The former 40-year-old "Desperate Housewives" star was given the honour in recognition of her outstanding contributions to Latinos through entertainment and philanthropy.
She was presented the prize by Roselyn Sanchez, who stars in Longoria's TV series "Devious Maids".
Sanchez praised her friend for being an inspiration to many, and even urged the actress run for office.
Longoria took the stage at Hollywood's Avalon venue to accept the prize, and used the platform to encourage her fellow Latinos to "shape the narrative of how this country defines" them.
She also used her acceptance speech to subtly take aim at presidential hopeful Donald Trump, who stunned Latinos in June when he suggested many Mexican immigrants to American were "rapists".
Longoria added, "It's our responsibility to make sure we are not what people see on the news - that being Latino is not synonymous with being illegal, that being Latino is not synonymous with being undocumented or not from here.
"It's up to the people in this room to support each other. So many beautiful, young people, all these 10 Latinos To Watch, there are about 100 to watch and all you guys who have not been recognised."
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors


Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share


Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor


Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements


Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app
