Lifestyle covers resources and information about health, image and life and work balance to keep Latinas at their best performance.

Latina artist Tatiana Cardona celebrates the feminine spirit through ceramics and jewelry collab with Konstantinos I. Leoussis

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Lips are a powerful symbol. The image of red lips conjures many things—confidence, sensuality, freedom of speech, playfulness, love or a kiss. The mouth is where words, thoughts and ideas are expressed, and its subtle movements can unlock an array of emotion.  Miami-based Colombian ceramicist and artist, Tatiana Cardona, and NYC-based Jewelry Designer and Antiques Dealer, Konstantinos I. Leoussis, have collaborated on the new dynamic Female Alchemy capsule collection, celebrating the art of lips through wearable jewels.

Tatiana Cardona, Founder of Female Alchemy, says, “My work started off as an ode to the female artists that paved the way for the rest of us. With time it has since evolved into the embodiment of the fun, creative, lively feminine spirit. Lips carry our words out into the world, and help us articulate the messages we wish to send. My vessels carry their own message of the power in female energy. I wanted that energy to be able to be worn and taken with you everywhere, which is why I decided to collaborate with KIL NYC to bring my ideas to jewelry and make them more accessible for everyone.” 

Female Alchemy

Tatiana Cardona, Founder of Female Alchemy. (Photo courtesy Female Alchemy)

Tatiana would describe her work as lively, colorful, pop-inspired works of art that also provide a function. She creates functional art pieces because he wants people that may never have had an opportunity to purchase artwork to finally be able to have art in their home that also has purpose. “Your everyday mug can be just as fun, artful, and joyful as a beautiful painting hanging on the wall,” she says.

Her journey as a business owner came about after many began showing interest in her work during college. 

“This pottery business was sort of thrusted upon me and it just kept growing so I had to grow with it, learning everything along the way,” says Tatiana. 

She began exploring the feminine themes of her art as part of a series of vases for her college thesis back in 2018 featuring the lips of different female artists that were important to art history. She was frustrated by the lack of female artists represented in art history books and set out to honor these women through her own art. After presenting her thesis project, Tatiana soon began receiving requests for mugs and vases in the same style and soon Female Alchemy was born. 

“The coolest thing that has happened to me and my business is having people like Haley Williams, Emma Roberts and Heidi Klum reach out to me and purchase my work. I literally could’ve never imagined that my work would be in their homes but it is absolutely amazing!” Tatiana shares.

She began exploring the feminine themes of her art as part of a series of vases for her college thesis. (Photo courtesy Female Alchemy)

“I have always dreamt of being an artist as a little girl but that dream was never encouraged by anyone except my father who was also an artist but never made a career out of it. Unfortunately he passed away when I was only nine years old and that support was no longer there in my life.”

Still, despite the lack of support, Tatiana was determined to never give up and follow her dreams. Growing up in an immigrant family also helped her develop a hard-working, passionate, and dedicated mindset. 

“Watching your family struggle financially and fight to succeed in this country speaking a language they don’t understand and still managing to keep your family afloat has made me confident in the fact that there is absolutely nothing you can’t do if you set your mind to it. Having faced those struggles at a young age really has made me fearless and resilient, and as a business owner you cannot be scared, you have to take the risk. You have to have faith in yourself.”

Female Alchemy

“Don’t ever let any of the struggles you have faced hinder you from moving forward,” says Tatiana. (Photo courtesy Female Alchemy)

Tatiana made a lot of mistakes along the way and learned many lessons too. When she started her business, she did not have a plan or a roadmap to follow. 

“I had no idea what I was doing or where I was going with this business,” she says. All she knew was that she wanted to make art pieces and that people wanted to buy them.

“I didn’t have an accountant or an LLC set up until a year after my business had already begun. So, my first bit of advice is to see an accountant before even opening your LLC or just getting some business and financial advice from a professional before doing anything will really allow you to start off on the right foot and not have to backtrack in the future.” 

Her second piece of advice to all aspiring Latina entrepreneurs and women business owners is to “not spend it before you make it.” 

