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“Aimee G., spicy, Mexi-Rican chick in town. Call if you want to see her.”

No, it’s not an online dating service or personal ad. It’s actually an announcement actress Aimee Garcia mass mailed to casting directors upon her arrival in Los Angeles three years ago, declaring her presence. “Who does that?” she asks, laughing. “I’ve always come out here with a no holds barred, unapologetic kind of attitude. How are people going to know you’re here if you don’t announce it?” Indeed. Did it work? “I got a gig ten days after I landed,” professes Aimee.

Before the exceptionally sweet and incredibly smart do-it-yourselfer landed that first LA gig, starring alongside Jennifer Anniston in “The Good Girl,” she was a classically trained dancer who made her professional theatrical debut at the age of seven at The Auditorium Theatre in her native Chicago. An agent friend of her mom’s insisted Aimee should do commercials, “But my mom said I wasn’t so cute,” she states. “Then when I was nine, they needed someone who was a dancer and my mom said ‘she may not be that cute but she can dance.’ I haven’t looked back since.”

What began as a hobby turned into a part-time job during Aimee’s high school years, doing commercials with sports superstars like Michael Jordan, Sammy Sosa and Charles Barkley. “Because I was bilingual I would end up dong McDonalds commercials in Spanish and English. It was pretty funny. I’d ask if you would like some fries in English and then in Spanish, back to back. They would change a couple of things and there we were.” It was at this time Aimee got her first big screen test for Baz Luhrmann’s “Romeo + Juliet,” going up against Natalie Portman, Reese Witherspoon, Christina Ricci, and Claire Danes (who went on to play the role of Juliet). “I showed up with no makeup, fresh off the plane, jeans and a t-shirt. I had no idea that I was going to be magnified 25 times,” she recalls. “That’s some pretty stiff competition and some great company.”

While attending Northwestern University, the Economics and Journalism major continued to do commercials and theatre work, landing a second major film screen test, this time for “Selena.” “I remember we landed in LA and my mom says ‘let’s go shopping’ and I said ‘are you kidding?’ I learned from my “Romeo + Juliet” mistake of just not over preparing. I locked myself in the hotel room and choreographed the entire 10 minute routine, even though we were going to have a professional choreographer.” Although she didn’t get the part, that test eventually led to a meeting with Norman Lear and a 2 year television contract with Paramount. States Aimee, “I got my Junior and Senior year of college paid for by Norman Lear.”

Wanting to prove she could make a living doing something other than acting, Aimee moved to New York and worked for a mutual fund analyst company. “I was madly in love with acting and it was almost as if I’d left my first love and dated other people because I had to prove something to myself,” she says. After receiving a tantalizing job offer from financial firm Morgan Stanley that would net her close to six figures a year, Aimee returned to her true love and is now playing the part of a millionaire on ABC’s “George Lopez” as the feisty Veronica.

As the newest member of a hit show with a proven track record, Aimee has nothing but admiration and praise for her new television family. “It could have been really difficult to come in as the new guy, but it was such a welcoming environment where from day one I felt so at home,” she states. “When you have a boss who’s on his game, who knows his lines, who has impeccable comedic timing, it’s great and you better bring it, too.”

Playing Veronica provides Aimee with what she feels is a certain obligation to young Latina viewers. “I do think it’s really important for me to continue representing Latina characters who are smart, educated, sassy, funny and give people kind of a self recognition of yeah, we belong here.” Crediting America Ferrera of “Ugly Betty” fame for changing the way Americans view Latinas, states Aimee, “She’s smart, she’s witty, she’s more than her looks.” As for her role of Veronica, “I’ve been really fortunate enough to speak without an accent. What a concept. And, not only that, but be a millionaire.” Applauding characters that portray Latinas as more goofy than sexy siren, Aimee admits, “I read everyday. I play chess. I’ve traveled to 20 different countries and I’m not the only one. I know there are tons of women out there who are the same way. I hope to really represent them because I am one of them.”

Her passion for life is infectious and her code of always hustle, always be thankful and never let fear stop you, speaks volumes of the actress who continues to get the most out of life by traveling, paragliding, and writing travelogues.

You can catch Aimee on ABC’s “George Lopez” and on the big screen in the upcoming horror film “7eventy Five,” and female break dancing flick “B-Girl.”