5 Reason Why Eva Longoria Rocks

By Kamren Curiel

We all know Eva Longoria shines in front of the camera, but the flawless beauty who rose to fame playing sly adulteress Gabrielle Solis on Desperate Housewives, is more than just a famous face. Longoria’s committed to empowering the Latino community and succeeded at enfranchising millions to vote. We can’t wait to see her school America as a panelist alongside N.J. mayor Cory Booker and USA Today reporter Jackie Kucinich on HBO’s politcally-charged talk show Real Time with Bill Maher. Here’s why she’ll rock:

1. She was cochair of Obama’s Latino Inaugural Ball at the Kennedy Center and Obama’s reelection campaign. According to political columnist and The Wise Latina Club founder, Viviana Hurtado, Longoria “shined brightest among a constellation of stars,” which included Wilmer Valderrama, Prince Royce, and Rita Moreno. After Desperate Housewives successful eight-season run, Longoria took on a new challenge speaking across the country and fundraising for Obama’s 2012 campaign. “When they asked me to officially be a chochair, it was not just to put my face on something,” she told Latina in her Nov. 2012 cover story. “My mission is to educate the public on Obama’s record, specifically with two communities that pertain to me: women and Latinos.”

2. As the highest-paid TV actress in 2011, she uses her celebrity appeal and money to produce programming for and by Latinos. As executive producer of Shine Global Inc.’s documentary The Harvest, Longoria helped raise awareness about the 500,000 child migrant farm workers in the U.S. Her production company UnbeliEVAble Entertainment is releasing two highly anticipated TV shows, NBC’s Ready for Love (Mar. 31) and Lifetime’s upcoming Devious Maids.

3. She’s a philanthropist who’s devoted to helping the homeless, young Latinas in need of scholarships, and women get small business loans. She started Eva’s Heroes in 2006 to help developmentally disabled children and is the national spokesperson for PADRES Contra El Cancer. She promotes positive roles for Latinos in music, television, and film as host of NCLR’s Alma Awards for six years in a row.

4. She’s a firm believer in education and is currently pursuing a master’s in Chicano Studies at Cal State University Northridge. “Education makes me feel powerful,” she told Latina. “Saber es poder.”

5. Her power as a national political player has just begun. Next Monday, KCET will air Longoria’s conversation with Supreme Court Justice and My Beloved World best-selling author Sonia Sotomayor.