(Photo courtesy Female Alchemy)

Tatiana experienced first hand the consequences of jumping headfirst into something without having the funds to back it. “When I started out, I dove right into getting a large studio space that was out of my budget but it was my dream space. I later had to give that up because I was only making art to pay bills and not from a place of love and creation. That really sucked the fun from what I loved doing and it made it really hard for me to enjoy it.” 

Lastly, she tells all the minority women out there looking to succeed in their passion to never give up and never listen to those who tell you you can’t succeed. 

“Don’t ever let any of the struggles you have faced hinder you from moving forward, use those struggles and turn them into skills to help you stand out and achieve your dreams and not as crutches that hold you back from working for what you truly want.”

Today, Tatiana has found success with her business, and her collaboration with Konstantinos Leoussis is expanding her reach and bringing more functional art pieces into homes around the world. 

Start your entrepreneurial journey with inspirational titles on Audible today!

Female Alchemy

 Your Favorite Necklace has an open-mouthed lip, recalling the moment before a kiss. (Photo courtesy Female Alchemy)

“When Konstantinos approached me via email about collaborating on a jewelry collection we began brainstorming right away. I loved his work and his ideas and also already had a few designs in mind, and he had just the right artistic touch to make them come together,” say Tatiana on working with Konstantinos Leoussis.

The collection features seven distinct designs which embrace feminine energy. Wearable for everyday glam, each piece is available for order in either sterling silver or 18K gold plate.

“It was an honor working alongside Tatiana to bring this collection to life. I am an admirer of her work and the passion she puts into it is palpable. While I am not a ceramics artist, I did sculpt each of the pieces from our collection in wax, pretending as though I was working with clay. I tried to invoke Tatiana’s creative drive and I think the collection really came out amazing. It is all handmade in New York City, and a lot of love goes into it,” says Konstantinos Leoussis.

You might be interested: Franca NYC co-founder, Jazmin de la Guardia on how art connects us through common language

Female Alchemy

 The Lip Ring is available in sizes 4 through 10, featuring an open mouth with two front teeth for an unapologetically fun statement ring. (Photo courtesy Female Alchemy)

To shop the Female Alchemy Jewelry collection, visit femalealchemy.com/collections/jewelry 

About KIL N.Y.C.

Inspired by a life of travel and antiquities, jeweler Konstantinos Leoussis created KIL N.Y.C. in 2018, to showcase his love of old-world techniques and motifs. KIL N.Y.C. puts an edgy and modern spin on sentimental jewelry, creating styles that are both easily wearable and instant heirlooms. 

About Female Alchemy

Each piece in the female alchemy collection is handmade by Miami-based ceramicist, Tatiana Cardona. As an artist, she strives to create lively, empowering functional art, to brighten up one’s home. The lip motif is inspired by the feminist movement of the 1960’s and 70’s, when red lipstick stood as a symbol of protest. Cardona’s work has since evolved into a positive and fun way to promote femininity in the sacred and ancient medium of ceramics.

*This article contains affiliated links. If you use these links to buy something we may earn a commission. 

Latina travel influencer

6 Must-follow Latina travel influencers to inspire your 2022 summer travels

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Whether you are looking for your next adventure or simply wishing to live vicariously through some awesome photographs, these Latina travel influencers will be sure to captivate your imagination. With summer just around the corner, these travel bloggers are sure to spark some ideas and inspire your next big trip. 

From digital nomads and solo travelers to lifestyle bloggers and content creators, we’ve gathered a few Latinas who are sharing their travels via vibrant photos and storytelling. Follow them on a journey across the world one photograph at a time! 

6 Must-follow Latina travel influencers

 

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Follow Amanda | @ptpassages / @amanda.grace

Amanda Grace is a licensed physical therapist, a passionate traveler, and an adventurous foodie. Born in New York and raised in Georgia, she currently lives in Southern California.

She shares her adventures on her travel blog, PT Passages, and her Instagram of the same name. 

“For me, the word passage not only represents my blog posts but also my journey through my physical therapy profession, travels, and things that just made my life easier. My blog consists of a personal collection of travel, physical therapy, and other life experiences,” Amanda shares on her blog. 

https://ptpassages.com/ 

Follow Ashley | @thevirtualpassport

Ashley is a Texas native, part-time world traveler based in NYC. Her passion for travel and photography stems from her sense of curiosity. She longs to discover the similarities that unite all the varying cultures around the world and discover the differences that make each unique. 

