5 TED Talks By Latinas You Need To See

Story written by Marivette

Executive Producer and host of NPR's Latino USA, Maria Hinojosa, discussING the lack of diversity in the media during her TEDx Talk

TED Talks have become a global platform for sharing powerful ideas, sparking conversations in fields like science, technology, business, culture, and beyond. Over the years, these presentations have shaped minds and inspired change, offering insights from some of the world's most innovative thinkers.

Today, we spotlight five impactful TED and TEDx by Latinas breaking barriers and challenging perceptions. From redefining feminism and confronting sexual assault to reshaping views on education and beauty, these Latinas inspire and empower you to think differently. and

Here are five TED Talks by inspiring Latina voices:  

➀ Isabel Allende on telling "Tales of passion":

Acclaimed Chilean-American writer and activist Isabel Allende discusses passion and feminism in this fascinating talk. She shares her encounters with women whose passionate commitments to the greater good have inspired not only her but also the characters in her stories. Allende then explores the concept, benefits, and evolution of feminism with extraordinary wit, saying, "Empowering them [women] will change everything --more than technology and design and entertainment. I can promise you that women working together -- linked, informed and educated -- can bring peace and prosperity to this forsaken planet."

➁ Inés Hercovich on "Why women stay silent after sexual assault":

Hercovich is a sociologist, social psychologist, and pioneer in the study of sexual assault against women, founding the first crisis service for victims of sexual assault in 1990. In this powerful and moving talk, Hercovich provides insight into what sexual assault looks like (it's not how law and society have defined it) and why women who experience it rarely speak up. She explains that we (society) victimize or blame the victim to avoid our discomfort, and if we continue to do so, "we will continue to be unable to listen. Women will continue to be unable to speak. And we will all continue to be responsible for that silence and their solitude."

➂ Maria Hinojosa's "From invisible to visible":  

Executive Producer and host of NPR's Latino USA, Maria Hinojosa, explains how the lack of diversity in the media and her experience as a Mexican-American compelled her to become a journalist who covers stories of rarely seen individuals. She describes how significant it is for the media to be inclusive as it inspires individuals to create change. She says, "this visibility that we give is actually helping people navigate an America that is becoming increasingly complex and increasingly diverse."

➃ Nadia Lopez's "Why Open a School? To Close a Prison":

Nadia Lopez is the principal and founder of New York's Mott Hall Bridges Academy--a middle school in the Brownsville neighborhood in Brooklyn, one of the poorest areas of New York. In her talk, she addresses the fact that her students daily work against the odds, with 100% of her students living below the poverty line, 86% being below grade level in math and English, and 30% having special needs. Still, she says, these factors will not hinder her ability to help her students and their ability for a brighter future. Her hands-on approach with her students (she reads with them, helps hem with their homework, and eats lunch with them) is an encouraging and positive outlook in education, saying, "We must empower our learners and we must build up their self-esteem before we hand out suspensions."

➄ Lizzie Velasquez on "How Do You Define Yourself?":

At 17 years old, Lizzie Velasquez was once labeled "The World’s Ugliest Woman" in a YouTube video in 2006. Since then, she has devoted much of her time as an anti-bullying activist and motivational speaker. In this inspiring talk, Velasquez touches on how she managed to flip the switch on her bullies and has created her definition of herself. She closes her remarks by encouraging others to say, “You are the one who decides what defines you. Never allow your outer appearance or your disabilities to define you. Use your skills, achievements, and accomplishments to define who you are. Use the negative things in your life, turn them around, use them as a ladder to climb up in life.”