'West Side Story' Star Rita Moreno, 93, Rocks Bold Stripes and Her Signature Charm During an Unfiltered Talk About Her Hollywood Journeyoriginally appeared onParade. The legendaryRita Morenois making a powerful return to her roots, not for a performance, but for an intimate, deeply personal evening with her community. On August 21, the EGOT-winning icon will take the stage inPuerto Ricofor a special installment of the "Diálogos Icónicos" series. The night, organizers say, is designed to feel less like a formal lecture and more like a heartfelt conversation with an artist who has been a beacon of hope for her people for decades. Theeventis set to be a unique experience. Curated images from key moments in Moreno's sprawling career will line the venue, creating a "living gallery" that guides the audience through her journey. Characters inspired byWest Side Storywill move through the aisles, and exclusive footage will play on the main screen, immersing the audience in her story. The night promises to be a "conversation around a shared table," a fitting setting for a story as raw and real as Rita Moreno's. At apress conferencefor the event, the 93-year-old star sported her signature short haircut, blue glasses, and a vibrant ensemble of blue and white striped pants with a matching jacket. Moreno confessed that her desire to connect with the audience came from a place of shared struggle. "I love to share with the audience or with my fans, because there are many things they don't know," Moreno said. "They don't know the struggles that I lived." The star, who was a pioneer for Latina women in Hollywood, went on to admit that she still has to give herself strength to remember the battles she had to fight to break down barriers. Moreno's trademark candor underscores her legacy and why she is considered "la pionera" (the pioneer) by her community. In a moment that bridged her storied past with Puerto Rico's present, Moreno expressed regret that her busy schedule would prevent her from attending fellow Boricua iconBad Bunny's concert residency. Bad Bunny's 30-show "No Me Quiero Ir De Aquí" (I Don't Want to Leave Here) residency is a love letter to the island that is expected to inject $200 million into the local economy. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Rosalina Marrero-Rodríguez (@rosalinamarrero) But she made it clear that her admiration for him, as well as forLin-Manuel Mirandaand salsa legendHector Lavoe, is immense. "I admire him a lot," she stressed. "I love what he's doing because he's doing it for love and I love that." Moreno's words are an endorsement from a Hollywood icon to a global superstar who, like her, has used his platform to celebrate Puerto Rican pride and identity. The night is poised to be a celebration of both Moreno's remarkable past and the future of Puerto Rican talent she helped pave the way for. Related:The Classic Recipe That's Rita Moreno's Go-To 'West Side Story' Star Rita Moreno, 93, Rocks Bold Stripes and Her Signature Charm During an Unfiltered Talk About Her Hollywood Journeyfirst appeared on Parade on Aug 20, 2025 This story was originally reported byParadeon Aug 20, 2025, where it first appeared.