Gina Rodriguez took home the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a TV Comedy for her role in Jane the Virgin, winning hearts everywhere with her touching acceptance speech and emotional press room interview.

Gina Rodriguez Wins Best Actress In A TV Comedy

Rodriguez, who has been receiving rave reviews for her starring performance as Jane in The CW’s Jane the Virgin, made television history Sunday night when she won the Golden Globe as the first CW star ever to win such an honor. While Rodriguez took the time to thank CBS and The CW, she also ended her speech on a personal note, speaking about her Latina identity and pride, a subject she has spoken about before.

“This award is so much more than myself. It represents a culture that wants to see themselves as heroes,” she said to applause. “My father used to tell me to say every morning, ‘Today’s going to be a great day. I can and I will.’ Well, Dad, today’s going to be a great day. I can and I did.”

Gina Rodriguez Golden Globes Press Room

Rodriguez continued to dazzle in the press room and expanded on the importance of Jane the Virgin and the show’s two nominations at the Golden Globes – the show lost Best TV Comedy to Transparent. “The nomination alone was a win for me because it allowed our culture, it allowed Latinos, to see themselves in a beautiful light. It allowed them to see themselves where we all desire to be – invited to the same party,” Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez continued to speak about the importance of diversity onscreen:

“So, for me, the win meant everything, and it meant a lot more than just me. When I look up into that screen and we change the way we feel about ourselves, we change our perception of ourselves by the way art has created such a ripple effect. And if we can create an effect that shows Latinos like the investment bankers, the doctors, the lawyers that exist in my own home, then I think that will change the way that young girls and young boys look at themselves. And I think that that’s needed. Especially now during a time where we have dealt with Eric Garner and Michael Brown, when we are dealing with a society that is so diverse, that is so beautiful and so human, we all need to remember that we all have the same stories.”

Rodriguez continued to gush over her show and the impact she hopes it has culturally, saying, “It’s really empowering to see young girls feel like they see themselves onscreen. And, if I can keep working at making sure that that happens, then, God willing, I can do it until the day I die.”

Rodriguez wrapped up her time in the press room with an emotional speech about following your dreams.

“When I was a little girl, I dreamed of this moment. And, there’s no better way to tell others that they can win too, but by living your dreams. When you dream, and you follow your dreams, you give others the allowance to do it themselves. So, for me, it’s so exciting to be able to tell someone else, ‘Hey, don’t be afraid, go after it. Fear only exists between your two ears. Go on, take the world, man! You got this.’”

Rodriguez’s win came on the heels of the announcement that Jane the Virgin has been renewed for a second season by The CW. New episodes of Jane the Virgin return Monday, Jan. 19.