Eva Longoria, a renowned actress and influential Latina in Hollywood, draws immense inspiration from her three sisters: Elizabeth “Liza,” Esmeralda, and Emily. These sisters have played pivotal roles in shaping her life and career, and their close-knit bond has been a source of strength and empowerment for Eva.
Early Life and Family Background
The Longoria siblings are ninth-generation Americans with a rich heritage that dates back to the 1600s when their ancestors emigrated from Spain to Mexico. Eva shared with The Wall Street Journal that her family lived through significant historical events, including the Texas Revolution in 1836. This revolution transformed their 4,500-acre farmland near the Rio Grande into United States soil. Growing up, the Longoria sisters often visited relatives in Mexico but primarily called this land their home.
Raised in south Texas, the Longoria sisters were surrounded by educators. Their mother, Ella Longoria, became a special needs teacher when Liza, the eldest sister, was born with an intellectual disability. Ella’s dedication to her daughter’s education was evident as she even applied to be a teacher’s assistant and was assigned to Liza’s class, following her from grade to grade.
A Strong Foundation of Female Empowerment
Eva Longoria, born on March 15, 1975, is the youngest of her siblings. During a 2023 interview with PEOPLE, the Desperate Housewives alum emphasized the strong sense of female empowerment that permeated the Longoria household. “I come from a family of independent, strong women,” Eva said. “I didn’t have to look far for those role models.”
Eva often reflects on her mother’s incredible dedication and work ethic. “My mom raised four girls, one child with special needs, had a full-time job, had dinner on the table every day at six, was at every band practice, cheerleading practice, everything,” she explained. “And so for me, it’s like, ‘Wow.’ I always think, ‘I’m not doing enough in my life!'”
Growing Up in Corpus Christi, Texas
The Longoria daughters were raised on their family ranch near Corpus Christi, Texas. They lived in a small house with just one bathroom but were surrounded by the richness of vegetable gardens, fruit trees, chickens, and livestock. Eva described her upbringing as a “gift” during an interview with The Beverly Hills Courier.
“Growing up on a farm … gives you an appreciation for nature, animals, gardening, and where food comes from. My dad would never let us eat fast food because we grew so many vegetables. He said there was no reason to ever eat out. We would pull carrots from the ground and just eat them,” she recalled.
The Tradition of Names Beginning with “E”
On their mother’s side of the family, the tradition of naming siblings with names beginning with the letter “E” spans generations. Ella Longoria continued this tradition with her daughters: Esmeralda, elizabeth judina longoria, Emily, and Eva. Ella herself married a man whose name also starts with an “E,” further cementing this family tradition.
“My mom’s mom did that. And my mom chose to continue it. My mom’s brothers and sisters all start with an ‘E.’ All my aunts, Elda, Elsa, Edna … There’s nine of them. Crazy,” Eva shared with The Beverly Hills Courier.
Language and Cultural Identity
Fans might be surprised to learn that Spanish is actually Eva’s third language, her first being English and French. During a 2023 episode of the Not Skinny But Not Fat podcast, Eva revealed that she didn’t grow up speaking Spanish. Her parents spoke Spanish to each other but didn’t teach it to their children. “That time — and still — there was a big push for assimilation for kids by the school system and by society of like, ‘Don’t let them have an accent,’ and ‘Don’t let them be othered,’ and ‘Don’t let them speak any other language,’” Eva explained.
Childhood Memories and Hunting with Their Dad
Growing up, one of the sisters’ favorite pastimes was hunting with their dad, Enrique Longoria. At the young age of 7, Eva knew how to hunt a deer, catch a fish, and shoot a gun. Enrique, who worked as a rancher and mechanical engineer, taught his daughters how to live off the land and be “pioneer women.”
“[I’ve been] hunting with my dad since I [was] six,” Eva said during a 2005 appearance on NBC’s Dateline. “I can handle a gun. I could skin a deer, I could skin a pig. I can pluck quail — you name it, I’ve done it.” She fondly recalled her first pet, a cow, highlighting the unique and rugged aspects of her upbringing.
