These 5 Latina Badasses Are Killing It In the Marvel Cinematic Universe

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has a diverse cast of life-saving and impactful characters, and this representation spans into the Hispanic community.

Whether it’s healing the wounded, kicking butt or slaying in the looks department these superpowered Latinas get it done. Here are five Latina badasses who slay on screen in the MCU and off-screen in real life.

1. Lupita Nyong'o

Lupita Nyong'o stepped into the Marvel Cinematic Universe in "Black Panther" as Nakia, the butt-kicking, mission-oriented sleuth and love interest to King T’Challah. Nakia was born in Wakanda but the actress behind the character was actually born in Mexico City, Mexico. Nyong'o and her family left Mexico when she was around three-year-old and returned to Kenya. Her parents sent her back to Mexico at age 16 to attend Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México’s Learning Centre for Foreigners. To this day, she has dual citizenship with Kenya and Mexico fighting for their right to claim the talented actress as theirs.

2. Tessa Thompson

Serving as the ruler of New Asgard, Valkyrie, played by Tessa Thompson is a fighter and definite badass, swords and all who first made her way to the screen in "Thor: Ragnarok." Thompson was born in Los Angeles to an Afro-Panamanian father and half-Mexican half-American mother. In addition to increasing Latino representation, Thompson and her character are also increasing LGBTQ+ representation in the MCU. Thompson, who is bisexual, talked to Yahoo! Entertainment about the decision to also make her character Valkyrie bisexual. “We talked about it a lot, it was big topic of conversation,” said Thompson. “Because I think rightfully there’s this real want in audiences to see characters be very clearly queer or LGBTQIA+ inside these spaces. And I think it’s hugely important to have representation.”

3. Zoe Saldaña

Gamora is the green no-nonsense fighter and member of the Guardian of the Galaxy crew who hails from the planet Zen-Whoberi. In reality, the actress behind the alien was born in Passaic, New Jersey, raised in New York City and is of Dominican and Puerto Rican descent. When she was 9, her father passed away in a car crash and the family decided to move to the Dominican Republic. This is where she found her love for being an artist and performing. "My mother was trying to find ways to keep us busy," said Saldana to Time. "I was like, 'What the f---? I'm going to wear, like, a pink leotard?' But that saved my sanity. It really put me on this path of being an artist." She remained in the Dominican Republic until she moved back to New York City in her sophomore year of high school.

4. Salma Hayek

The “Eternals” leader and superhuman healer Ajak is a boss in her own right. Not only is she super strong and fast, but she is the only person who can communicate with the Eternals creators’ the Celestials, who pass judgement on the earth. This Latina badass was born in Coatzacoalcos, Mexico and her mother is of Spanish descent. She is also of Lebanese descent on her father’s side. She talked the challenges of balancing both ethnicities in Hollywood in an interview with Arab News. “You have to understand, I am Mexican-Arab in America,” said Hayek. “It’s a tough one. I’m not British. I’m not Spanish. I’m Mexican-Arab.”

5. Xochitl Gomez

The youngest and newest addition to the MCU on this list is the universe-jumping wise-cracking teen America Chavez played by Xochitl Gomez. She made her first appearance in “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” It took some time for her to get her footing considering that she was thrust into this superhero lifestyle. By the end, she takes full ownership of her ability to jump in between multiple universes. Gomez who is fully coming into her own as a young real-life teen was born in Los Angeles to parents of Mexican descent. Her first name translates to “flower” in the indigenous language of Nahuatl. This is a language that has been spoken in Mexico since the seventh century. In Aztec mythology, Xochiquetzal is the goddess of fertility, beauty, and love.