Melissa Villaseñor Becomes First Latina ‘Saturday Night Live’ Cast Member

Melissa Villaseñor, who is of Mexican descent, has become the first Latina cast member on Saturday Night Live.

Melissa Villaseñor Joins ‘SNL’

Saturday Night Live announced three new additions to its cast earlier this week. In addition to SNL writer Mikey Day and improv performer Alex Moffat is Villaseñor, 28, a stand-up comedian and talented impressionist. Villaseñor is likely best known for her run on America’s Got Talent back in 2011. She went on to be a top 16 finalist on what was the show’s sixth season.

Among Villaseñor’s seemingly infinite celebrity impressions are Jennifer Lopez, Owen Wilson, Kristin Wiig, Gwen Stefani, Hillary Clinton, Wanda Sykes Natalie Portman and Barbara Walters.

Villaseñor has also lent her voice to Adventure Time on Cartoon Network, Family Guy and Comedy Central’s Trip Tank.

Villaseñor’s casting has been met with praise from many, including Felix Sanchez, the chairman of the National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts. “[This] shows that we’re making progress and that we are an important community that cannot be disregarded,” Sanchez told Fox News Latino. “This is an area that is undeveloped and underrepresented — Latinas in comedy. If Melissa does well, there will be a demand for more it will open doors for others.”