Whereas Gabriella known as “mija” and spoken to by her mom in Spanish in Excessive College Musical, Vanessa’s precise mother is from the Philippines. In a 2013 interview on Chelsea Recently, when requested outright if she was “Latina,” Vanessa replied, “I imply sort of, a bit bit.”
Chatting with Attract, Vanessa mentioned, “Clearly, I turned ‘well-known’ for Excessive College Musical and my character is Gabriella Montez, so everybody mechanically assumed that I used to be Latina, and most of the people nonetheless do.”
“Once I inform them I am Filipino, they’re like, ‘What?!’ You have not met my mom. I feel that I am fairly ambiguous so individuals do not actually know. However I’m doing every thing that I can to let individuals know as a result of I’m proud,” she continued.
Actually, elsewhere within the interview, Vanessa mentioned that she went to the Philippines for the primary time earlier this yr. Whereas she mentioned that she was raised “tremendous, tremendous American,” Vanessa defined that she was “lacking a chunk” by not being as linked to her Filipino background: “It felt so empowering to know the place you are from, and be capable to signify your heritage.”
With regards to illustration right this moment, Vanessa known as fellow Excessive College Musical alum Olivia Rodrigo her “mini-me.” She continued, “Essentially the most unbelievable factor is when I’ve these women come as much as me, and so they’re like, ‘you had been the primary person who I noticed that appears like me on TV.’ I need to cry. It’s simply actually lovely to have the ability to be an figuring out person who helps enable others to really feel seen.”
Earlier this yr, Vanessa mentioned that it was a “battle” to make it in Hollywood as a Filipino individual, explaining at a press convention in Manila, “I bear in mind, I used to be auditioning for a film that I used to be very enthusiastic about, a personality that I all the time wished to play, and I used to be instructed I couldn’t as a result of I wasn’t Black or Latina. I’m like, ‘I’m ethnic! If that’s what you’re in search of.’ However you understand, it’s arduous. It truly is. And I feel I’m nonetheless on the market, looking for the place I slot in Hollywood.”
You’ll be able to learn the complete interview with Vanessa right here.
