Mexico charms the Oscars

Roma, starring Yolitza Aparicio and directed by Alfonso Cuarón

I’m normally into the Oscars for the dresses—my Hispanic mother was a seamstress and we watched the Oscars, noting every detail and sighing over the colorful designs…

And the dresses were beautiful, but I was surprised by what else I saw last night. The women wearing them were so different from the norm. Women of all colors and nationalities flooded the stage and filled the audience. Physically, these women looked suspiciously like real people—many of them lacked the thin, glamor-girl shape I was used to seeing on that magic night, and yet, they were so beautiful. Could it be the women were judged on their talent? And, need I say, one of the most beautiful was from Mexico and was a contender for Best Actress!

When I was a kid, we were lectured not to dream about success in Hollywood. We were not pretty enough. Not white enough. Not tall enough. Our knees were fat. And, get this: our gums showed when we smiled, making us unphotogenic. Last night boosted the morale and raised the hopes of thousands of little girls watching. Especially the short ones with fat knees and bad gums.

Roma, is directed by Alfonso Cuarón, who is also from Mexico, and is no stranger to the Oscars.