Rachel Zegler recalled the feeling of 'having a bunch of white executives have you prove your identity to them' during her 'West Side Story' casting

As Zegler has experienced firsthand, the attacks on DEI initiatives in this country aren’t going away any time soon. “My only prayer for the future of diversity and inclusion,” she reflected to Allure, “is that we invest in and nurture talent no matter what they look like.”

“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 María 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.”