Cristela Alonzo receives a 2019 Latino Spirit Award

Cristela Alonzo, received the Latino Spirit Award for Achievement in Advocacy & Entertainment at the 18th Annual Latino Spirit Awards at the California State Capitol in Sacramento, California on Monday, May 6, 2019.  

Cristela Alonzo is the first Latina to create, produce, and star in her own Network TV sit-com, ‘Cristela’, which aired on ABC.  The semi-biographical show was based on her time living with her sister while also taking care of their mother.  Cristela proudly had an all-Latino primary cast, and hired numerous Latino writers for her show.  Cristela has also appeared on numerous TV shows and has been a recurring host on ABC’s ‘The View’.  In 2017, she released her first hour-long stand up special, ‘Lower Classy’ on Netflix as well as becoming the first Latina lead in a Disney/Pixar film with her breakout role as “Cruz Ramirez” in ‘Cars 3.’  In addition to her work in entertainment, Cristela has devoted a large part of her time to be a voice for Latinos, immigrants, the disenfranchised, and the underrepresented.  She frequently gives speeches, moderates panels, and helps raise awareness and money for numerous organizations and nonprofits.  This includes raising funds to sponsor Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients, supporting the Dolores Huerta Foundation, appearing on Soledad O’Brien’s panels for her ‘I Am Latino in America’ national awareness tour, and advocating for the Special Olympics. Cristela is currently writing a memoir about her life for Simon and Schuster.