It’s not every day that we get two generations of Latina talent to sit down to talk about what it means to be Hispanic and open up about family, culture and the joy of working together. However, when Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie came out this fall, it brought together two extraordinary women who embody the richness of Latin culture in their own unique ways.
At one end of the conversation is Gloria Estefan, a global music icon, Cuban-American trailblazer, and one of the most influential Latina Powerhouses of all time. She has a career that spans over decades and that that has allowed her voice to represent Latin pop music around the world. This seven-time Grammy Award winner doesn't take her influence for granted, she uses her stories and art to celebrate the power, resilience, and soul of the Cuban experience.
Joining her is Laila Lockhart Kraner, the bright, young and charismatic actress of the beloved children’s series Gabby’s Dollhouse. As the curious and creative Gabby, Laila has inspired a generation of kids to embrace imagination and kindness.
While we are ready to wrap up Hispanic Heritage Month, this conversation extends beyond celebration. Gloria and Laila reflect on the music, traditions, and family stories that shaped them, from Gloria’s memories of Cuban music filling her childhood home to Laila’s blend of Dominican and Slavic roots that make her feel at home everywhere.
The exclusive exchange recorded for ¡HOLA! unfolds in a cozy living-room setting, seats facing each other, the kind of easy, laughter-filled atmosphere that feels like time shared between friends. Even though the two are from different generations, the talk was filled with laughter and genuine admiration for each other. In the end, the two connected on the cultural language and experience they’ve had about love, music, acting, and family.
Growing up Cuban in Miami
For Gloria Estefan, being Cuban is more than just her origin, it's a big part of her identity. It’s an honor, a memory, and a lifeline to her heart. She was raised in Miami, Florida, and her mother was determined to preserve their culture while in exile. “Even when my dad was a prisoner in the Bay of Pigs invasion, my mom filled the house with music,” she recalls. “Celia Cruz, Cachao, Olga Guillot, she played them all. She would sing and dance, trying to make things happy for me. Music was how we survived. It was how we remembered who we were.”
Those early sounds of boleros and songs became Gloria’s foundation. The fusion of cultures she heard in her parents’ vinyl records, from Celia to Nat King Cole, later became the rhythm of her own sound, blending Latin beats with pop energy that would change music forever.
“The farther we were from Cuba, the more important it became to keep our culture alive. My mom made sure I knew exactly where we came from, our food, our music, our history. And I’ve passed that on to my children and now my grandson.”
She smiles when she remembers her abuela, a woman whose strength shaped the family’s legacy. “My grandmother came to the United States at 57, not speaking English, and still managed to start a catering business and buy her own home,” she says. “Everything I learned about perseverance came from her.”
Embracing our cultures
Laila Lockhart Kraner listens closely, inspired by the parallels between her story and Gloria’s. “I’m Dominican on one side and Slavic on the other,” she says. “My mom’s from the former Soviet Union, and my grandma only speaks Russian. People think that’s completely different from Latin culture, but honestly, both sides love to sing, dance, and celebrate. When I’m with my grandmas, it always ends in music, just in different languages.”
Her upbringing gave her a sense of connection that transcended borders. “When I was little, I used to feel like I didn’t fit perfectly anywhere,” she admits.
“Now I realize that’s the best part. I can belong everywhere.” Gloria says with her eyes full of pride. “You are the future,” she says warmly. “You embody the world we dreamed of, one where connection matters more than difference.” As the conversation continues, they talk about what it's like having multiple cultures. Laila remembers growing up unsure of how to define herself.
“Every time I had to fill out a form that asked if I was Hispanic, white, or other, I never knew what to pick,” she says, laughing. “Now I just check them all.”
Gloria smiles. “That’s what Hispanic Heritage Month is all about, celebrating every part of who we are. The more cultures you carry, the more stories you can tell. Our diversity is our strength.”
She pauses, reflecting on her own experience as a Cuban woman who built a career in an industry that didn’t always know what to do with Latin artists. “We lived in a place full of change and struggle, but we found ways to make it joyful. That’s something Latin families are experts at, turning hardship into celebration.”
The power of being seen
Searching to see themselves in the screen connected both of their journeys. Gloria vividly remembers watching ‘I Love Lucy’ as a child and seeing Desi Arnaz, another Cuban voice, singing in Spanish and speaking with pride on American television. “He was funny, he was musical, he was proud,” she says. “It made me think, if he can do it, maybe I can too.”
Laila laughs when she shares her own story. “When I was little, I didn’t see many people who looked like me,” she says.
“I used to watch My Little Pony and loved Pinkie Pie because she had curly hair like mine. That was my version of representation. Now, when parents tell me their kids feel proud of their curls because of Gabby, it means everything.”
Gloria smiles knowingly. “People used to tell me to straighten my hair, too. But when I went to Asturias, Spain, and saw my family there, all with curly hair, I realized, this is who I am. It’s heritage. It’s history.”
The women who raised them
Family, both agree, is their anchor. Gloria’s voice softens as she remembers her parents and grandparents, the foundation of her values and her sound. “Even if we were far from Cuba, my mom made sure I never forgot who we were,” she says. “She kept our traditions alive with music, with food, with love. It’s the reason I sing, the reason I tell stories.”
Laila agrees, “I’m so lucky to have strong women in my life,” she says. “Both my grandmas are so different, one speaks Spanish, the other Russian, but they understand each other perfectly. They don’t need words. It’s love.” Gloria’s nods, “That’s exactly it,” she says. “Love always translates.”
What's Next
Before saying goodbye, Gloria leans in with a mentor’s curiosity. “You’ve already been acting for ten years,” she says. “Where do you see yourself in another ten?”
Laila smiles. “I want to keep acting, but maybe direct one day. I love storytelling. It feels like magic.” Gloria beams. “You’ll do beautifully,” she says. “You have creativity, culture, and heart. That’s a powerful combination.”
Their conversation takes them full-circle moment, two Latinas from different eras, united by the same values. For Gloria and Laila, Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie was a way to connect, bringing acting, music and their shared culture to a film that is upbeat and fun.
Two women, two generations, and one shared belief that culture is not what separates us, but what brings us together. “That’s what I love about this movie,” Gloria says. “It celebrates the things that unite us. No matter the age, no matter the language, love is the bridge.”