At 93 years old, the legendary Rita Moreno continues to shine and break barriers. This Thursday, Harvard University awarded the iconic actress, singer, and dancer an honorary doctorate, celebrating her remarkable career and profound impact on the arts.
Rita was among six distinguished honorees at Harvard's 374th commencement ceremony. The Puerto Rican-born star shared the special moment on social media, posting images of herself donning the classic cap and gown while holding the diploma.
"Little Rosita from Puerto Rico just received a doctorate from Harvard University," she wrote on social media, proudly sharing photos of the emotional moment and sharing her happiness with her fans and followers. "The sky's the limit y'all," she added.
"You deserve it! You blazed trails! Puerto Rican girls everywhere are so proud of you!!!" one person commented, while someone else wrote, "Wow Rita! A legend in soooo many different ways! Bravo!" adding, "Rita, you are incredible & we love you so much! Congrats."
The star's recognition at Harvard adds to her impressive list of accolades. She is one of the rare few to hold the coveted EGOT status, having won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony. Born Rosa Dolores Alverío in Puerto Rico, she moved to New York City at the age of five and began her Broadway career at 13.
Her groundbreaking role as Anita in the original West Side Story earned her an Oscar, making her the first Latina to achieve such a distinction. Harvard Magazine highlighted an emotional profile of Rita’s life, from her early days in the Big Apple in 1936 to her fight against the ethnic stereotypes she faced in Hollywood.
Despite facing industry discrimination, she carved a path portraying roles that uplifted and dignified Latino characters, such as her celebrated work on the TV series 'One Day at a Time.'
Rita’s contributions have earned her accolades from leaders across the political spectrum, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom, awarded by President Barack Obama, the National Medal of Arts, the Kennedy Center Honors for Artistic Achievement, and the Peabody Award for Lifetime Achievement.