“I took my first solo trip at the age of 18 and have been hooked ever since! Since then I have traveled to over 70 countries, with close to half of these as a solo female traveler. My hope is to inspire other women of color to get out there and explore – whether that’s in their own city or around the world!” says Ashley. 

https://www.thevirtualpassport.com/ 

Follow Rosa and Samantha Rose | @rosaalexc 

Rosa and Samantha Rose are a mother-daughter duo embarking on the journey of life by visiting one city at a time. They share their travel tips and insights on their blog and Instagram page, where their 12k+ followers globetrot along with them one picture at a time. 

“For both of us, happiness consists of the simple things in life such as traveling. Whether it’s hopping on a plane to a far away destination or jumping in the car for a quick getaway; the journey is just as fun as the destination. Traveling allows us to escape from our everyday routine and let’s us create new memories along the way.”

https://www.thetravelingroses.com/ 

Check out an endless selection of audiobooks.

Perfect for long flights to your next destination!

Follow Cynthia | @cyncynti

Cynthia was born in Mexico and currently lives in Shanghai. She is a freelance graphic designer and photographer sharing her journey as she explores new places in Shanghai and around the world. 

“My travel addiction started when I was so young and I wanted to explore new places and meet people from foreign cultures. I was always dreaming about different landscapes and ways to see the world. My love for photography started a couple of years later when I joined an art collective. Since then my two passions merged and now I have the chance to share them with you,” she writes on her blog. 

https://www.cyncynti.com/ 

Follow O Christine | @ochristine 

Olivia Christine, or “O”, is a writer, photographer, multimedia content creator, and the outdoor and wellness travel expert behind. Her blog,  O. Christine inspires people to prioritize travel and wellness, invest in experiences, and connect with the outdoors.

“As a Bronx-born Afro Latina with lupus and a former overworked career, I know what it feels like to burn out and wish for an escape,” she writes. “What it feels like to be unsure of how to start anew — especially as a Black woman. But I found joy and whole-body wellness in travel and am here to arm you with information and motivation to do the same.”

Her blog’s mission is to remind each person that you can create a life we love despite your circumstances and to inspire you to connect with the outdoors and explore, whether that be overseas or in your own backyard. 

https://www.ochristine.com/ 

Follow Flor | @flopereira 

Flor Pereira is a 28 year old Argentinian traveler, lifestyle blogger, and content creator sharing her tips and tricks, from fashion and beauty to travel and photography. She has traveled to destinations around the world including South Africa, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, and Thailand and is currently based in NYC. 

Her blog, Penny Lane Blog, was originally created as a personal diary in 2010, where she wrote short texts and uploaded images that inspired me. Since then it has become one of the most visited Argentinian fashion and lifestyle blogs. 

Today Flor continues to share her adventures on Penny Lane Blog and her Instagram page to more than 115k followers! 

https://pennylaneblog.com/ 

You might be interested: 7 Must-visit romantic getaway destinations in Latin America 

We hope these Latina travel influencers will inspire your next big adventure or at least fuel those wanderlust dreams!

*This article contains affiliated links. If you use these links to buy something we may earn a commission. 

5 Must-read poetry books by Latinas

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Here at Latinas in Business we love supporting our fellow Latinas and we also love a good book! Throughout the month we’ve been enjoying Latina poetry and have put together a list of must-reads we think you’ll love. So, before National Poetry Month ends, here are five poetry books by Latinas to check out. 

5 Must-read poetry books by Latinas

latina poets

Déjame Contarte Lo Que Dice El Corazón by Paloma Alcantar 

Synopsis:

This book is a walk through the different nuances of love. Each sentence written here is a mental note for the author, and for any heart willing to accept them. In them you will discover the fragility of life, and that sometimes it is essential to break everything to see clarity from another perspective. I wish that from the hand of poetry, you reconcile with your heart and open the door to this energy in all its forms.

