THIS WEEK'S SIX:

As we head into the new year, Remezcla has rounded up what Latin America’s spiritual guides, including all-time favorite Walter Mercado, are predicting for 2019. Enjoy! 😜

The indigenous Mexican actor Yalitza Aparicio will appear on a 2019 cover of Vogue Mexico, in a first for a country (Mexico) where light-skinned people dominate the media landscape despite an overwhelmingly mestizo and indigenous population. Aparicio, who has won acclaim for her debut performance in Alfonso Cuarón’s new film Roma (P.S. it's now streaming here on Netflix), wears a Gucci dress on the magazine’s December edition, next to the title “In tiu’n ntav’i” – “A star is born” – in the indigenous Mixtec language.

“Certain stereotypes are being broken: that only people with a certain profile can be actresses or be on the cover of magazines. Other faces of Mexico are now being recognized. It is something that makes me happy and proud of my roots.”

If you went to see the tree at Rockefeller Center this holiday season, you should know it was donated by Upstate New York couple Lissette Gutierrez and Shirley Figueroa. The tree, nicknamed "Shelby" by the couple, is historic — it's the first Rockefeller Center tree ever donated by either a same-sex or Latinx couple.

In Dominican food culture – like in so many others – meat has a central place in meals. However, going meat-free doesn’t have to mean turning your back on tradition. In fact, meat-based meals are often a result of colonization. This story features Chef Blenlly Mena, the Dominican Bronx-based creator of NextStopVegan, a 100% plant-based meal prep delivery service, and some other people of color who have pursued a vegan lifestyle and convinced their families as well. (💖thanks to subscriber Anthony Hernandez for the submission!).

Full details around the series aren't confirmed yet but Netflix has announced it's making a scripted series based on the life of Tejano music legend Selena Quintanilla. Moisés Zamora (Star, American Crime) will pen the script and executive produce the series alongside Campanario Entertainment president Jaime Davila, Rico Martinez, Selena's sister Suzette Quintanilla, Selena's father Abraham Quintanilla Jr. and Simran A. Singh (thanks to subscriber Eliana Larramendia for the submission! 💖)

Appreciate you reading this week’s issue of The Latinx Collective. If you find this work valuable, please feel free to forward it to friends or family so they can sign up on the website and join you in celebrating the every day contributions the Latinx community is making.