This past year, several familiar Latinas and a couple of new faces proved that, when it comes to the beauty and fashion industry, Latinas are a force to be reckoned with.

Selena Gomez

The former Disney starlet was announced as the new face of Pantene in June. The 23-year-old Mexican-American star became the focus of the "Strong is Beautiful" campaign.

With Gomez already being such a strong influence on youth and a voice for Latinas and equality, making her an ambassador for the brand was definitely the right move.

Denise Bidot

In June 2015, model Denise Bidot shocked and surprised when she went all natural for a Swimsuits for All campaign.

The photos and video created for the summer campaign featured the plus-size stunner without any retouching. Bidot posed for the campaign in a series of bathing suits barring her stretch marks and cellulite while still evoking sex appeal and confidence.

All it took was a one-minute video for the Latina to challenge stereotypes about beauty and what is acceptable in fashion.

Lineisy Montero

Model Lineisy Montero is the model you don't know, but who was everywhere this year. The Latina made a splash in the fashion industry this year after walking the most runway shows and becoming the focal point of Prada's Fall/Winter 2015 campaigns.

Montero is the only model of color in the ads and stands out because of her androgyny and afro-styled hair. This Latina, who was discovered in the Dominican Republic, has appeared on the cover of Teen Vogue's July 2015 issue, was part of the Balmain for H&M show and was named the industry's choice "Breakout Star" by Models.com.

Jessica Alba

By now plenty of fans of the star know that the actress and entrepreneur runs her own lifestyle product brand called The Honest Company. What began as a way to help parents by offering them safe, organic and affordable products for their children became a multimillion dollar company that spawned personal care products and a beauty collection.

In August 2015, according to The Wall Street Journal, The Honest Company became a billion dollar brand, now worth at $1.7 billion. This milestone made Alba one of the most powerful business women and Latinas in the world.

Selena Quintanilla

Fans of the late Selena Quintanilla and her style rejoiced this year when MAC Cosmetics announced that it would be launching a makeup collection inspired by the iconic, and still influential, Tejano singer.

The music superstar was the subject of a Change.org petition by fans insisting the star get her own beauty line. After over 37 thousand signatures, the beauty giant complied with new shades of eye liner and lipstick among other products.

Alejandra Espinoza

The former beauty queen and television personality was announced as the new face of Revlon's "Love is On" beauty campaign in October 2015.

The Mexican star, popular for her appearances on various Univision shows and for winning Season 1 of "Nuestra Belleza Latina," joined the ranks of other Revlon ambassadors, like Halle Berry, Emma Stone, Olivia Wilde and Jessica Alba.

With her Revlon gig and various television jobs, Espinoza is becoming one of the more recognizable Latino television stars.

Carolina Herrera

Venezuelan designer Carolina Herrera hit another milestone in her long and influential career in fashion this year. In November, the designer was honored with "The Portrait of a Nation Prize" by the Smithsonian's National Art Gallery.

The award honors individuals whose work in their craft embodies the best of American culture. Herrera, whose work has included countless of clothing collections and products, was the first designer and only Latina to receive the honor.

Adriana Lima

In December, the supermodel became the first Brazilian woman to have a statue featured in her honor at Madame Tussaud's. Not only does Lima now have her stunning face and figure immortalized in wax but she also gets the honor of being the first Victoria's Secret statue.

Lima is one of the most recognizable faces of the Victoria's Secret brand. She has held the title of a VS Angel since 2000 and is the brand's longest running model and the second-highest earning model of 2014 and 2015.