Naya Rivera's impact was nothing short of groundbreaking, and as someone who deeply resonated with Santana’s story, I want to take this opportunity to say thank you, because it will not be forgotten.ĭigital Spy now has a newsletter – sign up to get it sent straight to your inbox. She recognised the impact of her role on Glee, and treated it with sincerity and respect. Naya was active in the community, hosting the GLAAD Media Awards on multiple occasions, and she consistently vocalised her support of queer representation on screen. But for many of us who grew up watching the show, her visibility cannot be understated. Naya Rivera's legacy exists far beyond her time on Glee, and my heart goes out to her family, friends and young son in light of this tragedy. A bold, well-rounded, hilarious woman of colour who was openly and unapologetically gay - and in a loving, committed relationship with her girlfriend. In a landscape starved of representation, Santana was an oasis. Between seasons, Naya teased an intimate silhouette of the cheerleaders with the line 'Fate has laid a hand…,' on Twitter, sending the burgeoning fandom into meltdown while forever solidifying the ship. Queer fans picked up on the chemistry between Brittany and Santana – dubbed 'Brittana' – right away, teased by few throwaway lines in season one. But it was in the tender unfolding of her relationship with Heather Morris' Brittany that the show struck gold. Her ability to deliver Santana's most cutting, borderline cruel insults with unparalleled comedic timing propelled her to become one of the show's most beloved breakout stars. While she was first introduced as the bitchy Latinx cheerleader in antithesis to Dianna Agron's demure Quinn Fabray, Naya's magnetism on screen was undeniable, earning her a swift promotion to series regular in season two. Santana Lopez was part of Glee's ensemble from the very first episode. Was it perfect? No, but at the time it was sorely needed. It created space for alternate stories, a space where disabled, queer, neurodiverse people and people of colour could all be a central part of the narrative. Glee, for all its sins, was a show that changed the television landscape. While it is funny to go back and dig up some of Glee's cringiest moments – or watch Gen Z fall about themselves laughing at its chaotic energy – there was nothing else like it at the time.

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