Liza’s Intellectual Disability and Its Impact
Liza, the eldest sister, was born with an intellectual disability, which significantly shaped the Longoria family’s life. During an appearance on Kerry Washington’s YouTube series, Street You Grew Up On, Eva opened up about Liza’s condition and its impact on their childhood.
“My childhood was very much shaped by my older sister’s special needs. [The doctors] told my parents she’ll never walk, she’ll never talk, she’ll never have an emotion … and she’s probably going to pass away very, very early,” Eva shared. Despite these dire predictions, Liza has defied the odds and is doing “amazing,” now in her fifties with a job and a boyfriend.
Liza’s condition also inspired Eva’s commitment to philanthropy. Eva told PEOPLE about her family’s deep involvement in volunteering and community programs, which instilled in her a strong desire to give back. “We kind of grew up in her [Liza’s] world and that meant volunteering a lot, and that meant knowing community programs and it just meant giving back to people we never knew,” Eva explained. “I always wondered, ‘Who are these people helping our family with this program or that class?’ And my mom would explain they were philanthropists. So I knew that word very early on in my life and that’s what I wanted to be. I said, ‘I want to be a philanthropist when I grow up.’”
The Siblings’ Physical Differences
Eva often felt different from her sisters due to her appearance. While Esmeralda, Elizabeth, and Emily were born with blonde hair and hazel eyes, Eva had black hair and dark eyes. “I wasn’t the pretty one,” she joked on the Not Skinny But Not Fat podcast. Her family affectionately referred to her as “la prieta fea,” which means “the ugly dark one” in Spanish. While this nickname was meant as a term of endearment within her family, it affected Eva, especially when strangers noticed the physical differences between her and her sisters.
“I grew up as not the pretty one, so there was a conscious decision when I was young to be the funny one,” Eva shared. This early experience shaped her personality and contributed to her sense of humor and resilience.
The Sisters’ Private Lives and Public Support
Despite their relatively private lives, Esmeralda, Liza, and Emily have always been Eva’s biggest supporters. In July 2017, Esmeralda and Emily joined Eva at the Global Gift Gala in Marbella, Spain, an event partially funded by the Eva Longoria Foundation. In April 2018, the trio celebrated Eva’s Hollywood Walk of Fame induction together, proudly posing for photos with their mother and Eva’s newly minted star.
Eva’s Journey with Self-Esteem and Beauty
Eva Longoria’s journey with self-esteem and beauty is deeply intertwined with her experiences growing up in a family where she felt like the “ugly duck.” During a recent interview for the Not Skinny But Not Fat podcast with Amanda Hirsch, Eva opened up about how her sisters’ socially accepted beauty impacted her self-esteem. “All my three sisters were blonde. And I was the only one that came out with black hair, dark skin, dark eyes,” she said. “My sisters have these beautiful hazel eyes. My mom is a ‘Güera’ — which is the white one. They call her ‘Tia Güera’ because she’s so light-skinned.”
Eva revealed that she grew up being called “la prieta fea” by her mom, a term that, although affectionate, highlighted her differences. “It’s a term of endearment, but when people would walk up to my mom and go, ‘your daughters are so beautiful. And who’s this?’ I’d be like, ‘I’m one of them,’” she shared. This experience led her to develop a strong sense of humor and resilience, ultimately shaping her personality and career.
Becoming a L’Oréal Ambassador
Eva Longoria joined the L’Oréal Paris family in 2005 and has since become one of the longest-serving members of the brand’s “Dream Team,” which includes notable names like Jennifer Lopez, Beyoncé Knowles, Jane Fonda, Julianne Moore, and Blake Lively. Despite her initial feelings of being the “ugly duck,” Eva’s beauty and influence have made her a global ambassador for one of the most prestigious beauty brands in the world.
Conclusion
Eva Longoria’s story is one of resilience, empowerment, and the unbreakable bond of sisterhood. Her sisters, Esmeralda, Elizabeth, and Emily, have been her biggest supporters and role models, shaping her into the strong, independent woman she is today. From their humble beginnings on a Texas ranch to Eva’s rise as a Hollywood star and philanthropist, the Longoria sisters’ journey is a testament to the power of family and the enduring impact of love and support.