Rachel Zegler is Colombian. Few know that Hollywood actress and Disney’s new Snow White has family roots that trace back to Colombia. While her name is mostly associated with her Ashkenazi Jewish heritage from her father’s side, Rachel Zegler’s mom, Gina, is actually Colombian American.
Rachel Zegler, a proud Colombian American
Rachel Zegler was born in Hackensack, NJ, on May 3, 2001, and grew up in nearby Clifton. Her father, Craig Zegler, is a Jewish American who traces his ancestry to Poland’s Ashkenazi community. Her mother Gina, on the other hand, is a Hispanic American.
According to Rachel Zegler herself, her grandmother is Colombian—specifically from Barranquilla, on the Caribbean Coast. “My parents were born here [the U.S.], but my abuelita was not—she came from Colombia in the ’60s to have my mom,” she said in an interview with Time back in 2021.
It is worth noting that Barranquilla is also the hometown of Sofia Vergara, the most famous Colombian American actress of all time. Zegler has notably mentioned Vergara, Shakira, and journalist Nina Garcia (all born in Barranquilla) as examples she looked up to, calling them “powerful Latinas” who showed her that succeeding as a Latina in the U.S. entertainment industry was possible.
@thisisdanis #rachelzegler mi reina Colombiana 🇨🇴👑 also #nochesdecolombia and #newjersey mentioned‼️‼️‼️go support her in #SnowWhite out now🍿 #disneyprincess #Disney #Latina #Colombia #baranquilla #Colombiana #empanadas #postobonmanzana ♬ original sound – Daniela Salazar
In another interview with Allure, Rachel Zegler spoke about her little-known Latin heritage. “There’s confusion because I don’t have a single ounce of Latin in my name,” Zegler said. “When I was in the running for Maria in West Side Story, they kept calling to ask if I was legit. I remember thinking, Do you want me to bring my abuelita in? I will. I’ll bring her into the studio if you want to meet her.”
Reflecting on her identity, she explained, “It’s an interesting experience being part of that diaspora in the current climate we live in,” and said that she “loves being Colombian.”
Zegler shared that Noches de Colombia, a restaurant in New Jersey, is one of her favorite places, listing Manzana Postobon, Colombian pasteles, empanadas, arroz de pollo (chicken rice) among her favorite foods.
The White Snow controversy
Rachel Zegler’s acting career began with a breakout role as Maria in Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story (2021), which earned her widespread acclaim and a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress. This performance launched her into Hollywood stardom, leading to major roles in high-profile films such as Shazam! Fury of the Gods (2023), The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (2023), and most recently Disney’s live-action Snow White (2025).
This last role sparked online controversy, as many people criticized Disney’s casting choice, calling it “woke,” and directed particular backlash at Zegler. Beyond the fact that a Latina actress was cast to portray a character from a European-set fairy tale, critics also pointed to Zegler’s past comments about Snow White.
In 2022, Zegler told Extra TV that the original Snow White has “a big focus on her love story with a guy who literally stalks her. Weird! WEIRD!” These remarks resurfaced online and fueled further debate, as Zegler was also criticized for her feminist, modern approach to the Disney princess role.
Released a month ago, the movie is a commercial failure so far. According to Trending Politics online news site owner Collin Rugg, forecasts predict the film will only generate $295 million, compared to a budget estimated between $240 and $270 million. The movie also has one of the worst IMDb ratings of all time—1.6/10 on average out of over 340,000 ratings as of today.