Paloma Alcantar is a Mexican writer, author and poet living in Atlanta, Georgia. She is currently a content creator for the organizations Women’s Economic Empowerment Global Life, and Alquimia Global for Human Rights. Most recently she has studied various personal development topics as part of her own growth process.

latina poets

Corazón by Yesika Salgado

Synopsis: 

Corazón is a love story. It is about the constant hunger for love. It is about feeding that hunger with another person and finding that sometimes it isn’t enough. Salgado creates a world in which the heart can live anywhere; her fat brown body, her parents home country, a lover, a toothbrush, a mango, or a song. It is a celebration of heartache, of how it can ruin us, but most importantly how we always survive it and return to ourselves whole.

Yesika Salgado is a Los Angeles based Salvadoran poet who writes about her family, her culture, her city, and her fat brown body. She has shared her work in venues and campuses throughout the country. Salgado is a two time National Poetry Slam finalist and the recipient of the 2020 International Latino Book Award in Poetry. She is an internationally recognized body-positive activist and the writer of the column Suelta for Remezcla. Yesika is also the co-founder of Chingona Fire, a poetry collective based on highlighting Latina feminist poets. 

latina poets

Mujer de Color(es): A Poetic Experience by Alejandra Jimenez

Synopsis:

Concocted into a short collection of poems, lyrical essays, prayers, and portraits, Mujer de Color(es): A Poetic Experience is—an ode to imperfections, an ode to the divinity within the mundane, an ode to our metamorphic culturas, an ode to the reverberant voices of brown women and femmes.

It is the act of looking at your fears straight in the face and honoring them for trying to protect you but surrendering them to achieve growth. It is a reclamation of our feminine strengths: nurturing, resilience, sexuality, creativity, spirituality, and so many more. It is one path, of a billion, towards healing one person and, through it, the collective feminine consciousness; Y, esto es solo el principio.

Alejandra Jimenez, otherwise Aleja, is a self-identifying queer chicanx poeta. Aleja is the first-born, of 5 children, of two Mexican-Immigrant parents, from Zacatecas and Jalisco, MX. She grew up in Santa Ana, CA and later in the Inland Empire, epicenters of Latinx communities, as well as frequently visiting her parents’ native country, Mexico. Aleja’s writing is highly influenced by a desire to become the representation of her people, her culture, and herself she did not see growing up.

Latina poets

My Wicked, Wicked Ways by by Sandra Cisneros 

Synopsis: 

A collection of poetry by the author of The House on Mango Street attests to the author’s original passion and reveals her talent for employing the precision and musicality of language in verse both comic and sad. 

Publishers Weekly said, “This collection reveals the same affinity for distilled phrasing and surprise, both in language and dramatic development, found in Cisneros’s volumes of short stories, Woman Hollering Creek and The House on Mango Street. Of the book’s four parts, the first two immerse the reader in the Chicana homefront, including the poet’s own place in it, presumably the San Antonio familiar from her prose work. The remaining two parts leave the barrio behind, as the author’s world becomes more cosmopolitan and still more personal.”

Sandra Cisneros is a poet, short story writer, novelist, essayist, performer, and artist. In addition to her writing, she has fostered the careers of many aspiring and emerging writers through two nonprofits she founded: the Macondo Foundation and the Alfredo Cisneros del Moral Foundation. As a single woman she made the choice to have books instead of children. A citizen of both the United States and Mexico, she currently lives in San Miguel de Allende.

Latina poets

If Love Had a Name by Davina Ferreira

Synopsis:

If Love Had a Name is a collection of poems centered around self-love & womanhood. It is a lyrical whirlwind of self-love, independence, and the courage a woman needs to explore the world without a partner holding her hand and leading her through it. Ferreira has gathered up every ounce of womanly pride necessary to stand on her two strong feet and placed it here between these pages. 

Davina Ferreira is a bilingual poet, social entrepreneur, author, speaker, and  founder of Alegría Bilingual Media. Davina was born in Miami but grew up in Colombia. She is the quintessential symbol of the immigrant’s American Dream. Upon arriving in the U.S. Ferreira attended college, receiving a B.A. in Fine Arts and worked as an actress with the Bilingual Foundation of the Arts. Later on, she began a career in journalism, which led her to launch ALEGRÍA Magazine. 

