When Sofia Carson makes her Disney film debut in 'Descendants,' she will do so as a villain, not a princess, and the actress couldn't be more excited.

When talking, the actress evokes the charisma and spirit that appeals to the millions of tweens sure to be glued to television screens but also the mindset of a 22-year-old ready to take on whatever her blooming career has to offer.

Carson sat down with Latin Post to discuss her role, career goals, and the power of being Latina.

"Descendants," directed by Kenny Ortega, of "High School Musical" fame, is about misfits struggling to live up to the expectations of their famous villain parents and learning to choose good over evil. Starring actress and singer Kristin Chenoweth, along with a pack of current Disney stars, the film has opened doors Carson never saw coming.

"When I read the script I was like, '[It's] amazing that they have you here, but there's no way you're going to get this part, so enjoy it while you're here,'" admitted the actress, who was initially rejected on her first audition for the film. "So we were all, think of it, shocked and really, really surprised when I got the call that I got this part. It completely changed my life, and I'm so thankful for it."

With Carson, who is of Colombian descent, the Disney brand gets brains, talent, and an overall positive persona packaged into something viewers only see once every few years: a strong Latin role model.

The star discussed her role of Evie, the teenage daughter of the Evil Queen, and explained how eager she is for fans to connect to Evie. She hopes young fans will relate to her the way Carson did with Belle from "Beauty and the Beast" because, unlike most princesses, Belle, with her brown hair, resembles Carson's Colombian roots.

Disney has unveiled 'Elena of Avalor,' its first Latina princess. But overall, diversity among Disney princesses and stars has been limited. While different ethnic backgrounds are represented through Mulan or Pocahontas, their inclusion in Disney products is rare, and the capitalization of a lead Latina Disney star is pending. Carson believes this is changing and commends Disney for embracing her 'bicultural' essence,' which she feels is empowering and helps her stand out. 

"I think being Hispanic, being bicultural, is a great thing," said Carson. "It does give you a bit of an edge. There are also so many people like me in the United States." 

From a young age, Carson was aware of the fact that she looked different. "When I was a little girl watching TV, I liked that Selena Gomez kind of looked like me," she explained.

Sure, Disney can boast about a few household Latinas like Gomez or Demi Lovato, but even they, at the peak of their Disney careers, lacked what Carson already has: relatability. Unlike many of her peers, Carson's upbringing included a home with a traditional family, attending high school and then college, instead of the "homeschooled, discovered at a young age and parent for a manager" scenario.

Although music and performing on stage are her passions, the University of California Los Angeles student did not let auditioning and roles keep her from a college education. These values, work ethic and her age have all contributed to her nonchalant attitude about handling the expectations of the business. 

"I think it's best to not look at it as a pressure but just part of the job," she explained. "There are just certain things that come with the job and it's a blessing more than anything else.

This attitude is one she may have learned from fellow Latina Jennifer Lopez.

Carson recalled being so infatuated with Lopez, who she credited as the inspiration for her career, that she memorized dance footage from her concert in San Juan, Puerto Rico and asked Santa Claus for a wig to resemble the one worn by the Bronx-born Latina.

"I really admired her because she was able to do it all," said Carson. "She is an incredibly talented and amazing pop star, as we all know, and she's had an acting career, so I would really love to do that as well."

Recently Carson got one step closer to mimicking her idols career when she was named one of People En Español's "Most Beautiful of 2015." Although she hopes to someday record music, appear in more films and participate in charity like Lopez does, Carson explained she owes her confidence to her mother.

"My mom, which I'm so thankful for, always raised me to believe that I am beautiful on the inside," she said when discussing how she stays positive in an industry that is responsible for the many pressures women face on a daily basis. "It's hard to be a girl. It's not always easy, but if you feel beautiful on the inside no one can stop you."

That confidence and feeling of being unstoppable is what Carson hopes fans learn from the film.

"You don't need a prince charming to make you happy," she said.

While the film, in true Disney fashion, includes musical numbers, flamboyant costumes, and fantasy story lines, it is, at its core, a film about kids who are growing up and who realize they have the power to choose who they want to be.

For Carson, her role as Evie meant a chance to play a character that deals with the struggles that girls face but also feels empowered and has an inner confidence. This is a trait this young Latina herself embodies and will surely give her young fans a familiar Disney face to relate to.