Eva Longoria then and now

By Jillian Schenfeld 12:00am PDT, May 8, 2017

From "Desperate Housewives" star to TV producer, brand ambassador, philanthropist and political activist, Eva Longoria has enjoyed an incredibly storied and successful career. The actress will next appear in the film "Lowriders" — a coming-of-age tale about a Los Angeles-based street artist and his relationship with his father — which hits theaters on May 12, 2017. In anticipation of its debut, Wonderwall.com is taking a look at all of Eva's most noteworthy moments to date. Read on for more!

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A beauty pageant contestant in her youth, Eva Longoria was born in Corpus Christi, Texas — and was even crowned Miss Corpus Christi USA in 1998! The actress got her first break in showbiz playing Isabella Braña on "The Young and the Restless" from 2001 to 2003. It was during this time that she married first husband Tyler Christopher, a fellow soap opera star, whom she divorced in 2004.

Two years after Eva won an American Latino Media Arts (ALMA) Award for Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama, she landed the role of Gabrielle Solis on the hit show "Desperate Housewives" in 2004. Eva's work on the ABC project earned her a Golden Globe nomination in 2006 for Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy. The beloved show ran until 2012.

Thanks to the almost instant success of "Desperate Housewives," Eva Longoria was the talk of the town in the early aughts. In 2005, she was named one of People magazine's "50 Most Beautiful" and was No. 1 on Maxim's annual Hot 100 list for two years in a row in 2005 and 2006.

At first these two seemed like they were living out a total fairy tale: Eva Longoria met NBA player Tony Parker at a San Antonio Spurs game in November 2004. The two immediately hit it off and later married in Paris in 2007. They were so in love that Eva even got three tattoos in homage to Tony!

Unfortunately, this union saw its end in November 2010 when Eva Longoria filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences. But soon after, infidelity rumors circulated and reports alleged that Tony Parker had been sexting with basketball player Brent Barry's wife, Erin. On "The Piers Morgan Show" in 2011, Eva spoke about the difficult divorce, but made sure to note her positive outlook on their relationship as a whole. "I do believe in forgiving and forgetting. There was a reason we were together. I just want to hold on to the good times," she said.

Eva Longoria soon became involved with various philanthropic endeavors, including as a spokesperson for PADRES Contra El Cancer (Parents Against Cancer), an organization committed to improving the lives of children afflicted with the disease. "I'm blessed to be a part of PADRES," Eva said. "When these children see me on TV, I want them to know that there is an organization devoted just to them and that they have hope."

In a move that solidified her philanthropic status, Eva Longoria founded the Eva Longoria Foundation in 2012 to help "Latinas build better futures for themselves and their families through education and entrepreneurship." She also co-founded Eva's Heroes, a nonprofit that benefits children with special needs. (Big sister Liza has a mental disability.) She's a gem!

While establishing herself as a philanthropist, Eva persisted as a successful actress. Her film credits include 2006's "The Sentinel," 2008's "Over Her Dead Body," 2012's "Crazy Kind of Love" and 2013's "A Dark Truth," among others.

Eva Longoria also wears a producer hat. She has executive produced and hosted the National Council of La Raza ALMA Awards eight years in a row. In 2010, Eva produced "Harvest," a documentary about child farm workers in America. Her staunch dedication to uplifting Latino culture revealed itself yet again in 2010 when she produced "Latinos Living the American Dream," a film documenting the contributions of Latinos in America. Eva was also an executive producer for Lifetime Television's "Devious Maids" starting in 2013.

Eva Longoria has received dozens of awards for her commitments to altruism. Among them? In 2009, she was named The Hollywood Reporter's "Philanthropist of the Year." In 2011, she was one of Variety's Power of Women honorees. And in 2015, Eva took home Harvard University's Artist of the Year Award. This girl is on fire!

And now, let's add cookbook maven to the list! Eva Longoria released "Eva's Kitchen: Cooking With Love for Family and Friends" in 2011. The recipes inside cover everything from Latin and French foods to American and Caribbean dishes.

Business Insider referred to Eva Longoria as "Obama's newest Hispanic political power chip" in January 2013. Eva sat as a co-chair of President Barack Obama's inaugural committee and helped raise millions of dollars for his campaign. She has also worked as an activist for that administration's immigration reform plans. We wonder if Eva will lead her own political campaign somewhere down the line…

Considering her gorgeous tresses and near-perfect makeup at all times, it's no surprise that Eva Longoria is a celebrity spokesperson for L'Oreal Paris. In addition to being a L'Oreal brand ambassador, she has also shilled for PepsiCo products and Bebe Sport.

To top it all off, Eva Longoria also has an unquenchable thirst for knowledge. In 2013, the fiery hyphenate received her master's degree in Chicano Studies from California State University, Northridge. The title of her thesis was "Success STEMS from Diversity: The Value of Latinas in STEM Careers." Eva slays!

The first time Eva Longoria met Jose Antonio Baston in 2013, she wasn't ready to test the waters of a new relationship. Six months later, she was reintroduced to Jose — a top executive at Televisa, Latin America's largest media and entertainment company — and there was immediate chemistry. Eva told People, "It was like the cliché angels singing. There was a glow around him." The lovebirds got married in May 2016.

In March 2017, Eva Longoria launched her own clothing line. She shared the intention behind the line on her website, explaining, "My ultimate goal was to create a versatile line that could be made available at a great price point." Honestly, what can't this woman do?!