Afro-Latinx Creators You Should Know About

As an often underrepresented group, these Afro-Latinx creators are using social media to educate others about their experiences through the lens of heritage and identity.

(L) TikTok/ @a_bbb.y (Abby) (C) Instagram/ Miss_Rizos (Carolina Contreras) (R) TikTok/ @afrolatinxunited (Paola Garcia)
(L) TikTok/ @a_bbb.y (Abby) (C) Instagram/ Miss_Rizos (Carolina Contreras) (R) TikTok/ @afrolatinxunited (Paola Garcia)

Social media including TikTok has become a haven for creators worldwide to share their own unique experiences with other users — including the Afro-Latinx community. According to the Pew Research Center, roughly 24% of Hispanic people in the U.S. self-identify as ​​Afro-Latino, Afro-Caribbean, or of African descent. The report also noted that a small number of Afro-Latinx people who were surveyed identified one of their races as Black — highlighting the complexities that Afro-Latinx people face with identity.

Often an underrepresented group, particularly in TV and film, these four creators are using the video app to express themselves and honor their identities. Here’s who you should know:

1. Paola Garcia (@AfroLatinxUnited)

Paola Garcia has a major TikTok presence with more than 78,000 followers and more than 2 million likes. Paola makes videos about Black and African American culture in the U.S. In her videos, she discusses her experience being Afro-Latinx. She also educates her followers on aspects of cultural appropriation as well as Carribbean influence in American culture.
 

2. Carolina Contreras (@Miss_rizos)

Carolina is the founder and CEO of Miss Rizos salon and foundation with locations in both the Dominican Republic and in New York City. She started her salon in 2011 with a focus on helping other Afro-Latinx people love their hair and learn how to care for it. As a Dominican-born woman, Carolina provides information on haircare in both Spanish and English in a salon that has an encouraging environment. Carolina’s company also has a charitable foundation.


 

3. Anna Maria (@AfroLatinaMagic)

Anna Maria, known as @AfroLatinaMagic, has taken to TikTok to share her own experience growing up Puerto Rican with her more than 72,000 followers. Her videos depict scenarios she’s often faced with being Afro-Latinx, including the assumption that she doesn’t speak Spanish or have a Latinx background.

4. Abby Bello (@a_bbb.y)

Abby is a 21-year-old Dominican TikTok creator who has more than 289,000 followers and more than 6 million likes on her videos. Her videos focus on debunking stereotypes and difficult conversations surrounding race. Abby talks about how others in the Hispanic community are prejudiced against people from the Dominican Republic and associate them with violence, poverty, and “ghettoness.” She goes on to say that the judgments are harmful to the community that has a large Afro-Latinx population.