'Break down the door,' Latinas advocate for representation in sports

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Quarterback for Mexico’s World Champion National Flag Football team Diana Flores and Emmy Award-winning sports journalist MJ Acosta-Ruiz were at Neutrogena’s flag football camp last Wednesday to help develop the next generation of athletes with flag football drills, challenges and all things skincare.

At this unique free one-day camp experience, guests had the opportunity to elevate both their athletic skills and skincare routines with helpful tips from the two most influential Latinas in the football sphere. Acosta-Ruiz is a bilingual sports journalist and broadcaster who has been with ESPN since the beginning of this year as a Sports Center anchor for the show’s edition originating from Los Angeles as well as a sideline reporter for ESPN Deportes’ Monday Night Football. She brings over 15 years of experience to ESPN, including her groundbreaking role at NFL Network, where she became the first Afro-Latina to host a show.

“Skincare is everything and not just because we're in front of the camera and you have to look great, but you have to protect yourself as well. I think especially in melanated communities, we forget that we are still just as susceptible, if not more so, to skin conditions, to skin cancer, to be protected beyond just feeling great and looking great, to know that you have that added layer of protection for yourself from the sun, especially for people like Diana and I who work outside most of the time,” Acosta-Ruiz said.

A passionate advocate for representation and equality, Acosta-Ruiz is also deeply involved in women's empowerment initiatives, such as A Seat at the Table, a mentorship community for young women interested in careers in sports. According to Zippia, sports broadcasting is still a very male-dominated space where only 16.5% of sports broadcasters are women and 83.5% of sports broadcasters are men.

Acosta-Ruiz told CALÓ News that it is crucial for the next generation of Latina sports broadcasters to never water down who they are. “Don't just walk through the door … break down the door, push it off the hinges! You are so needed in this space. There's always somebody who wants to see themselves reflected and just to feel seen,” Acosta Ruiz said. “Even though you might be the first, you might be the only or one of the few, there's more of us coming up. We got you, we've got your back but just authentically be who you are. More authenticity is needed within the broadcast space.”

Flag football will have its Olympic debut in Los Angeles in 2028. Flores, who is the captain and quarterback of the Mexican national team, is an impressive global inspiration for female athletes. 

She was named a world champion and two-time national college champion with the Tecnológico de Monterrey and has worked hand-in-hand with the national and international football leagues to promote the worldwide reach of the sport, breaking cultural and gender barriers. “We have a lot of challenges but sometimes you yourself can be a bigger challenge in your capacities. So never let anyone underestimate you and embrace your true power. You can do whatever you want,” Flores said. 

She is also advocating for greater access to sports for the next generation of athletes, with a particular focus on making flag football more accessible to both boys and girls. According to the Latino Leadership Institute, there is a gap of Latino leadership in sports. “The representation of Latinos as a whole, both as professional athletes and executives, is often as low as one to four percent,” she said. “This means that while they avidly support the sports industry financially, they are underrepresented in positions of influence.”

For Flores, it is crucial to support not only the current generation of female athletes but also the future ones, empowering them to pursue their dreams. She believes that, despite stereotypes, there are no barriers that can hold them back. “It’s very important to change the narrative, not only for the present generations of female leaders but also to break down the gender gap and to break down other challenges,” Flores said.

The Mexican captain quarterback is also a strong advocate for skincare and self-care.“I think that's also important as we are working hard for our dreams,” she adds

At the event, Flores gave guest skin demonstrations on how to properly apply sunscreen and other skin products. 

Guests were also able to meet and connect with these two Latina role models, engage in skincare, get goodie bags, play a mini-exhibition match alongside professional athletes and coaches and eat delicious tacos de asada, pollo and al pastor.