Gina Rodriguez's star continues to soar.
I can exclusively reveal that the Jane the Virgin star has signed her first major endorsement deal as the face and brand ambassador of Kipling's Summer 2015 campaign.
Rodriguez is no stranger to the Kipling brand. "Kipling came into my life when I was a kid," the Golden Globe winner tells me. "We couldn't afford it at the time, so I saved my allowance."
She was in junior high school when her mom helped by giving her half the amount to buy her first Kipling bag, a forest green book bag. "I kept it forever," Rodriquez said, adding, "When they came to me, it was like full circle. I mean, this is my childhood. This is the brand that I wanted to own when I was kid."
Part of the campaign will include Rodriguez visiting college campuses as part of Kipling's pay-it-forward-like Make Happy initiative.
"What makes me happy is my family being healthy," Rodriguez said. "What makes me happy is seeing young girls inspired to fulfill any dream they possibly have. What makes me happy is to see others happy."
Rodriguez and I chatted in between sets up during her photo shoot for Kipling on a private estate just outside of San Francisco. She was wearing a pink, black and white DVF cocktail dress.
She says colors and her heritage inspire her fashion choices. "When I think about Puerto Rico, I think about blues and oranges and greens and bright colors that make me happy and they make me smile," Rodriguez said.
Not that she didn't love her black body hugging Badgley Mischka gown she was wearing when she won at the Globes.
"It's in my closet and it's waiting to be given to someone else," Rodriguez said. "I just know that there's going to be the right moment…There's going to be a girl that's going to wear it. I just know I'm going to know when and I'm going to give it to her."
Rodriguez isn't too fussy during her time away from the cameras. "A T-shirt and jeans," she said. "Throw me some boots. Let me get a jacket, I'm good to go. You know, a little mascara, some blush and some lip gloss, baby!"
For more of our exclusive Kipling set visit, check out E! News tonight at 7 p.m. and 11 p.m.