Génesis Rodríguez 'Glam Belleza Latina' Cover: 'El Puma' Daughter Opens Up About Crossover Success

She first got a taste of showbiz in 1994 as a dancer on "El Club de Los Tigritos," but it wasn't until ten years later that Génesis Rodríguez really discovered her passion for acting. For five years, the actress had leading roles in telenovelas, such as "Prisionera," "Dame Chocolate" and "Doña Bárbara." Suddenly, with a blink of an eye, Rodríguez becomes Hollywood's "it" girl, nabbing roles in television and film. So what does she owe her crossover success to?

The 28-year-old Miami-based starlet, who is daughter of renowned crooner Jose Luis "El Puma" Rodríguez, said it was her father's advice that motivated her to reach for the stars. "He believed that if you wanted to prove yourself as an actress, you had to prove it to your people first," she said to "Glam Belleza Latina" magazine. "He advised me to start in the Spanish market, so landing a Telemundo contract was huge. I grew up watching telenovelas, and I couldn't believe I was now a protagonist in one. I also loved movies, but in my household it was 'Sábado Gigante' and soap operas. I mean, I can't tell you how many times I've watched 'María la del Barrio.'"

Rodríguez, who is of Venezuelan and Cuban descent, has formed part of popular productions including the HBO series "Entourage" and the 2013 film "Hours" starring the late Paul Walker. "It's been wonderful to have started my career in the Spanish market. This, combined with being El Puma's daughter ---such an important name to Latinos--- gives me a voice in this industry," she said.

Aside opening up about her crossover career, the actress talked to "Glam Belleza Latina" about the beauty tips she receives from her mother Carolina Pérez ---a former Cuban model and also her new gig as a L'Oréal Paris brand ambassador. Check it out here.