In Conversation with Eva Longoria

I had no complaints waiting an extra thirty minutes at the press room for the gorgeous of ‘Desperate Housewives’ fame, Eva Longoria, on a Saturday evening at the University of Houston Hilton where she was the keynote speaker for the University of Houston Center for Mexican American Studies (CMAS) Annual Scholarship Banquet.

The event was bustling with star-struck mostly young students, but I will confess I was desperately waiting for the meeting with this actress and I was very impressed with her gracious personality, her beauty and intelligence. Ms. Longoria stressed upon giving back to the community. “I come from a very philanthropic family and while growing up, volunteer work for charity was just a natural course,” she says. “And, as my voice became bigger, I chose to helping Latinos in the US and in particular the women of our community,” she added.

The evening continued with her mixing and mingling with students and a VIP reception followed by dinner. The Corpus Christi-born actress has been outspoken on issues of immigration and the banning of Mexican American Studies in some states. The Eva Longoria Foundation supports programs to help Latinos excel in school and attend college. Additionally, the foundation supports Latina entrepreneurs with career training opportunities.

The 17th Annual Noche Cultural Banquet celebrated the many community supporters of CMAS and the students who benefit from scholarships, mentoring and networking opportunities. “It has always been the mission of the center to support students who may be the first in their families to attend college, to support young scholars as they produce important research about the Latino experience and to bring together community leaders for the benefit of both,” said Tatcho Mindiola, professor and director of CMAS. “We are excited to have Ms. Longoria — herself a young scholar — as a central part of our celebration.

Eva Longoria enthusiastically posed for pictures with the students looking fresh and glamorous in a black and white fitted dress, she had come straight from the airport and was headed out again, after the event, to London.

Photo Credit: Sonya Abid