Diksia.com - Eva Longoria is one of the most successful and influential Latina actresses in Hollywood. She rose to fame as Gabrielle Solis on the hit show Desperate Housewives, and has since starred in numerous films and TV shows, such as Flamin’ Hot, Dora and the Lost City of Gold, and Grand Hotel.
She is also a producer, director, activist, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, who supports causes such as education, immigration, women’s rights, and cancer research.
But behind her glamorous and confident persona, Longoria has a surprising confession: she felt like “the ugly duckling” and did not identify as a beauty growing up. In this article, we will explore how Longoria overcame her insecurities and became one of the most admired and respected women in Hollywood.
Early Life and Struggles
Longoria was born on March 15, 1975, in Corpus Christi, Texas, to Mexican-American parents. She was the youngest of four daughters, and the only one with dark hair and eyes. She grew up on a ranch, where she learned to hunt, fish, and ride horses. She was also a good student, who excelled in math and science.
However, Longoria did not feel like she fit in with her family or her peers. She was teased for being short, skinny, and dark-skinned.
She was also insecure about her appearance, and felt like she had to work harder to prove herself. She once said, “I did not identify as a beauty growing up. I was the ugly duckling in my family. I had to find my own confidence.”
Longoria found her confidence through education and hard work. She earned a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology from Texas A&M University-Kingsville, and a master’s degree in Chicano studies from California State University, Northridge.
She also pursued her passion for acting, and moved to Los Angeles to audition for roles. She landed her first TV role in 2000, on the soap opera The Young and the Restless, where she played Isabella Braña for two years.
Breakthrough and Success
Longoria’s big break came in 2004, when she was cast as Gabrielle Solis on Desperate Housewives, a comedy-drama series about the lives of four women living in a suburban neighborhood. Longoria’s character was a former model and trophy wife, who had a complicated and scandalous love life.
