The world as a giant, colorful tapestry and Afro-Latinas are weaving their magic into every thread — entertainment, beauty, fashion, business, and literature. They’re telling their stories, sharing their talents, and reminding us of their incredible history.

This Black History Month, we’re celebrating eight of these amazing women. They’re all unique, they’re all passionate, and they’re all inspiring us with their voices and their never-give-up spirit. So, if you haven’t heard of them yet, get ready to update your list — these are the women you NEED to know!

Heather Hemmens

You may remember Heather Hammons from her role as Alice Verdura in The CW series “Hellcats,” but this Afro-Latina breaks the mold as a producer, director, producer, and more.

She tells Modern Muze she embraces her Afro-Latinidad by “Being an actor, director, and producer, my career is just as diverse as my ethnicity. Multi-hyphenate, multi-tasking, multi-cultural. I’ve embraced that I am not just one thing. Every woman is everything! But especially as an Afro-Latina, multi-faceted is in the DNA.”

Adding, “My Afro-Latina roots are my reminder that I belong to this beautiful community of resilience, ingenuity, and inclusivity.”

Luz Maria Mack

Children’s book author, Luz Maria Mack’s Dominican roots resonate across her incredible tales, which are changing the way Afro-Latino children see themselves. As the author of “Nathaly the Brave,” “Little Maria” and “El Amoroso Cutico,” Mack is helping children across all nationalities embrace their unique identities.

“My journey started with a profound realization when my three-year-old daughter, Chloe, wanted to change her natural hair color,” she tells Modern Muze. “This moment highlighted the lack of representation for children of mixed heritage, including Chloe, who is of Dominican and African-American descent. Motivated to fill this void, I draw inspiration from our communities’ vibrant colors, music, and diverse backgrounds that make my heart sing.”

Julissa Calderon

With her electrifying presence, Julissa Calderon has graced our screens in shows like “Gentefied” and “With Love,” shattering stereotypes and paving the way for a more inclusive future in the world of entertainment. The Dominicana is also the author of the “Dream and Manifest Journal.”

Daymé Arocena

The Cuban songstress is redefining the jazz genre with her unique rhythms. As she told Modern Muze upon the release of her song “A fuego lento” with Vicente Garcia, “I’m hopeful that this new project, Al-Kemi, I chose the name in Yoruba so it could be understood that I’m referring to Black magic. Not ‘Oh black magic is bad,’ but the one that provokes a spark. In many ways, this project has given me back my hope, and given me a new war, a battle.”

“I want to make this space a dream come true. My dream with this project is to change the industry,” she says. “Even if it sounds like the wildest thing in the world. We’ve been abandoned for a long time and I want our people to reclaim the space that belongs to us.

Victoria Carrington Chavez

Victoria Carrington Chavez is a woman of many talents. The Colorado native is a brand strategist, graphic and web designer, content creator, and known as “pure magic” in the branding industry. She is the woman behind Lilac and Aspen Creative Co.

“As I look at the beautiful combination that makes up my multicultural identity, I am inspired much like when I’m blending paints into my canvas. Blending the colors creates something new and wonderful,” she tells Modern Muze. “For me, a wonderful part about being Afro-Latina is being able to embrace the power that comes from being mixed and honoring the vibrancy we bring to the world.”

Julissa Prado

The founder and CEO of Rizo’s Curls has transformed the industry with her extraordinary hair care system. Prado battled with her own curls growing up, buying every product on the shelf, then decided to create her own products. As she writes on her website, “I wanted a product made with quality and natural ingredients that could celebrate all curl types, from my Tia’s coily strands to my sister’s loose waves. With Rizos Curls, I finally turned my dream into a reality.”

Reyna Noriega

This Cuban-Jamaican artist, designer, and author is dazzling the world with her muzings. Her art has been empowering Afro-Latinas and women everywhere to take control of their lives and let their voices shine. Additionally, she uses her art for activism.

Judy Reyes

The Dominican-American actress has never shied away from discussing her Afro-Latinidad, in “Black and Latino,” she shared,  “I would get positive reactions at auditions for both African-American and Latino parts.”

Adding, “But I didn’t look Latino enough, because of the curly hair, and the freckles, and the nose…It bothered me because what I look like doesn’t change that I’m a Latina. And you’re telling me that I’m too dark?”