Latinos continue to make us proud as they repesent our culture en la casa blanca!  President Obama and the First Lady are hosting a concert series called, "Performance at the White House: Fiesta Latina."  Ay, que rico! The program celebrates Hispanic heritage and includes performances by salsero Marc Anthony, Jimmy Smits, Gloria Estefan, José Feliciano, George Lopez, Thalia, Tito "El Bambino", our favorite bachateros Aventura, and the Chicano rock band Los Lobos. 

Henry Santos Jeter from Aventura tweeted a clip from their live rehearsal earlier. Looks like it's going to be an amazing show!

Latinos in the White House...WEPA!!! Go Obama, Go Obama! Dale 'pa 'bajo!

Photos via Getty Images

Shakira is set to guest star on an upcoming episode of Ugly Betty set to shoot in the Bahamas. Nice! So is she going to play someone else? Nope, la sexy Colombiana will star as herself!

Silvio Horta, the show's creator, has this to say:

"We're huge fans of Shakira. We had a very memorable moment in the third episode where Betty has a makeover that goes wrong and she struts down the street to 'Hips Don't Lie.' We've mentioned her several times over the course of the series and have always wanted to work with her. She's an enormous Latina icon, as is Betty, and we though it was a perfect fit."

We couldn't agree more!

Will you tune in to watch Shaki spice things up?

Photos Via Getty Images

America Ferrera graces the cover of the October issue of Latina magazine and this Betty looks anything but ugly!

America is looking classier than ever! La actriz cleared the air about a few things we've all been wondering about in her interview, and she even dished on her alleged feud with Lindsay Lohan!

"Of course they want to make us look like we fought like cats and dogs, because people are going to believe it. And it’s total BS. It’s not true. It does such a disservice to the image of young women."

America also talked about her continued portrayal of strong Latinas in her acting roles.

"It's not anything I've done consciously.  I'm just drawn to the characters and trying to make them more than one-dimensional."

Keep doing what you're doing, America!  Que vivan las Latinas!  Check out more of America's interview in this month's issue of Latina.  [Hissip.com]

Perhaps Selena Gomez's recent appointment to ambassador at UNICEF will finally make those trick-or-treat cash collection boxes chic on Halloween.

Gomez, who worked on the 2008 Trick-or-Treat Halloween Campaign for UNICEF, is the youngest ambassador selected by the United States Fund.  The Wizards of Waverly Place actress will leverage her fame and talent to raise money for children's causes abroad and educate others about following the UNICEF mission, to reduce the percent of preventable deaths in children.

About her appointment, the young Latina told the press:

I know we can achieve this because every moment, UNICEF is on the ground providing children with the lifesaving assistance needed to ensure zero [deaths] becomes a reality.

Selena's UNICEF work will sure teach this pretty young thing to take on a more low maintenace routine.  As her first act of duty, Gomez will visit Ghana, one of the countries holding the highest rate of mortality in children under five.  There, the Disney actriz will observe the sordid conditions in which West African children live, and help propose solutions on how to improve their quality of life.

Gomez isn't the only celebrity on the UNICEF roster. The actress-singer joins fellow ambassadors Joel Madden, Lucy Liu, Clay Aiken, Alyssa Milano and Sarah Jessica Parker in the good fight for los niños. [Unicef.org]

Photos via Getty Images

It looks like the outgoing Miss Universe, Dayana Mendoza of Venezuela, just can't wait to get out of her sash and into... un escándalo?

Nearly, but not quite.  Mendoza, who will pass su corona to the new Miss Universe on August 23rd, posed for a spicy spread in an upcoming issue of men's mag Maxim.  Although the beauty queen didn't go full frontal para la revista, she did pose topless, with her arms covering up any XXX body parts.

The move is unusual for a Miss Universe title holder still in the public eye, pero she did not break any rules.  Pageant officials like Donald Trump gave the Venezuelan beauty their blessing to publish las fotos.  This isn't the first time that the Caracas model has had a run-in with the pageant committee.  Early on in her reign it was discovered she had taken provocative photos for a jewelry ad when she was fifteen.  The photos were deemed passable and she held onto her title.

The president of the Miss Universe organization, Paula Shugart, was content with Dayana's choice to bare herself, saying that the pics contained “nothing salacious" and were "just beautiful."

Looks like Mendoza will keep her record clean, rather than taking on a tarnished rep like troublesome reinas of beauty pageant past Tara Conner and Carrie Prejean. [MSNBC.com]

In other good looking news, this year's roster of Latinas for the Miss Universe pageant is looking fierce!  Check a few of the contestants below, and scope out the complete line-up on MissUniverse.com to see who would get your vote!

Mayella Mena, El Salvador

Karla Carillo, Mexico

Michelle Rouillard, Columbia

Images via Maxim Magazine and MissUniverse.com

Last night Los Angeles' Kodak theater packed in 3,000 dance fans for the finale of Fox's fifth season of So You Think You Can Dance.  After whittling down the final four to the best of the flexible, jumping and spinning --  Brandon Bryant, Kayla Radomski, Jeanine Mason and Evan Kasprzak -- la ganadora was announced.  We were thrilled to see that Latina Jeanine Mason took home el premio SYTYCD -- 250K (where can we find some dance lessons asap?!)

