30 DIY Halloween Costumes For Empowered Ladies
By Emily Scott
Jane Villanueva (Gina Rodriguez) in Jane the Virgin, Screencap via The CW
Jane Villanueva – Jane the Virgin
Why She’s Awesome: Before Gina Rodriguez landed her breakout role as the titular Jane in Jane the Virgin, she turned down a lot of auditions. Why? Because they represented harmful stereotypes of Latinas. Whether she was asked to play a maid or a sidekick described as “spicy,” she didn’t feel comfortable taking a job that would use her heritage against her.
And then, thankfully, Jane the Virgin came along. Jane is a writer, student, and waitress who gets caught up in drama when she is accidentally artificially inseminated. I don’t think anyone could say she is “spicy,” but she is sweet, practical, fierce, and dedicated. And from the telenovela-like structure to its seamlessly interwoven Spanish, the show celebrates Jane’s hispanic heritage, rather than diminishing her for it. That’s not to mention its positive treatment of women in general; each female character, even the villainous ones, is depicted complexly. And that’s exactly why it’s so brilliant.
What You’ll Need: Jane loves colorful, summer-y dresses that mimic her bright personality. Try a floral sundress that cinches the waist. If you’re crafty, you can even try to imitate her Marbella waitress uniform! Find a dark blue halter dress, green adhesive felt or fabric, and a chunky fake-diamond necklace, and whip it up into a recreation! A subtle crucifix necklace will drive home her Catholic faith, and her effortlessly beachy black waves will finish off the look.
Next Level Move: Pregnant Jane, obviously! Choose a dress with room for your belly, then try out some different fake-pregnancy methods! My suggestion is to utilize tights – you know, the ones that go all the way up to your boobs? Then, whatever you stuff in there – pillows, cotton batting, etc. – will stay put. For an extra identifying touch, carry around a crushed flower, to symbolize Alba’s virginity metaphor.