‘Ugly Betty’ Wows Hispanic Convention

America Ferrera is becoming a phenomenon:

Even before America Ferrera arrived at the Washington Convention Center on Tuesday, she was all over the place. Fans of her hit show, “Ugly Betty,” had donned masks of the nerdy character to await her appearance.

(As an aside, I would have sworn Disney would go out of their way this year to make Ugly Betty Halloween costumes…) 

Ferrera took a few hours away from taping the show’s next season to receive a Latina Leaders Award from the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute.

The diminutive actress, clad in a gray suit and heels, promised to continue to use her fame for the betterment of the “wider community,” emphasizing that she doesn’t take her success for granted.

Of course, she was speaking before members of the US Congress, so you knew there were some that didn’t have a clue:

Missing the point a bit was Rep. Joe Baca, D-Calif., chairman of the caucus, who said: “She’s beautiful. Who says she’s ugly? They should have named it ‘Beautiful Latina.’ ”

Oh well.

In the same vein, did you know that Ferrera was listed in the Top 100 Most Influential Hispanics? 

Actress America Ferrera, the star of the hit television show ‘Ugly Betty’ is on Hispanic Business Magazine’s 2007 list of the 100 Most Influential Hispanics.

Ferrera, 23, was recognised this year with an Emmy and a Golden Globe award for best actress in a comedy for her role in ABC’s English-language version of Colombian soap opera ‘Betty la fea.’

If her meteoric rise continues, Disney is going to have to make her (or at least Betty) one of their marketing-cash-cow princesses.  Seriously, wouldn’t it be cool to meet Betty at Disney World?

Sources: Examiner.com, Malaysia Sun