Jackie Cruz, who plays the role of Flaca on the hit Netflix original series Orange is the New Black, sat down with the Latino entertainment site Lossip and chatted a bit about the new season of the show, her influences and what it is for her to be Latina.

The Dominican singer/actress commented on how outspoken and frank her character was, and how little Flaca cares about other's opinions. As a supporting character, Cruz often provides hilarious asides, incites trouble with one of the other inmates, or challenging anyone who's silly enough to confront her.

Cruz spoke glowingly about the show, and praised the amazing group of Latina women who work alongside her, particularly Selenis Leyva, a veteran actress, who Cruz sees as a source of inspiration. Leyva portrays Gloria Mendozza, a savvy and perhaps cunning woman who is chosen to man the kitchen after the former cook was framed for smuggling drugs into the prison.

Cruz stated that Leyva, like many of the other women, were completely different than their characters, so it's a testament to their talent that they are able to switch into a completely different persona.

 "She's been acting a very long time," Cruz said of Leyva. "I take her opinion seriously."

She talked extensively about her music, which she described as folky pop rock, but mentioned that she would like her bi-cultural upbringing (raised in Santiago, Dominican Republic and in the US) to influence her music, particularly her Latino culture.

Potentially declaring that Hollywood and the music industry best be prepared for more Latina women like her, she mentioned that as a "new" kind of Latino, she speaks Spanish but is also an American. Cruz identifies some of her musical influences, which are Elvis Costello, Tracy Chapman and Fiona Apple.

"[Fiona Apple] feels what she sings," Cruz said in slight wonderment. Cruz also admitted that she plays the guitar, used to play the sax, and she has a weakness for Latin food.

Orange is the New Black is a comedy-drama series created by Jenji Kohan, based on the memoir of the same name, by Piper Kerman. The show's lead, Piper Chapman (Taylor Schilling) is imprisoned for transporting drug money. In prison, she runs into her ex-girlfriend who named her as an accomplice in drug trafficking and caused her arrest (Laura Prepon as Alex Vause), and Chap also interacts with a plethora of other women, who were arrested and are incarcerated for a number of offenses.

Cruz iterated that it's a very real show and it's relatable. She stated, with confidence, that anyone could find someone to connect with in the large collective of women.

Season 2 of the series of the show will be released on Netflix some time in 2014.