Ana, where did you grow up and
where do you live now?
I grew
up in Miami and moved to LA when I was 19.
Being
a Latina in Hollywood, what are some thing's you do when you get home sick?
My best
friend has a huge, loud, tight-knit Mexican family, so when I need a dose of
Latin culture I go stay with her for a few days. There’s also my favorite Cuban
restaurant in Hollywood, Floridita, that becomes a salsa club on certain
nights. They have Christmas lights up year-round, amazing live music, perfect mojitos,
and everyone knows each other- going there feels like going home.
You
sing and act, which do you prefer?
They’re
so different! Singing came first, and acting came along later. My dream was to
do musical theatre on Broadway, until my first time on set. Then film and TV
became the focus. Being a working actress is very fulfilling because it’s such
a challenge for me. My voice was actually kind of a secret until I did RENT in
Hollywood, so singing as part of my career only crept up on me recently.
What
are some of your beauty secrets?
When
not on set, I’m painfully unglamorous. I have an obsession with chap stick and use
a $3 moisturizer with SPF 15 every day. Hair is key in my opinion, because with
make-up I’m the “less-is-more” type. Benefit’s Bene-tint is my go to product
for a natural flush, and I use a water-based Chanel foundation because it’s so
light. When I do go for a more dramatic look, it’s a big contrast and takes
people by surprise. Lately I love playing up my eyes. Most importantly- I’m
constantly drinking water.
Who
would you say inspires your style?
That’s
always evolving. I do love Miranda Kerr’s polished street style. On the rare
occasion that she’s actually dressed.
What
beauty secrets have you learned from the women in your family?
Among
many things, I associate my mother with exquisite perfume. My dad travels and
brings her fragrances from all over the world, so my mom has an amazing
collection. She’s mastered the art of having different scents for different occasions-
which I do now. She also taught me to never fall asleep with make-up on.
You are
about to be the artist behind the Foundation for Human Rights in Cuba (FHRC). How
did you get involved, and how can other people help?
The
FHRC is an amazing group of people striving to promote the long-awaited
transition toward a free and democratic Cuba. Being half Cuban, I was approached
with the offer to sing for their upcoming campaign, which is all about getting
information to those who need it most on the island and connecting Cuba to the
rest of the world. The writing is in development now, and will be released with
a viral video exposing the reality of life in Cuba. I’m passionate about the
cause and honored to be a part of it! www.fhrcuba.org
You
act as the “face” of The Arthritis Foundation in Los Angeles. How did you get
involved with them and how has arthritis impacted your life?
I’ve
been living with arthritis since I was 7 years old, so the Arthritis Foundation
has been in my life for a while. Raising arthritis awareness is my main concern
since it’s the leading cause of disability and an invisible disease. I try to
emphasize that it affects over 300,000 kids just in the United States. There
are a lot of negative connotations when it comes to living with a disability,
so I’ve made it my personal mission to contest that and hopefully inspire
others to do so as well. www.arthritis.org
What
do you feel is your role in young Hollywood?
There’s
definitely a responsibility I feel towards making an impact. I’m really
grateful to have a career that I love, and I think my role right now is to keep
my integrity and not become just another face in the crowd. There is so much
talent and so much potential in young Hollywood these days- it’s all a matter
of how you use it.
You
come from a large family. What is one of your favorite memories growing up in
Miami?
I’m the
second of four kids, so there was never a dull moment in our house. My favorite
memories are when we rented condos or giant suites every summer. Cousins would
fly in from out of town, and we’d stock up at Publix to live at the beach for a
week. I loved going to dinner or the movies on Lincoln Road while tired and
burned after a long day in the sun. Those mini-vacations were amazing, and we
didn’t even really leave home. Plus “Grease” was always on VH1 those summers.
We
want to keep our eyes out for you, what are you currently working on?
I just
guest-starred on season 4 of “Rizzoli & Isles” which premieres June 25 on
TNT. This month I’ll be in the Dominican Republic for the FHRC campaign shoot. I’m
also working on a lot of music attached to an upcoming series about Miami,
which is crazy exciting but still completely under-wraps. The most thrilling part
of this industry is having tons going on at once while not knowing what comes
next.
What is your go-to item in your closet?
I have
a pair of low chunky-heeled black boots that go with anything, and I can always
rock a denim button-down shirt. Those are my “saca-apuro” clothes.
What
is one of your favorite things about shopping at Mina Miami Beach?
Anyone
who’s ever met the Minagorri girls knows they has fun, flawless taste. That
standard is what you can expect from shopping at Mina, which means you’re
guaranteed high quality. Sometimes I get impatient fishing through clothing
racks for must-have pieces. Mina is great because it’s intimate and you can
walk in confident that you’ll find what you’re looking for.
What advice would you give to young girls that want to follow in your footsteps?
There
is no formula for success. The main thing is to believe in what you’re doing
and enjoy it.
Leave
us with your favorite quote.
“Do what
you feel, feel what you do.”