Yelyna De León to Star in and Direct ’20 Pounds to Happiness’ From ‘Real Women Have Curves’ Writer Josefina López (EXCLUSIVE)

Yelyna De León will star in and direct the romantic comedy “20 Pounds to Happiness” from “Real Women Have Curves” writer Josefina López.

Carlo Mendez and Riley Shanahan co-star in the film, which also features Christiana Leucas, Soledad St. Hilaire, Iyari Limon, Rafael Sigler and Tricia Cruz.

“20 Pounds to Happiness” marks De León’s debut as a feature film director. The movie follows a full-figured Latina in a “Real Women Have Curves” support group who must decide between staying loyal to her girlfriends or risking the loss of her dream man. López and De León serve as producers.

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De León’s credits as an actor include “Will and Grace,” “Snowfall,” “Ray Donovan,” “Shamelsss,” “A Better Life” and “East Side Story.” She also wrote, produced and acted in the murder mystery film “Murder in the Woods” alongside Danny Trejo.

Mendez is a Cuban-American actor with television roles in “9-1-1,” “Superior Donuts,” “Parks and Recreation” and “The Real Rob.” He is currently a series regular on the Emmy-winning show “The Bay” and is in production on “Dexter: Origins,” premiering this December.

Shanahan is best known for roles in the series “Titans” and “DC’s Legends of Tomorrow,” and also appeared with Alicia Vikander in the short film “I Am Easy to Find” for The National.

Leucas’s previous credits include Lifetime’s “The Lottery,” “Miss Me This Christmas,” “Last Stand,” “Deadly Justice” and “Getting Her.”

Limon has starred in over 100 national commercials and has guest starred on TV shows including “ER,” “Jane the Virgin,” “Glee” and “How to Get Away With Murder.” She is best known for her role as Kennedy on “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.”

St. Hilaire previously worked with López on “Real Women Have Curves” and with De León on “Murder in the Woods.” She has also starred in “Beatriz at Dinner,” “Sun Dogs” and “Desperate Housewives.”

Sigler appeared in “Dreaming Hollywood,” “Gentefied,” and will next be seen in the TV series “Can’t Go Home” with Jennifer Garner.

Cruz’s recent credits include “Above the Line” and “More.” This year she also appears in Dylan Vox’s film “Deadly Swap.” Her series work includes “Criminal Minds,” “ER,” “Lizzie McGuire” and “Beverly Hills 90210.”

Yelyna De León is repped by Elyah Doryon at Coast to Coast and Albert Gianelli at Omnium Entertainment. Mendez is repped by HG5 Entertainment. Shanahan is repped by Brad Gelfond at Strike Up the Brand. Leucas is repped by Laina Cohn at CT Media and Bobby Moses at Mavrick Artists. Limón’ is repped by Universal Talent in New York. Sigler is repped by Kylie MacKenzie at Artistic Talent. Cruz is repped by Torque Entertainment.