Party of Five's Emily Tosta Reveals She's Not a US Resident

Emily Tosta is sharing her story about first coming to the United States from the Dominican Republic.

The Party of Five actress arrived in the Miami at age 12 with her mom, on a tourist visa nearly 10 years ago. Neither knew English at the time.

“I’m still [in the United States] on a work visa,” Emily told Refinery29. “I’m not even a resident.”

On speaking out about her immigration journey, Emily said, “It was definitely fearful at first because I was like, ‘Am I supposed to be talking about this?’ Especially in the current political climate that we live in. But at the same time, you just have to have faith in yourself and try to be a voice for those people [in similar situations]. Honestly, I was like, Eff it. I’m just going to go for it, because I’m just going to be that person for other teenage girls. Hopefully it works out.”

Emily Tosta has also faced criticisms of her physical appearance and more throughout her career.

READ MORE: Emily Tosta, Brandon Larracuente & ‘Party of Five’ Stars Thank Fans For Their Support After Premiere

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“I didn’t know that my body was going to be an issue,” Emily shared. “I didn’t know that my accent that comes out sometimes — and used to come out a lot more back then — would be an issue. I didn’t know that who I am as a person … was going to be an issue.”

“I developed when I was 12. I’ve had this same body since I was little,” she continued. “I was like ‘What is a training bra?’ I was straight to a bra. Like a big bra. So it’s just like this is who I am. As a 15-year-old, 16-year-old, 17-year-old that’s not the first thought that you go to. You start thinking, ‘Maybe there is something wrong with me. I keep hearing the same thing over and over again.”’

“My body is beautiful,” Emily Tosta added. “My face is beautiful. My ethnicity is beautiful. Where I come from is beautiful. My hair — my curly hair! — is beautiful.”