All the ways America Ferrera is making the world better for Latinas

America Ferrera became a new mom this year, giving birth to son Sebastian in May. On the career front, she hasn’t missed a beat. Her NBC show Superstore is back for season 4, and Ferrera has added author to her outstanding résumé. In September, she released, “American Like Me: Reflections on Life Between Cultures.” A collection of essays, the book shares the personal stories of prominent artists like Lin-Manuel Miranda and Issa Rae and what it means to be multicultural in America. “I’m not an immigrant. I’m an American. I’ve never seen books or heard enough stories about Americans like me,” she said.

Ferrera was just 17 when she hit the big screen in 2002’s Real Women Have Curves, The role not only elevated her career, but also put a spotlight on the beauty of Latino culture and its generations of strong women. “I was excited that there was a Latin American girl in the lead, one who came from a background that felt similar to mine,” Ferrera told Entertainment Weekly.

Since Real Women Have Curves, the California-born actress has starred in more than 19 movies. One of our faves (and yours, right?): 2005’s The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.

Her most memorable role, though, may be as TV’s Ugly Betty. Ferrera teamed up with Salma Hayek to bring the Colombian telenovela Yo soy Betty, la fea to an English-speaking market in the United States. “We were making this show we were all so proud of and I got to play this dream role,” she said.

The show was on for four seasons and scored Ferrera multiple wins. She won a Best Actress Golden Globe along with Emmy, Screen Actors Guild, and Teen Choice awards for playing braces-wearing, sweet Betty. Ferrera even made history as the first Latina to win an Emmy in the Lead Actress category — sí, se puede!

Now Ferrera has another successful TV show to her credit: Superstore. Ferrera said she was drawn to the role because of its diverse cast: “When it comes to diversity and breaking stereotypes and finding opportunities for nonwhite actors, progress gets made in these individual steps.”

Read more from Yahoo Entertainment:

• Demi Lovato’s outstanding career success

• New ‘Magnum P.I.’ star Jay Hernandez is the Latino leading man of our dreams

• Sofia Vergara’s staggering salary is far from her only bragging right