happiness to the soul. In fact, even when I eat a light dinner at a sushi restaurant, I always end up ordering a roll filled with fried shrimp tempura. I began to analyze the situation and came to the conclusion that there is something special about "the crunchy" you get when you fry food.

A few days ago, I was talking with mi hermanita Angie, who is always finding ways to eat healthy. She's worried about her daughters- ages two and four- constantly asking for french fries and chicken tenders for lunch or dinner. Both girls eat fruits and vegetables without a problem, but they clearly love their fried favorites. So, Angie and I went on a mission: make a healthier version of chicken tenders that the kids would love as much as the fried ones. We tried different batte

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Clip-less curling irons are the latest innovation in hair technology. Learn how to get luxurious curls

with this hair tutorial!

By Charleen Gonzalez for Shine Latina

Traditional curling irons with clips can leave ugly kinks in your hair. Well, it's time to throw away your old iron, and try the new clip-less version that curls your hair in seconds and leaves it looking sultry. After trying Sultra's The Bombshell Cone Rod Curling Iron, I'm never going back to a clip-style curling wand. With this new product, you can create many different looks- from tight curls to loose waves. The nicest thing about The Bombshell is that it has little grips on the barrel which grab your hair making it easier to curl. The bonus? A special glove to avoid any burns while curling your locks.

How to curl your hair with a clip-less iron

Step 1:
Divide your hair into at least three sections- top, middle and bottom layer, and clip in place. Depending on the thickness of your hair, you might need to divide it

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A family rub recipe that will infuse great, Latin flavor into your holiday table.

I come from a long family line of meat-cooking greats: from my Tío Marcelo and his restaurant featuring a delicious Christmas fire-roasted pork, to my brother-in-law Brad who's an ace at cooking an authentic Puerto Rican Thanksgiving turkey. But no self-respecting Boricua will ever cook meat that has not been carefully and thoroughly seasoned beforehand. The whole idea of putting a "plain" turkey or a roast in an oven could send my family into gasps of horror. ¿A quién se le ocurre comer una carne sin adobar? (Or, who could even think of eating meat without seasoning it?)

Serve this amazing cilantro and plantain soup to begin your holiday dinner

So, with so many good cooks in the family, it becomes a bit hard to decide who has the better rub recipe. No one can argue, though, that my uncle Peter knows his stuff when it comes to pre-seasoning and cooking a great, holiday bird. I sat down to rack

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