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has enjoyed creating her as the show evolves. But there are some similarities between the two. "We both grew up Catholic, so I understand that background a lot. I understand her mentality and naiveté sometimes. But my 19-year-old self definitely cannot relate to her. I was in such a different place in my life. I was two years into a relationship with someone who was 17 years older than me. So I probably would have looked at her like, Girl…you better chill. But me now, I have more grace for her and I would put her under my wing and tell her she is doing great." Grown-ish's second season is coming to an end and Francia is enjoying how the writers are developing her character. "My older self sees her as a little sister and I just love her," she says. Francia is excited to see Ana grow and not only experience adult things, but handle them in an adult way. In Season Two, episode 15, Ana had her heart broken, and the way she handled it was a key indicator that she is, in fact, growing as a person. "If it was the first season, she would have acted a lot more dramatic and emotional. On that episode, she had a very mature approach to her heartbreak. The way she responded to him, freshman-year Ana would have said, 'Yeah' —because she doesn't want to lose him, but sophomore-year Ana was like, 'No, I deserve better than this.' She is seeing her worth more, getting stronger and more confident." Francia has done some growing up herself. Her accomplishments, from Bring It On to Grown-ish and everything in between, are a true testament to her talent and an inspiration for all Latinas trying to make it in Hollywood. "I'm one of the few Latinas that's still working and has been consistently, thankfully, in the last 14 years," she says. While Francia portrays Latina characters on television, her roles are written in a way that keep her from falling into Latina tropes. "I don't know how I didn't fall into it, honestly," she says. Francia explains that she'd audition for those stereotypical Latina roles, but in the end, she didn't book them. Instead, she found herself landing roles like Adrian Lee in The Secret Life of the American Teenager. "It was crazy. I didn't realize how blessed I've been in my career until recently." Francia has found much success in television and is very happy with the roles she has booked, but it was a challenge for her managers to appropriately represent her, and send her on auditions where she would be booked. "It felt like I was trying to fit in. There were plenty of times when I was frustrated because I would get an audition for something, and I would read the breakdown, and I'm like, They are looking for a white girl," she explains. It was evident to her that her representatives didn't know what to do with her. Francia recalls sitting in audition rooms and being the only Latina. "They are not going to want me. I'm going to an audition where it's all white girls, and then me. Great! This is a waste of my time," she remembers. "It was tough because I was not just competing with other Latin women, but literally, white girls." While Francia has found her place in Hollywood today, she remembers the day she visited a dialect coach to learn how to talk like Rosie Perez, because that's what was requested during her auditions. "It's impossible, she is a character of her own," she would tell herself. "The problem is one Latin actress makes it and Hollywood wants everyone else to do it." Francia recalls when Sofia Vergara became famous for portraying Gloria in Modern Family and how that influenced her auditions. "So