Her book, Finding My ALEGRIA is an inspirational memoir,  which she hopes will motivate young entrepreneurs around the world to pursue their dreams regardless of their circumstances. 

While National Poetry Month may be drawing to a close, we definitely won’t stop reading our favorite Latina poets! We hope this list of poetry books by Latinas sparked some inspiration for your next read.

travel, remote work, digital nomad

These digital nomads now live “location independent” in diverse cities and you can too!

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Professors Rachael A. Woldoff, West Virginia University and Robert Litchfield, Washington & Jefferson College share the stories of digital nomads who embarked on “location independent” lives and how remote workers can follow. 

If one thing is clear about remote work, it’s this: Many people prefer it and don’t want their bosses to take it away.

When the pandemic forced office employees into lockdown and cut them off from spending in-person time with their colleagues, they almost immediately realized that they favor remote work over their traditional office routines and norms.

As remote workers of all ages contemplate their futures – many Americans are asking hard questions about whether they wish to return to their old lives, and what they’re willing to sacrifice or endure in the years to come.

Even before the pandemic, there were people asking whether office life jibed with their aspirations.

We spent years studying “digital nomads” – workers who had left behind their homes, cities and most of their possessions to embark on what they call “location independent” lives. Our research taught us several important lessons about the conditions that push workers away from offices and major metropolitan areas, pulling them toward new lifestyles.

Legions of people now have the chance to reinvent their relationship to their work in much the same way.

travel, rio de janeiro,

Digital nomads flock to new more afforable cities in Latin America, Europe, Asia, and more. (Mirante Dona Marta, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, by @davicostalf on Unsplash.)

Big-city bait and switch

Most digital nomads started out excited to work in career-track jobs for prestigious employers. Moving to cities like New York and London, they wanted to spend their free time meeting new people, going to museums and trying out new restaurants.

But then came the burnout.

Although these cities certainly host institutions that can inspire creativity and cultivate new relationships, digital nomads rarely had time to take advantage of them. Instead, high cost of living, time constraints and work demands contributed to an oppressive culture of materialism and workaholism.

Pauline, 28, who worked in advertising helping large corporate clients to develop brand identities through music, likened city life for professionals in her peer group to a “hamster wheel.” (The names used in this article are pseudonyms, as required by research protocol.)

“The thing about New York is it’s kind of like the battle of the busiest,” she said. “It’s like, ‘Oh, you’re so busy? No, I’m so busy.’”

digital nomad, travel,

New freedoms and new opportunities await for digital nomads. (Photo by Alexander Mils on Unsplash.)

Most of the digital nomads we studied had been lured into what urbanist Richard Florida termed “creative class” jobs – positions in design, tech, marketing and entertainment. They assumed this work would prove fulfilling enough to offset what they sacrificed in terms of time spent on social and creative pursuits.

Yet these digital nomads told us that their jobs were far less interesting and creative than they had been led to expect. Worse, their employers continued to demand that they be “all in” for work – and accept the controlling aspects of office life without providing the development, mentorship or meaningful work they felt they had been promised. As they looked to the future, they saw only more of the same.

Ellie, 33, a former business journalist who is now a freelance writer and entrepreneur, told us: “A lot of people don’t have positive role models at work, so then it’s sort of like ‘Why am I climbing the ladder to try and get this job? This doesn’t seem like a good way to spend the next twenty years.’”

By their late 20s to early 30s, digital nomads were actively researching ways to leave their career-track jobs in top-tier global cities.

Looking for a fresh start

Although they left some of the world’s most glamorous cities, the digital nomads we studied were not homesteaders working from the wilderness; they needed access to the conveniences of contemporary life in order to be productive. Looking abroad, they quickly learned that places like Bali in Indonesia, and Chiang Mai in Thailand had the necessary infrastructure to support them at a fraction of the cost of their former lives.

With more and more companies now offering employees the choice to work remotely, there’s no reason to think digital nomads have to travel to southeast Asia – or even leave the United States – to transform their work lives.

remote work, digital nomad

Many have already migrated away from the most expensive areas to smaller cities and towns. (Photo by Samer Daboul on Pexels.)

