Alba: The Best-Dressed Latina at the 2012 Met Ball

It’s no wonder they call it the “Oscars of the East Coast”… The Metropolitan Museum of Art‘s Costume Institute Gala may celebrate the annual opening of the Metropolitan Museum‘s fashion exhibit at the Costume Institute… But it’s also the place to see Hollywood’s brightest stars dressed to impress in some of the season’s hautest gowns.

Hosted by Vogue, this year’s event proved to be another high-style affair, with several Latina starlets stealing the spotlight on the red carpet.

Here’s a look at the night’s best-dressed Latinas:

Jessica Alba at the Met Ball

Jessica Alba
It was a golden night for Jessica Alba, who will soon begin filming Machete Kills, the sequel to Robert Rodriguez’s 2010 cult classic Machete. The 30-year-old half-Mexican American actress shined brighter than the sun in a gold lame one-shoulder goddess gown from Michael Kors’ Resort 2012 collection.

Camilla Belle at the Met Ball

Camilla Belle
Much like Alba, Camilla Belle embraced this season’s metallic trend by donning a stunning Ralph Lauren Collection tulle-and-beaded dress in liquid gold. The 25-year-old half-Brazilian American actress accessorized the bold low-cut number with champagne-hued Ralph Lauren Collection sandals, Ralph Lauren Vintage Collection gems and dark red lipstick.

Rosario Dawson at the Met Ball

Rosario Dawson
She played a goddess in Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief… And during Monday’s Met Ball Rosario Dawson looked like she was back in character. The 39-year-old actress of Puerto Rican and Afro-Cuban descent—who will be portray Dolores Huerta, the co-founder of the UFW in a film about Latino labor leader Cesar Chavez—flaunted her taut figure in a skin-tight black leather Calvin Klein creation, which she accentuated with bright blue earrings.

Gisele Bundchen at the Met Ball

Gisele Bündchen
Gisele Bündchen
, who is well on her way to becoming the world’s first billionaire supermodel, looked like a billion dollars on the red carpet. The 31-year-old Brazilian supermodel wore a slit-to-there beaded Givenchy Haute Couture by Riccardo Tisci gown, stylish sandals and jewelry by David Yurman.

 

 

Lea Michele at the Met Ball

Lea Michele
There’s nothing blue about Glee star Lea Michele’s navy blue Diane von Furstenberg with a high-slit and plunging neckline. The 25-year-old part-Spanish actress/singer—who was the best-dressed Latina at this year’s SAG Awards—paired her daring sequined gown with a Diane von Furstenberg clutch and Christian Louboutin shoes and a tassel necklace and other diamond jewels by Lorraine Schwartz.

 

Eva Mendes at the Met Ball

Eva Mendes
She may be starring as a neglectful mother in the soon-to-be-released film Girl in Progress, but there was nothing negligent about Eva Mendes’ look at the Met Ball. The 38-year-old Cuban-American actress wore a Prada tangerine silk strapless peplum dress with whimsical embroidery. Mendes paired the dress with a Prada clutch and Fred Leighton jewels.

Sofia Vergara at the Met Ball

Sofia Vergara
It’s no wonder she’s been named the most desirable woman in the world; Sofia Vergara looks absolutely stunning in her silver embroidered Marchesa gown. the 39-year-old Colombian bombshell and Modern Family star paired her standout gown with Casadei pumps and 

 jewelry.

La La Anthony at the Met Ball

La La Anthony
Talk about makin’ sparks fly! Reality star La La Vazquez Anthony rocked an electric blue Zac Posen dress with intricate bodice detailing. The The 32-year-old Nuyorican actress and entrepreneur, who recently launched her own cosmetics line, paired her oh-so-bright dress with sleek Mizuki drop earrings.

Cameron Diaz at the Met Ball

Cameron Diaz
Cameron Diaz
who will soon be appearing in the ensemble film about pending motherhood, What To Expect When You’re Expecting—was another of the night’s heavy metal stars! The 39-year-old Cuban American actress wore a snug, long-sleeved Stella McCartney golden gown with dramatic draped back. Diaz paired the dazzling dress with a coordinating gold metal clutch, also by the designer.

Peña to Star in Film About Labor Leader Cesar Chavez

Michael Peña will soon be portraying the nation’s most recognized Latino labor leader and civil rights activist.

The 36-year-old Mexican American actor—who has appeared in such films as Crash, Battle: Los Angeles, Lincoln Lawyer and World Trade Center has signed on to star as Cesar Chavez in a film about the Mexican American farm worker, labor leader and civil rights activist who co-founded the United Farmworkers Union (UFW).

Michael Pena

Chavez led the largest nonviolent protest in U.S. history to achieve the UFW’s goal of obtaining basic human rights for more than 50,000 farm workers in California.

“This man inspired an entire community to see themselves as deserving of basic rights and to rise up against injustice,” said Mexican actor Diego Luna, who will direct the biopic. “The film will send the message that change is in our hands — Chavez did something everyone thought impossible with a fearless grace that magnetized an entire country.”

Cesar Chavez

Rosario Dawson is on board to portray Dolores Huerta co-founder of the UFW; while Cesar’s wife will be played by America Ferrera.

In addition, Jacob Vargas has been cast as Chavez’s brother Richard and Yancey Arias as Gilbert Padilla.

The film is set to begin filming next month in Mexico.