The Disney Plus Original series is about a young Cuban-American girl who embarks on a journey to become the future president of the United States. Creator Ilana Peña talks about the very personal origins of the main character, Elena Cañero-Reed: "Elena is very much based on me… I wanted to write about that nerdy, type A, messy middle school girl that I hadn't really seen."

 

Ilana goes on to discuss finding universality in her own personal story.  "We're all human beings, and that's what I want to present on the screen while also honoring my identity and my background. I didn't wake up every day and say, 'Another day as a Latina!' I woke up and I was like, 'Did I forget my social studies assignment?'"

 

 

Now available on Google Podcasts!