During the pandemic, some people have already migrated away from the nation’s most expensive real estate markets to smaller cities and towns to be closer to nature or family. Many of these places still possess vibrant local cultures. As commutes to work disappear from daily life, such moves could leave remote workers with more available income and more free time.

[You’re smart and curious about the world. So are The Conversation’s authors and editors. You can get our highlights each weekend.]

The digital nomads we studied often used savings in time and money to try new things, like exploring side hustles. One recent study even found, somewhat paradoxically, that the sense of empowerment that came from embarking on a side hustle actually improved performance in workers’ primary jobs.

The future of work, while not entirely remote, will undoubtedly offer more remote options to many more workers. Although some business leaders are still reluctant to accept their employees’ desire to leave the office behind, local governments are embracing the trend, with several U.S. cities and states – along with countries around the world – developing plans to attract remote workers.

This migration, whether domestic or international, has the potential to enrich communities and cultivate more satisfying work lives.The Conversation

Rachael A. Woldoff, Professor of Sociology, West Virginia University and Robert Litchfield, Associate Professor of Business, Washington & Jefferson College

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Sandy Tejada

Actress Sandy Tejada speaks candidly on overcoming obstacles as a Latina in Hollywood

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During our March 25th virtual event, Latinas & Success: What It Takes to Make it in America, speakers and panelists explored if the American Dream is still possible for Latinas and other minority women entrepreneurs, and shared the obstacles and barriers they overcame to get to the top.

In our first panel,  How to Overcome Being a Latina, a Woman and an Immigrant to Achieve Success, actress Sandy Tejada spoke candidly about her journey as a Latina in Hollywood and the struggles she has faced and overcome in the industry. 

Sandy Tejada

Latina actress and model, Sandy Tejada. (Photo courtesy of Sandy Tejada)

Proud of her Dominican heritage, Sandy was born in Manhattan, New York and raised by a single mother and is a bright, up and coming young star, attracting a lot of attention from directors who often compare her to J. Lo. Still, she is very much her own flavor. 

She has acted in productions such as FBI, playing the role of the wife of actor David Zayas;  The Deuce, co-starring James Franco;  Angelfish playing the best friend of rapper Princess Nokia, stage name of Destiny Nicole Frasqueri;  Goatface, produced by Hasan Minhaj.  

Most recently, Sandy opened the reboot of the first season of the famous original series Sex and the City called And Just Like That, on HBO Max and shared screen with Sarah Jessica Parker.  She appears in the first episode of the series and in her role, Sandy personifies the hostess of a well-known restaurant host in New York City.

“Growing up watching episodes of the Sex and the City series, I was always inspired by the free and easy character of Sarah Jessica Parker.  I never imagined that I, being Afro-Latina, would participate in this program that would become a cultural phenomenon after so many years,” said Sandy. 

Her mother was a huge influence in her life, bestowing upon her the wisdom to achieve the American dream, and to seize control of her own destiny. Her mother instilled in her an appreciation for learning, encouraging her to first focus on her education as a solid foundation to then pursue her dreams. 

And Sandy’s big dream was to perform. As a young girl, Sandy loved acting and making people laugh. She would reenact scenes from popular Hispanic shows for her family and was always drawn to fun, interesting roles. 

“I always wanted to play the roles where they switched it up,” she said during the Latina & Success panel. 

Acting was also a way to escape the often turbulent times growing up in a single-parent immigrant household. 

Still, despite challenges, Sandy was determined to succeed and she excelled in everything she set her mind to. Modeling, dancing, swimming, basketball, and softball were some of the ways that Sandy got to show off her natural talents. 

She attended St. Francis College on a four year Presidential Academic Scholarship, and majored in Communications with a concentration in Film and Broadcasting. At St. Francis she was exposed to the world of television, theatre and film, which allowed her to further pursue her love and passion for acting. 

