1. Home
  2. Our Speakers
  3. MJ Acosta-Ruiz

MJ Acosta-Ruiz

NEW EXCLUSIVE
  • Emmy Award-Winning Sportscaster
  • Host, NFL Network's 'NFL Total Access'
  • First-Ever Afro-Latina Reporter and Host for NFL Network
  • Advocate for Women's Empowerment, Representation, Equality, and Marginalized Communities



MJ Acosta-Ruiz is the host of NFL Total Access on the NFL Network. Acosta-Ruiz is the first ever Afro-Latina and woman of color to host a show at the NFL Network. Fully bilingual in English and Spanish, she also contributes across multiple platforms for NFL Mexico & NFL Español.

In her nearly decade long career, the Emmy Award-winning journalist continues her work as an advocate for representation and equality. MJ works closely with women’s empowerment groups such as A Seat at the Table, and is dedicated the amplifying the voices of marginalized communities. 

 

Add to my speaker list
MJ Acosta-Ruiz headshot
MJ Acosta-Ruiz photo 3
MJ Acosta-Ruiz photo 2
Virtual Moderating - Changing the Game: the NFL Pro Bowl Goes Virtual | Paley Center [32:39] - Get Sharable Link
Explore Talks By MJ Acosta-Ruiz
Expand all >

Break Barriers and Blaze Trails

Drawing on her experience of being the first ever Afro-Latina and woman of color to host a major NFL show and working in a male-dominated field, MJ Acosta-Ruiz knows what it takes to overcome obstacles and rise to the top. Her success did not come easily and took a decade to make, refine and shine. ...

Drawing on her experience of being the first ever Afro-Latina and woman of color to host a major NFL show and working in a male-dominated field, MJ Acosta-Ruiz knows what it takes to overcome obstacles and rise to the top. Her success did not come easily and took a decade to make, refine and shine. Before her entrance onto the national scene, Acosta-Ruiz strategized her steps as if they were a military plan and then defeated rejection, insecurity, loneliness and even gender bias to reach her goal. Her inspirational story is one of hard work, endless preparation, and embracing what makes her different.

Embracing Your Authentic, Professional, Beautiful Self

As an Afro-Latina with a career in media, MJ Acosta-Ruiz opens up about her journey from being told how to look and present herself to the audience, to being an unapologetic curly hair advocate. For some it may seem trivial: “It's just hair. Who cares?” But for MJ it was about owning and loving what ...

As an Afro-Latina with a career in media, MJ Acosta-Ruiz opens up about her journey from being told how to look and present herself to the audience, to being an unapologetic curly hair advocate. For some it may seem trivial: “It's just hair. Who cares?” But for MJ it was about owning and loving what made her special and presenting her true and authentic self to the world. When she started her television career over 10 years ago, there was no scenario where she would be allowed to wear her curly, textured hair as it grew out of her head — none. A chemical hair relaxer was like a rite of passage for most of the women in her family, who were taught for generations to hide their pelo malo, or bad hair. It took MJ over 30 years, a lot of internal work, and self-love to get to a place where she felt confident in her own skin and in her own beautiful curly crown. In this talk, Acosta-Ruiz encourages and inspires everyone to present their true selves at work, and move past traditional beauty standards of professionalism.

Learn more about MJ Acosta-Ruiz
Follow   Instagram 
Programming Ideas
(+)
Articles
(+)
Latina Powerhouse top 100: MJ Acosta-Ruiz - Hola!
MJ Acosta-Ruiz talks breaking barriers and blazing trails - Fox 11
MJ Acosta-Ruiz is the First and Only Afro-Latina Representing the Culture on the NFL Network - Hola!
A Bad Ass Afro-Latina You Should Know - BuzzFeed/Pero Like
Biography
[x]     (+)

MJ Acosta-Ruiz is the host of NFL Total Access on the NFL Network. Acosta-Ruiz is the first ever Afro-Latina and woman of color to host a show at the NFL Network. Fully bilingual in English and Spanish she also contributes across multiple platforms for NFL Mexico & NFL Español.

An Emmy Award winning Sportscaster, Acosta-Ruiz joined NFL Network in 2018 from NBC and Telemundo in San Diego where she covered the Chargers, Padres and international soccer for three seasons in both English & Spanish language broadcasts as the lead sports anchor. Prior to joining NBC and Telemundo, Acosta-Ruiz spent three years as a reporter for WPLG, the ABC affiliate in Miami and Fort Lauderdale, covering sports, entertainment and breaking news.

A former Miami Dolphins cheerleader, Acosta-Ruiz graduated from Barry University with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications.

In her nearly decade long career, the Emmy Award winning journalist continues her work as an advocate for representation and equality. MJ works closely with women’s empowerment groups such as A Seat at the Table, and is dedicated the amplifying the voices of marginalized communities.

More speakers like MJ Acosta-Ruiz:
Black Heritage & History Month
Diversity, Inclusion & Equity
Exclusive to HWA
Journalists & Media
Moderators & Interviewers
New Realities: Race, Social Justice & Community
New to HWA
News & Media
Personal Growth & Inspiration
Social Change
Sports Broadcasters & Journalists
Sports Inspiration
Women Speakers