Latinx and Hispanic Heritage Month might have ended on October 15th, but that doesn't mean audiences should stop celebrating Latinx and Hispanic shows -- especially when there are so many that deserve to be watched. This is especially true in the teen TV space, where television shows are more inclusive and diverse than their adult counterparts.
While some shows lean heavily into the character's Latinx heritage, other simply feature Latinx characters in lead roles. Whatever the case, there are plenty of authentic and relatable shows out there for audiences of all backgrounds to enjoy. From adopted siblings trying to reconnect with their birth families to teenagers exploring their sexualities, these are some of the best teen shows with Latinx representation.
Diary Of A Future President (2020 - 2021)
Stream On Disney+
Recently joining the ranks of teenage-hood, 13-year-old Elena is in the midst of all her teenage dreams and angst as she tries to figure out who she is and who she wants to be while attending middle school. Lucky for her, she has a bright future in front of her since she grows up to become President of the United States.
As a Cuban-American character from a Cuban-American family, Elena's Latinx heritage is an important part of Diary Of A Future President. In addition to being a positive role model for young Latinx girls, Elena's brother, Bobby, also is an inspiring role model who fights for people to pronounce his last name right in one episode.
East Los High (2013 - 2017)
Stream On Hulu
Set in East Los Angeles, Hulu's East Los High centers on a group of Latinx high schoolers who are dealing with ordinary and extraordinary trials and tribulations of high school. It is one of the most underrated teen dramas of the last few years and deserves way more attention.
With a primary Latinx cast, the character's Latinx heritage is massively important to the East Los High narrative. Admittedly, the show almost didn't happen and the creators crowdfunded to film the first season before the show was picked up by Hulu.
Glee (2009 - 2015)
Glee is thought of by many as being one of the best musical shows of all time, but it also one of the best teen shows when it comes to Latinx representation, specifically, with the creation of popular mean girl turned powerful New Directions member, Santana.
While Santana subverted several harmful Latinx stereotypes, she also deserves praise for being one of the first queer Latinas on television. Through her storylines, Santana was shown as a well-rounded and complex character who was never once just a sidekick or comedic character like so many Latinx characters before her.
Good Trouble (2019 - )
Stream On Hulu
A spin-off of one of Freeform's best original shows, The Fosters, Good Trouble centers on an ensemble cast of young adults who live together in a communal apartment building in downtown Los Angeles. It features a diverse cast of characters, including some of the best Latinx young adult characters on television.
Mariana is a familiar face from The Foster who continues to explore her Latinx heritage now that she's in Los Angles. In addition, there is a Gael, a resident of the Coterie, who has a complicated relationship with his traditional Latinx family, given his bisexuality and that his sister is transgender. Thus, the show tackles important topics that are often taboo in the Latinx community.
Gordita Chronicles (2022)
Stream On HBO Max
Though elementary schooler Cucu is the main character of HBO Max's Dominican sitcom Gordita Chronicles, the family sitcom has a lot to offer teen audiences as well. The series centers on Cucu and her family as they immigrate from the Dominican Republic to Miami, Florida, in the 1980s.
Teens will best identify with Cucu's older sister Emilia who finds herself stuck between wanting to assimilate with American culture and wanting to stay true to her heritage. The series also tackles misconceptions and stereotypes about Dominicans through Emilia's character, like the fact that everyone thinks she should be a star dancer because of her ethnicity.
Love, Victor (2020 - 2022)
Stream On Disney+
A loose spin-off of the beloved teen movie, Love, Simon, the teen dramedy, centers on Victor, a Latinx teenager who is finally letting himself explore his identity now that he and his family have moved to a new town where nobody knows them.
Half-Puerto Rican, half-Colombian-American, Victor's Latinx heritage is very important to him and the plot of the show. In fact, it's his family's traditional Hispanic beliefs that make him worry about coming out to them. While his upbringing is a source of tension, it's also a source of joy in several episodes.
One Day At A Time (2017 - 2020)
Stream On Netflix
While One Day At A Time is certainly a sitcom that the entire family can enjoy, teenagers have taken fondly to it too. The Alvarezes are a Cuban-American family who are living in an apartment and trying to figure out who they are now that their mother is divorced and no longer serving in the military.
The family's Cuban heritage is extremely important to them and plays a major role in plots, dialogue, and even props in the background. For example, the first season revolves around Elena's quinceanera and the fighting around the topic because she doesn't want to have one.
On My Block (2018 - 2021)
Stream On Netflix
On My Block is one of Netflix's best teen shows that spanned four seasons on the streaming service. It centered on a group of friends living in South Central Los Angeles who are trying to get through high school while also dealing with the complicated politics of their neighborhood.
On My Block features several Latinx characters, including Monse, one of the best Afro-Latina characters on television. The series is interesting because it doesn't shy away from dealing with the harsh realities of what living in South Central Los Angeles is like, but grounds the story in friendship and empowerment, so nothing feels stereotypical or insensitive.
Saved By The Bell (2020 - 2021)
Stream On Peacock
A beloved 80s/90s teen sitcom, Saved By The Bell, got a short-lived reboot in 2020. With appearances from the original cast, the new version centers on a group of low-income students who must transfer to Bayside High School after their own high school is shut down.
While the original famously featured Latinx actor Mario Lopez, the reboot features two talented Latina actresses who play Daisy and Aisha. While their heritage isn't a major source of importance in the overall storylines, it is nice for fans of the series to see more Latinx actresses in the mix.
The Fosters (2013 - 2018)
Stream On Hulu
The Fosters ran for an incredible five seasons on ABC Family/Freeform where it regularly pushed the boundaries and helped usher in a new generation of shows on the network. The teen drama centered on the blended Adams-Foster family as they dealt with the highs and lows of raising a modern family.
The Latinx representation came in the form of adopted twins Mariana and Jesus, who regularly talked about their heritage and even went as far as searching for their biological parents to further their understanding of who they were.