 

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“Not Spanish-looking enough for roles”

As she began breaking out into the industry, Sandy soon found herself facing new challenges, primarily around diversity and inclusion. One of her biggest on-going challenges is that she is often not considered for roles based on her looks. Due to stereotypes in the industry, many do not consider her to “look Spanish enough” for Latina roles. Casting directors expect a certain stereotypical look for Latina characters, but Sandy does not fit this rigid mold. 

“For Hollywood, when you watch TV and film, it’s basically a Latin role requires someone with dark hair, dark eyes, pale skin. And so my dad was Black and my mom was white and I look like this, I’m mixed,” said Sandy. “People don’t often believe me when I tell them I’m Dominican. Dominicans don’t even believe me that I’m Dominican. That’s the biggest challenge I have is that I’m not Salma Hayek or Penelope Cruz looking, I’m Afro-Latina.” 

She has been told she is not white enough for roles or not biracial enough for roles and not Spanish enough for roles. She has tried to change herself to fit the mold, wearing wigs and trying to lighten her skin but still the struggle to fit in and get roles continues. This struggle is part of a larger problem within Hollywood and the work that still needs to be done to expand diversity and inclusion for actors. 

Watch the full panel below

Facing these obstacles has motivated Sandy to push for greater representation and diversity in media. 

“My greatest wish is to pave the way for greater representation of Latinxs in film and television,” Sandy said.

To other Latinas looking to get into the industry, Sandy emphasizes the power of giving back. Together we can all find success and realize the American Dream.  

“To get a little you have to give a little,” she said. “And pay it forward. So if I help you, you help the next Latina and then we can all grow together and that’s how we can become stronger and more successful together.” 

You might be interested: Ariana DeBose reminds young Latinas that dreams do come true with historic Oscar win

Hispanic Lifestyles’ 2022 Latina Conference connects Latinas of Influence

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Hispanic Lifestyle, a leader in producing quality content highlighting the achievements of the Latinos, Latinas, and LatinX community since 1995, will host their annual Latina Conference online over two (2) days, on April 12 and 13, 2022. 

The origins of Hispanic Lifestyle’s Latina Conference date back to 2000 when Hispanic Lifestyle developed a program that connects Latina community leaders, business owners and professionals. Today, the Latina Conference is known for connecting Latinas of Influence nationwide by highlighting their personal and professional achievements. 

Latina Conference 2022 will feature discussions on topics such as; finance, health, community education and business with the focus on empowering women with resources and information. 

Presenters include Latinas of Influence who are experts in their field. The highlight of the Latina Conference 2022 will be the recognition of Hispanic Lifestyle’s annual listing of Latinas of Influence.

Register for the event! 

Latina Conference 2022 special guest speakers 

Latina Conference

Veronica Corona is Founder and President of CM Cleaning Solutions, Inc. a janitorial services company dedicated to keeping office buildings, medical offices, and retail centers clean in 25 states. Ms. Corona is also the Vice Chair, California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce. 

Latina Conference

Breakout star and stunning Cuban beauty Arlyn Broche will take Hollywood by storm in the highly anticipated Season 2 of NBC’s “Young Rock,” premiering March 15th. Broche has been penned for 6 of the 12 episodes in the season, starring as Dany Garcia, the woman behind the iconic Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. Audiences will recognize Arlyn from her role in Season 2 of HBO’s “Ballers” also alongside Dwayne Johnson.

Latina Conference

Maricela Cornejo is a women’s professional boxer. Cornejo is a former WBC international female super middleweight title, winning the title in 2015 against Latashia Burton at Mana Studios in Miami, Florida.

Latina Conference

Stunning and business savvy, Alexia Echevarria made her return to primetime television with the highly anticipated return of The Real Housewives of Miami. Alexia is the owner of Alexia + Frankie’s Beauty Bar in Miami.

Latina Conference

Latinx “Jilly” was born and raised in Miami, Florida.   She blindly moved out to L.A and hit open mics, enrolled in The Groundlings, Second City L.A and Improv Olympic.  Eventually those sleepless nights paid off and she began touring with Latinos Locos, Cheech & friends, Pumps & Punchlines while still pursuing her Acting career.  

REGISTER NOW! Don’t miss out! 

About Hispanic Lifestyle

Hispanic Lifestyle is a digital media and event production company that has been committed to highlighting the achievements of our community for nearly 25 years.  They have been recognized for their expertise in connecting brands with the hard to reach Latino Business and professional community.

