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Which Character from Disney's Encanto Are You?

When Luisa is expected to be like Isabela.

By Daniela AlejandraPublished 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago 5 min read
Top Story - February 2022
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Disclaimer: Please note no copyright infringement is intended and I do not own nor claim to own any original content from Disney's Encanto.to own any

“SEVEN FOOT FRAME, RATS ALONG HIS BACK!” I sing this line at the top of my lungs at least six times a day since I listen to Disney’s Encanto soundtrack whenever I’m cooking or doing dishes. The count would be higher, but I never wake up in time to cook breakfast. Less dishes for me to clean. Anyways, now that you have this banger stuck in your head let’s come talk about Bruno and the rest of the Madrigals.

If you’ve been living under a rock, (or maybe on a cloud) where you were blissfully unaware of the enchantment placed upon us mortals by the Disney Empire, their movie Encanto is all that everyone is talking about. Nominated for three Oscars, breaking records on the Billboard Top 100 Chart, and even surpassing “Let It Go” from Frozen. There’s even a limited edition Encanto makeup collection produced by a collaboration between Disney and Alamar Cosmetics which I may or may not have spent my husband’s birthday money on. On top of all this, Buzzfeed releases about ten Encanto articles and quizzes every day. Yes, I click on all of them.

There are only three acceptable reactions when watching Encanto. Number one, dancing along in perfect choreography with the tick tick tick of “Surface Pressure”. Number two, telling Isabela “YOUR BOYFRIENDS HERE!” while stating that “We Don’t Talk About Bruno.” Number three, sobbing into your popcorn while curled in a fetal position. Any combination of those three reactions is also acceptable.

Moving past Lin-Manuel Miranda’s amazing songs, and the stunning representation of the beautiful, rich, diversity that Colombia has to offer; what really hit the audience right in the feels was the story of generational trauma and toxic families. Most people, (especially those of Latinx descent) could see themselves mirrored in at least one of the Madrigal family members. This was the case with me, and the reason why I was sobbing into the popcorn. Good thing I had forgot to add the salt beforehand.

Most older siblings, but especially older sisters listened to “Surface Pressure” and finally felt the burden of being “the strong one” lift from their shoulders for a tiny second. I was the Luisa in my family from a very young age. My family immigrated to the United States when I was about six years old. I grew up hearing that I was the one that had to change the family’s fortune. That I was the one that had to ensure excellent grades and a college education to make my parent’s sacrifice of leaving their home country worth it. Help on my homework was rarely available to me, because my parents barely spoke English, but I would stay up helping my younger brother with his homework.

I was the shield between my parent’s and the unknown. I was translating contracts, documents, and conversations and I wasn’t even in the double digits age wise. Serving as translator provided me insight to things that only adults should have to worry about, and so the pressure grew. I had to get good grades. It all depended on me. My family’s future was on my shoulders. I couldn’t even get one B without me feeling shame and anxiousness at having to show my parents my report cards, because no matter how many As I brought home, the focus would always be on the one B.

One thing Encanto did miss talking about is the body image issues that develop in Latinx youth due to the prevalence of body shaming that exists within the culture. I remember being eleven years old, it was the winter holidays, and I was beyond excited because my cousins were coming to visit. I was happily cleaning my room, and constantly asking my mom when the family was going to get there. I finally heard the car pull up, I excitedly opened the door and ran to embrace my aunt. She hugged me, and as she pulled away, she swept her eyes over me. Her greeting was “You’ve gotten so fat.” in a completely friendly tone, as if that was something that you would say to anyone. While I internally winced, I wasn’t too surprised to hear it. I had constantly gotten comments like these from my own father, because on top of me already being the Luisa of the family, I was also expected to be “señorita perfecta” Isabela as well.

As I entered my teenage years, these types of comments became more frequent.

“Stop eating so much.”

“Drink this, it will help you lose weight so you can look like a Barbie.”

“Don’t you want to look like a Barbie?”

“Men don’t like fat girls.”

“Look at this picture of you, oink.”

Unlike my grades which came easy to me, attaining their standard of “beautiful and feminine” did not. I couldn’t be soft, slender, graceful, nor perfectly put together. I had always had a solid build, further exacerbated by playing soccer for almost ten years. My hair was unruly, and my clothes were intentionally baggy in an attempt to hide the body I was so ashamed of. A body that I still struggle to accept now over fifteen years later.

Now as an adult, I’ve realized that I have become Tía Pepa. I worry about thundering, and how thunder will lead to a drizzle, and a drizzle will lead to a sprinkle, all the while the people in the background tell me that the clouds are in my head and to just turn them off by thinking “clear skies.” Seriously though, families will cause mental health problems and then act shocked when you try to bring it up. What a surprise. In conclusion, the Madrigal’s need therapy, I need therapy, the person reading this probably needs therapy, or we can just press repeat on the soundtrack and continue not talking about Bruno.

P.S. Pssst, go get therapy. Don’t press repeat and continue the generational trauma. Please talk about Bruno. Please "let it in, let it out, let it rain, let it snow, let it go!"

family
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About the Creator

Daniela Alejandra

Life's a journey and I don't have map.

I long to create worlds like the ones I would read about under the blankets late at night.

Magical realism.

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