Tatianna Córdoba Is Owning Her Power on Broadway—And She’s Doing It Her Way
When Tatianna Córdoba first saw Hamilton at age 17, something clicked. “It was the first time I saw myself onstage,” she said. Now, just a few years later, Córdoba is giving that same feeling back to a new generation—this time as Ana Garcia in Real Women Have Curves: The Musical.
The Costa Rican and Filipina American actress is leading the Broadway revival of Josefina López’s iconic story, directed by Sergio Trujillo with music by Grammy winner Joy Huerta. And she’s not taking the moment lightly.
“It’s always been my goal to be another face and voice for young brown girls to see onstage, so they know they can do it too,” Córdoba told FIERCE.
Tatianna Córdoba sees Ana Garcia as the girl she wished she was at 18
For Córdoba, playing Ana isn’t just a professional milestone—it’s personal.
“Ana is everything I wish I was at 18 years old,” she said. “She’s got a lot of guts and confidence. She has a belief in herself that took me a long time to find in my own life.”
That emotional depth is what makes Real Women Have Curves so powerful. Set in 1987 East L.A., the story follows Ana as she juggles family expectations, big dreams, and the daily grind of her family’s garment factory. The show tackles everything from body image to immigrant identity—topics that hit close to home for Córdoba.
“Being okay and confident in the body I have took a VERY long time,” she said. “And it’s still something I’m dealing with.”
For Tatianna Córdoba, culture is a source of power, not compromise
Navigating the Broadway world as a young woman of color isn’t easy. But Córdoba wears her heritage with pride.
“I wear both of my cultures like badges of honor,” she said of her Costa Rican and Filipina roots. “I was taught very young to be proud of my identity and not shy away from it—and that’s something I take with me in my artistry.”
Córdoba also recognizes the responsibility that comes with visibility. As one of the few Latinas on a Broadway stage right now, she wants to make sure others know there’s room for them, too.
“The musical theater world is still a white male-dominated industry,” she explained. “Having people you can identify with in positions of power makes for a safer and freer working environment.”
Real Women Have Curves is still relevant—because the fight isn’t over
It’s been over 30 years since Josefina López wrote the original play, and more than 20 since the film adaptation starring America Ferrera hit theaters. So why is Real Women Have Curves just now making its Broadway debut?
“Unfortunately, the story is more timely now than it has ever been,” Córdoba reflected. “The immigrant story IS the American story—and it’s important to remind people of that.”
The musical doesn’t shy away from hard truths. From generational guilt to societal pressure around weight and beauty, the show gives voice to real struggles while celebrating the women who navigate them.
“This show is really a love letter to all the women in our lives,” she said. “It does a beautiful job of showing the intersectionality of what it is to be a Latina woman.”
Tatianna Córdoba wants younger Latinas to feel seen—and unfiltered
What does Córdoba hope younger Latinas take away from the show? “I hope our show tells younger Latinas that they don’t have to ‘be’ anything or any way,” she said. “We are all different, beautiful, and valuable. You are allowed to take up space, be loud, and be bold.”
As for her own journey, it’s taken time, self-acceptance, and a lot of inner work to get here. But Tatianna Córdoba is ready for this moment—and she’s bringing the entire comunidad with her.
