BELatina’s Weekend Recap: Shantall Lacayo, Roberto Ortíz, And More

Shantall Lacayo Weekend BELatina Latinx
Photo courtesy of CNN.

Happy Monday, dear readers!

Yes, we are in a good mood today. After a well-deserved rest this weekend, we are back to work with joy and recharged batteries, ready to tell you the best stories of our community.

But first of all, you must have all the necessary information at hand before starting your day.

From the victory of Nicaraguan designer Shantall Lacayo in season 19 of ‘Project Runway’ to the appointment of Roberto Ortiz as the first full-time Major League umpire from Puerto Rico, these are the most important stories of the weekend.

Nicaraguan designer Shantall Lacayo wins season 19 of ‘Project Runway’

Shantall Lacayo was named Thursday winner of the 19th season of the successful series.

The Nicaraguan had already participated in the Latin American version of “Project Runway” and made it to the two finals. On this occasion, Lacayo wins a prize of $250,000 and a mentorship from the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA).

Brazil on alert for extreme weather conditions

Brazil Weekend BELatina Latinx
Photo courtesy of EFE.

In recent months, Brazil has been affected by the worst drought in more than ninety years and heavy storms that have caused nearly 100 deaths and 150,000 evacuations.

Due to the lack of water between June and September last year, reservoirs have remained dry, resulting in river overflows, deadly landslides, and flooding from late last year to early this year.

The states of Bahia, Minas Gerais, and São Paulo, which account for 40% of Brazil’s entire population, have been the hardest hit by the heavy rains that have lashed parts of Brazil since October.

Roberto Ortíz becomes the first full-time Major League umpire from Puerto Rico

Roberto Ortíz BELatina Latinx
Photo courtesy of mlb.com

Five umpires have been promoted to the Major League Baseball staff to replace five longtime referees retiring, MLB announced Friday. Ryan Additon, Sean Barber, John Libka, Ben May, and Roberto Ortíz join the Major League staff in place of Fieldin Culbreth, Kerwin Danley, Gerry Davis, Brian Gorman, and Joe West.

Ortíz’s promotion makes MLB history: He is the first full-time Major League umpire of Puerto Rican origin.

“I am honored and blessed to have the privilege of becoming the first Puerto Rican umpire to be hired by MLB,” Ortíz said. “It fills me with pride to be able to represent my family and my island of Puerto Rico in what I consider the best league in the world.”

Ariana DeBose on diversity in Hollywood: ‘There’s still a lot of work to do’

Ariana DeBose BELatina Latinx
Photo courtesy of BANG Showbiz.

The ‘West Side Story’ star – who played Anita in the Steven Spielberg 2021 remake – thinks there is “still massive amounts of work to do” despite the work already done in the movie and TV industry to improve representation, particularly of the Afro-Latinx community.

Speaking after being nominated for the 2022 EE BAFTA Rising Star Award, the 30-year-old actress told exclusively to BANG Showbiz: “I applaud forward motion but do not claim to feel like we’ve achieved all that we can achieve. There’s still a massive amount of work to do. But I do think we are taking really good and smart steps forward.”

Teachers strike in Puerto Rico

Teachers strike in Puerto Rico BELatina Latinx
Photo courtesy of Reuters.

Hundreds of teachers across Puerto Rico left their classrooms and took to the streets on Friday to demand higher salaries, better working conditions, and better pensions amid an economic crisis.

Several schools were completely empty of teachers as protesters gathered in the capital of San Juan and other cities such as Mayagüez and Aguada and marched, clapped, and banged pots and pans as supporters blared their horns as they passed.

“We are tired, tired of not being recognized,” said Joalice Santiago, a 34-year-old who teaches Spanish and science to fourth and fifth graders. “It’s about time that teachers rise up and explain to the world the value of their profession.”

ICYMI: Carlos Vives pays tribute to Shakira on her 45th birthday

Last Wednesday, Colombian singer-songwriter Carlos Vives released his new song, “Currambera,” a gift to his friend Shakira, with whom he has collaborated on several occasions, who turned 45.

“You flew very high. The waves of the sea are waiting for you; with your bare feet, little girl with the skirt. You flew very high. Your ship has already raised its sails”, says the singer from Santa Marta to Shakira, in a song whose video clip is interspersed with images of his native Barranquilla, its port, and its neighborhoods, as well as old videos of the artist of “Hips don’t lie.”

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