As a teenager, America Ferrera had her first experience with professional auditions when she tried out for a commercial.

“I was just a young, brown, chubby valley girl, speaking like any other valley girl would,” Ferrera shared during an interview for the 72nd Emmy Awards. Born in Los Angeles to proud Honduran immigrant parents, Ferrera recounted her audition experience. “I went in, delivered my lines, and the casting director said, ‘That was good. But can you do it again, just sound more Latina this time?'”

Unsure of what exactly was being requested, Ferrera asked if she should perform in Spanish. “She clarified, ‘No, no. Do it in English, but, you know, just sound more Latina,'” Ferrera remembered. “I am Latina, and this is how I sound.”

After being dismissed, Ferrera shared the incident with her family. “They explained to me, ‘They wanted you to speak with broken English,’ and added, ‘They wanted you to sound like a chola. What did you expect? That they’d cast you in the next Julia Roberts role?’ And I thought, ‘Yes, that’s exactly what I expected.'”

Despite this discouraging encounter, Ferrera was not deterred. “That moment ignited a fire in me,” she said. “It motivated me to create more opportunities for young brown girls to showcase their talent and pursue their dreams.”