Zoe Saldana: 'There's Just Not Enough Diversity On Magazine Covers' (EXCLUSIVE VIDEO)

She's the female star of the highest grossing movie of all time (James Cameron's "Avatar"), and the female lead in J.J. Abrams' popular "Star Trek" franchise. She's also a Calvin Klein underwear model and she's been romantically linked to the Sexiest Man Alive (actor Bradley Cooper).

With that kind of resume, you would think actress Zoe Saldana could grace the cover of any magazine in the world. But the 33-year-old actress tells The Huffington Post exclusively that's not the case. "I can't yet pose for any magazine. I wish I could," the soft-spoken actress told us on the red carpet at the Cosmopolitan for Latinas launch party Wednesday night in New York City.

"There are a lot of magazines that are still sort of...that only cater to a certain demographic and only put certain people on their covers," she added. "And that's fine - I never lose hope that one day certain big magazines can broaden their exposure of what is an American face," added the half-Dominican, half-Puerto Rican actress.

Zaldana says magazines have tremendous power to bring about change. "I never like to get political, but when you have the ability, through your media, to influence a large mass of people, I would want to be a part of the evolving cycle of progress vs. keeping things the way that they are. I think that I speak for a lot of us, Americans, that I would want to see a little more diversity," she said.

"For the love of God, we have a Black president," Saldana added. "That should've set the tone on a lot of things that should've been a little quicker, and it's not enough."

Saldana says she feels it's important to address these kinds of issues. "I feel like I need to contribute my two cents in terms of something that should be happening more," she said. "But that said, I'm always a person that's half-full, and magazines like Cosmopolitan for Latinas are doing what others should be doing more of."

Cosmpolitan for Latinas, a new magazine aimed at acculturated Latinas in the U.S., launched earlier this month. Zaldana is the magazine's first ever cover girl - an honor that she takes very seriously. "For me to have been invited to be the first on their cover, I feel so honored and grateful," Saldana said. "To be seen and to be respected for my work and acknowledged as a true American Latina...means a lot to me."

Check out our full interview with Zoe in the video above to hear her thoughts on diversity, her plans for mother's day and her thoughts on motherhood!

CHECK OUT THIS SLIDESHOW OF LATINOS ON THE HOLLYWOOD WALK OF FAME

Loading Slideshow

• Andy Garcia

  Cuban born actor, Andy Garcia earned his star in The Hollywood Walk fo Fame in 1995. Garcia earned an Oscar nomination for his role in "The Godfather Part III" and a Grammy as producer of "Ahora Si" by Israel "Cachao" Lopez. More recently he played the role of Terry Benedict, the casino mogul, in "Ocean's Eleven" and it's following sequels. Garcia will appear in the movie "Hemingway and Fuentes", which will be released in 2012, in the role of Gregorio Fuentes.

• Christina Aguilera

  Aguilera, who's father is originally from Ecuador, was awarded a star in The Hollywood Walk fo Fame in 2010. In 1999 she had three number one singles on the Billboard Hot 100--"Genie in a Bottle", "What a Girl Wants", and "Come On Over Baby (All I Want Is You)."

• Carlos Santana

  The Mexican-American rock star was immortalized in 1998. Santana is known for his guitar-playing skills and he became famous in the late 60 with his band "Santana". He was a pioneer in mixing Latin rhythms, jazz and rock. In 2003, <a href="http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/100-greatest-guitarists-of-all-time-19691231" target="_hplink">Rolling Stone Magazine named Santana number 15 in their list of 100 greatest artists of all times. </a>

• George Lopez

  George Lopez, of Mexican descent, was awarded a place in The Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2006. He is known for starring in his popular ABC sitcom "George Lopez". He is also known for his stand-up comedy which examines race and ethnic relations, focusing in Mexican American culture.

• The Estefans

  The Estefans share one more thing other than their Cuban descent and their undeniable musical talent. They both have star in The Hollywood Walk Of Fame. Gloria got hers in 1993 and Emilio got his in 2005. The power-couple has been married since 1976 and have been producing great music ever since.

• Vicente Fernandez

  The Mexican singer, known as <a href="http://latinmusic.about.com/od/artistsen/p/PRO01VFERN.htm" target="_hplink">"El Rey De Rancher" ("King Of Ranchera Music")</a> was awarded a star in 1998. Fernandez, who <a href="http://latinmusic.about.com/od/artistsen/p/PRO01VFERN.htm" target="_hplink">started singing at local restaurants and events</a>, is now not only a famous singer, but a cultural icon. In 2002 Fernandez was recognized by the Latin Recording Academy as Person of the Year.

Comments

[Brianna Bermudez]

09:21 PM on 06/20/2012

Many of you are missing the point. There IS a lack of diversity on magazine covers. There's a reason why Essence, Latina, and other ethnic based magazines exist - women of color were historically refused to cover on magazines like Vogue or Elle and even now it's rare to see women of Middle Eastern, Asian, (Ethnic) Latinas, and African descent cover them. The fact that many of you can only name 3 black women who consistently grace covers (Rihanna, Beyonce, and Halle) only proves Zoe's point!

