President Biden joked about life after the Oval Office during a reception to mark National Hispanic Heritage Month. Running from September to October 15, the month marks the contribution of Hispanic populations to the history of the United States. Biden paid tribute at the White House, accompanied by actress Jessica Alba.
Ms. Alba commenced celebrations with a speech about her Mexican background and praise for President Biden. When the President took the stage, he returned the praise, describing Alba as “an actor, producer, advocate, author, and she knows how to build companies.” Biden then leaned over and asked Ms. Alba if she would consider giving him a job, prompting laughter and applause. Jessica Alba is co-founder of The Honest Company, which was valued at $1.2 billion in 2021.
The actress, born in California, became the youngest Hispanic woman ever to take a company public after it reached the billion-dollar mark.
During his speech, President Biden remarked that he wishes he had learned to speak Spanish, and recalled an event where he tried a few sentences, but “mangled it.” Nevertheless, he said his audience still applauded him for his efforts.
On top of building a billion-dollar business, Jessica Alba has starred in a string of box office hits, including the Sin City series and the Fantastic Four. Her background is ethnically mixed, with Mexican immigrant grandparents on her father’s side, and a French, Danish, and English mixture on her mother’s side. The star once described her family as conservative Catholics but herself as a liberal, and said she identified as a feminist from as young as five.
The Honest Company emerged in 2012, founded by Ms. Alba and business partner Christopher Gavigan. The company sells household goods and body care products. Two years later, the actress wrote her first book, The Honest Life, in which she discussed her commitment to truth and a non-toxic lifestyle.
A long-term Democrat supporter, she participated in a 2008 music video to promote President Barack Obama. The video, created by Black Eye Peas frontman Will.I.am, also featured movie stars Ryan Phillippe and Kerry Washington, comedian George Lopez, and other celebrities.
