Josefina López Her Struggle to Become the Protagonist of Her Own Story

Twenty years ago, Josefina López’s play Real Women Have Curves debuted as a movie, breaking down barriers and challenging stereotypes. Today, Josefina continues to fight for women, Latinas, immigrants, and body positivity.

Real Women Have Curves “has a life of its own,” says Josefina. When the movie came out, it did not have much of a budget, she says, so a lot of people missed it. But now more people are discovering it.

Josefina tells us that she approaches stories from her heart and her gut. She feels that this story was “given” to her; she started writing it when she was 18 and got a version produced at 21.

Today, she says she finally understands the secret to the story’s success. “It’s about five woman, five Latinas who are all transitioning, you know, there’s the four stages of womanhood…the virgin; the maiden; the mother; and the crone, the wise woman.” She says they are having challenges transitioning to the next level.

“So really, it’s about woman in different stages in their lives who, through their camaraderie, are able to transition and find their wisdom and find their rightful place in the world where they belong.”

Culture and Inspiration

Josefina says she creates based on her reality. “Everybody in your life inspires you…Everybody is an interpretation and a mirror to you,” she says. “We can only write about what we know; we can only write about ourselves.”

She says she is “showing the conflict of loving [her] culture…being interconnected…As a woman, you are interdependent.” She says family interdependence is a source of strength for women; women can be vulnerable and ask for help, which is really a strength in the community.

She believes her stories show the benefits of her culture, but also how it can disempower people, especially women. She shows in her stories what she thinks people should let go of and what they need to hold on to, so that they don’t lose themselves.

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the film version of Real Women Have Curves, the Latino Book and Family Festival is holding a special screening at MiraCosta College on Friday, October 14, at 7 pm. Josefina is also one of the featured keynote speakers at the Festival on Saturday, October 15.

Comedy is a way of disguising anger; the person with power over you will listen because it’s funny.

I show the ridiculousness of sexism and racism because that’s the only way people will listen.”