[onionboy]

12:49 AM on 06/16/2012

If she's sad, I'll be happy to console her.

[chris784100]

02:49 PM on 05/15/2012

Sorry Zoe your just not an A list actor or model. There is plenty of diversity in modeling and acting. This is a great way to get your name out there although it makes you look rather foolish and self absorbed. Might be time to hire a new publicist.

[jjordande]

02:03 PM on 05/14/2012

Want real diversity? Advocate for DARK SKINNED as in EBONY BLACK sistas as there are plenty out there many of whom you see on the streets look better than the so-called Supermodels of color.

And... When has anyone heard Zoe call herself Black?
All i hear is "I'm Puerto Rican & Dominican vise versa...

[moionfire]

12:35 AM on 06/16/2012

Yes, she calls her self black many times. She is a black latina.

[Sophie71]

11:31 AM on 05/14/2012

With all do respect, the magazine covers should be as diverse as our country, meaning we should see African Americans on the cover of magazines about 12percent of the time. That is the African American population in this country.

[theostracizedafrican]

02:29 AM on 05/14/2012

Yes there is a problem with diversity but for far too long, people of color have been crying out for white people to embrace them. How silly? People of color cry about not enough opportunities in movies, in modelling, and all sorts of things. Zoe! start your own magazine and market to people of color and leave white people "off the hook." It is unfair to demand white people to accept you. They do not have the cultural affinity to embrace you because they are white...The same with movies...Why not people of color create their own movie studio and market to their own and make the movies of quality just like Tyler Perry is doing Why all this complaining? I'm not even white and I think this whining has gone too far. Build it and they will come. Collaborate with fellow people of color who have the skills and resources to get projects off the ground. Pool your resources together and build something. Crying to white people is a waste of time...

[jbeachboy32]

01:33 AM on 05/13/2012

i always get confused with her and thandie newton, so she basically wants less white people on magazines?

[realitycheck101a]

02:07 PM on 05/13/2012

No, she's just saying that magazines could have a little more divesity...

[jbeachboy32]

05:05 PM on 05/13/2012

her ego needs diversity! her ego is too big! there is plenty of diversity on magazines and there doesnt need to be diversity either if magazines dont want it

she is self absorbed

[jbeachboy32]

01:31 AM on 05/13/2012

its because americans want to see kim kardashian or white women i guess. many people of color are on magazine covers, she should look in a local magazine place and look for herself

[jbeachboy32]

01:27 AM on 05/13/2012

But Zoe what though?

[Judane]

10:00 PM on 05/12/2012

Hey Zoe, HERE is how you get on a magazine cover.

1. Make a sex tape
2. Pretend you don't know HOW it got released to the public
3. Act (at least for a short while) like you are upset about it
4. Get a reality show.

Glad I could help.

[jbeachboy32]

01:28 AM on 05/13/2012

but she doesnt have the kardashian look and body

[call em out]

07:45 AM on 05/13/2012

5. Get dipped in beaching cream...lol

[Judane]

09:57 PM on 05/12/2012

When magazines geared specifically to Blacks can barely make enough to survive because Blacks are big buyers of magazines, why would you then start putting more on covers of OTHER magazines?

[JohnnyAce Okeke]

09:27 PM on 05/12/2012

Then start your own magazine.

Better yet, start a Black magazine distribution company.

Either way, you don't even date Black men anyway so you can't speak for any of us. {{-_-}}

[Ricinaustin]

05:46 AM on 05/13/2012

How insulting. I read her interviews in both black an Hispanic magazines where she has stated clearly that she is a proud " black Latina". Do u know her whole history of who she has dated? Have u ever heard her rule out the possibility of dating African Americans?

[JohnnyAce Okeke]

01:51 PM on 05/13/2012

How can she speak for Blacks when she couldn't bring herself to date one? {{-_-}}

[QuaglinosPlaceOrMabels]

09:28 AM on 05/12/2012

After listening to her in that interview, I can see what she’s so “honored” to grace the cover of a Cosmo magazine. Always a provocative publication, in the last 10 years or so it has devolved into nothing more than a trashy guidebook targeted to insecure women, with the message that “you’re not hip/stylish/sexy/intriguing/alluring/smart/ shrewd/financially stable/funny/ interesting and cool enough – in other words, perfect – unless you follow these tips”.

Her pseudo-intellectual façade would be more convincing if she omitted phrases like “buy yourself some titties” from her vocabulary. But I suppose that lends itself to getting a spot on the cover of Cosmo. Way to go, Zoe! You must be so proud!

[luapmi2]

04:39 AM on 05/12/2012

This is a joke right? I'm sorry, but I do NOT need to see more men on magazine covers....

[Brianna Cole]

06:36 AM on 05/12/2012

Sry, I don't agree with you. Yay diversity!

[luapmi2]

08:22 AM on 05/12/2012

political correctness is ALWAYS wrong

[Robert Tier]

04:39 AM on 05/12/2012

maybe it has nothing to do with your race , it might be your attitude ,

[JayDubFungi]

08:54 AM on 05/12/2012

Absolutely, another spoiled actor with too much money and not enough brains!