Camila Cabello Just Proved Why Hispanic Heritage Month Is So Important

She opened up about immigrating from Mexico and Cuba!

It’s Hispanic Heritage Month and, to commemorate that, Fifth Harmony’s Camila Cabello has penned a poignant essay for POPSUGAR on why she’s ~rightfully~ proud to be Cuban-Mexican.

Growing up an immigrant in the United States wasn’t easy for the star. At around 7-years-old, Camila and her mom left their homes in Havana, Cuba and Mexico City with only “a couple hundred dollars” and “the clothes on [their] backs.” Her father joined them in Miami a year and a half later.

Even though Camila’s mom had a good career as an architect in Cuba, none of her degrees could be applied in the U.S. Like so many other immigrants, Mama Cabello was forced to restart from the ground up.

“Immigrants have one thing in common: hunger,” says Camila. “The hunger to do the impossible because you have no choice, because you came too damn far, because you’ve known what struggling is, and you’re not going to take an opportunity for granted.”

Camila ended the piece by referencing America’s current political climate, drawing attention to Donald Trump’s controversial (and hella problematic) stance on immigration.

“When I hear a bigoted, racist man with power and influence speak with anger and ill-will about immigrants, I think ‘what a fool,’” she wrote. “When anybody wants to tell you they want to build a “wall” on our border, remember behind that wall is struggle, determination, hunger.”

According to the Migration Policy Institute, there are over 11.7 million immigrants in the United States. Most all of them makes valuable contributions to our country and should be given the chance and respect to lead their best American life. We must not forget the struggles they endured to get here because we are at our strongest when we welcome and celebrate diversity!

“Behind that wall, could be the next cure for cancer, the next scientist, the next artist, the next drummer, “ says Camila. “The next anything they work hard enough to become.”

Thanks for using your voice to make this world a better place. We love you, Camila!