We knew Jeanine, a Cuban-American, had it in the bag when she pulled out a spicy solo this past Wednesday linking her flair for modern dance a sus raíces Latinas.  Jeanine, a Miami native, danced to the sultry "Por Una Cabeza" by The Tango Project.  About her solo, the So You Think You Can Dance contestant said: I'm Latina myself; I love Latin music."

Talking about momentos picantes, there's buzz that Jeanine is dating her SYTYCD co-star Jason Glover.  After sharing a steamy (and unscripted) beso on stage after their modern dance routine, everyone had something to say!

Felicidades Jeanine!

Images via Getty and Fox

Struggling with how to spice up your wardrobe for back-to-school?  Save the brainstorming for your classes and let us show you el camino...

Karen Crawford, a Los Angeles ad exec raised in NYC's Spanish Harlem, has designed a line of stylish, statement-making and affordable (times are tough, güeys!) tees for Latinas.   With shirts bearing words como "Paz," "Amor," y "Mamacita," KC Los Angeles tiene una camiseta para todos, y una camiseta para cada causa.  Además, Crawford's work is dedicated to her mom; who doesn't love una hija leal?!

KC Los Angeles isn't just stylish, it's giving back to la comunidad.  Ten percent of sales proceeds from KC Los Angeles products are given to la fundación Para Los Niños, a family service organization that aims to better the lives of impoverished families in Los Angeles.

Which tee do we feel like wearing hoy?  Nos parece que esta es bastante adecuada, no? Now KC Los Angeles just needs to make a tee that says "Lo Hicimos! Gracias Sonia!"

Images via KC Los Angeles

After a thorough hearing process and week's wait, Sonia Sotomayor has been confirmed for the Supreme Court today. The Bronx-born Latina is the first Hispanic to sit on the Supreme Court, the third female justice in U.S. history and the second-youngest member of the court.

The "Yeas" had it today; the vote to confirm Sotomayor was 68 to 31. Nine republicans cast their vote in favor of the 55-year-old federal judge. The Democrats "continued to praise Sotomayor as a fair and impartial jurist with an extraordinary life story" whereas many Republicans were still convinced that Sotomayor's personal views and ethnic background would cause her to be biased in federal judgements.

Sotomayor's confirmation has already sparked celebration in the Hispanic community (you can hear the piñatas busting open).  About the historic moment, Senator Robert Menendez (D-New Jersey) said "This is America!" The President of the National Council of La Raza, Janet Murguia, also shared en la emoción del día: "I can't think of a bigger milestone for Hispanics in this country."  [CNN, USA Today]

Los sueños really do come true.  From hard knocks in the Bronx to being a leading lady on The Hill?  Nicely played, Sonia!

Ahora bien, what's left to say?  Grab la familia, la comida, el tequila y ¡Celebremos!

Image via Getty Images

If you're a film enthusiast in the tri-state area, you may have snuck into one of the many New York International Latino Film Festival screenings or VIP fiestas these past few days.  NYILFF, which ran from July 27th to August 2nd, showcases the finest and freshest Latino talent in filmmaking.  We were on the scene to witness plenty of highlights (the premiere of Calle 13's Sin Mapa South America documentary being one of them), pero estábamos enfocados más en la alfombra roja.

See which celebrity ensembles made the cut at NYILFF's red carpet, and which outfits were better relegated to the discount rack.

Glam Grand Slam: Model Natascha Bessez and actress Valerie Cruz of True Blood shined en vestidos vivos, pero la ganadora de este Fashion Face-Off is Benjamin Bratt's wife Talisa Soto y su trasero magnífico!

From L to R: Natascha Bessez, Talisa Soto, Valerie Cruz

Jump the line para más batallas de estilo!

Read more...

Noticias from the Hill...

Today the Senate Judiciary Committee voted to endorse Sonia Sotomayor as the first Hispanic Supreme Court Justice, prepping the Bronx native for a confirmation vote la semana próxima, a moment sure to go down in US and Latino history.

The panel voted 13 to 6 in FAVOR of Sonia.   Joining the Democratic voters backing Obama's appointment for the high court was Republican Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, who stated he was voting  "for a woman [he] would not have chosen," and that the addition of a Latina to the Supreme Court roster shows "America has changed for the better with her selection."

As expected, the Republican remainder on the panel voted against the 55-year-old Sotomayor.  The Republican lack of support may be linked to their claim that Sonia would rule with a impartial hand with regards to cases of race and gender, because of her sex and ethnic background.

Sotomayor has plainly stated that she would never let her personal experience cause bias in her rulings.  About the Puerto Rican Supreme Court nominee, Democratic Senator Pat Leahy from Vermont stated today:

She is a restrained, fair and impartial judge...There is not one example, let alone a pattern, of a ruling based on prejudice, bias or sympathy.

We look forward to the confirmation next week.  FELICIDADES SONIA and keep paving the way for Latinos en Los Estados Unidos!

[LA Times, Yahoo! News]