Hispanic Lifestyle is a certified Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) through the California Public Utilities Commission and a Small Business Enterprise (SBE) through the State of California. Hispanic Lifestyle is a two (2) time SBA Award Winner.

Latina poets

5 Latina poets to read this National Poetry Month

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National Poetry Month is here! And today we are celebrating five Latina poets who are using their writing to explore themes of Latina identity and culture, advocating for their communities, and critiquing harmful stereotypes. 

These poets are speaking their truths in a world that often wishes to silence diverse voices and marginalized identities. Let us all amplify their voices and also enjoy some incredible writing by Latina poets. 

Melania-Luisa Marte

 

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Melania Luisa Marte is a writer, poet, and speaker from New York living in the Dominican Republic. Her poetry explores topics including her Caribbean roots, intersectionality, and self-love. She gained fame with viral poem “Afro-Latina” and her work has also been featured by Ain’t I Latina, Mitu, The Root, Teen Vogue, Facebook, Telemundo, Remezcla, and People En Español. 

Melania’s chapbook “Plantains and our Becoming” focuses on the Black diaspora, nature, love, and rest.

Yesika Salgado

 

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Yesika Salgado is a Los Angeles based Salvadoran poet and two time National Poetry Slam finalist and the recipient of the 2020 International Latino Book Award in Poetry. Her work has been featured in the Los Angeles Times, New York Times, Teen Vogue, Univision, Spotify, CNN and many more networks and publications. 

As an internationally recognized body-positive activist her work explores the topics of body image, self-love, culture, her city and her family. 

Yesika is the author of the best-sellers Corazón, Tesoro, and Hermosa. 

Natalie Diaz 

 

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Natalie Diaz is a Pulitzer Prize winning, Mojave American poet, language activist, and educator. Her work weaves together her Latina and Indigenous identity in a “constellation” of work that explores themes of identity, love, culture, joy, grief, injustice, and violence. 

She is the author of the poetry collections Postcolonial Love Poem (2020), winner of the Pulitzer Prize; and When My Brother Was an Aztec (2012). 

Ariana Brown

 

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​Ariana Brown is a queer Black Mexican American poet from the Southside of San Antonio, Texas, now based in Houston, Texas.  She is a 2014 national collegiate poetry slam champion and has been writing, performing, and teaching poetry for over ten years. Her in her work and poetry collections We Are Owed. (Grieveland, 2021) and Sana Sana (Game Over Books, 2020) she investigates themes such as queer Black personhood in Mexican American spaces, Black relationality and girlhood, loneliness, and care. 

Melissa Lozada-Oliva 

 

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Melissa Lozada-Oliva is a “Guatelombian” (Guatemalan-Colombian) American poet and screenwriter living in Brooklyn.  Her debut book Peluda (Button Poetry 2017) explores the intersections of Latina identity, feminism, hair removal and what it means to belong. Her most recent book, Dreaming of You is a novel-in-verse explores themes of Latinidad, womanhood, obsession, and disillusionment.

Melissa initially gained fame with her viral poem, “My Spanish,” exploring her experiences as a non-Spanish speaking Latina.  

When she’s not writing, she also co-hosts the podcast Say More with Olivia Gatwood Who Is a Massive Bitch, where they dissect the world through a poetic lens.

You might be interested: 10 Books by Latinx authors to read this summer 

Meet the Frías sisters founders of Afro-Latina beauty brand LUNA MAGIC 

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The sister-duo behind Afro-Latina beauty brand LUNA MAGIC shares their entrepreneurial story and how they built a successful business during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

LUNA MAGIC co-founder, Shaira Frias. (Photo courtesy of LUNA MAGIC)

Afro-Latina and Dominican-American sisters Mabel and Shaira Frías couldn’t be more different, however their shared passion for beauty and lifestyle brought them together to create their very own beauty brand that celebrates their mutual love for their multicultural heritage.

Founded in Los Angeles with a mission to introduce high-performance cosmetics, bold flavor, diversity, inclusivity and vibrancy to the beauty industry, LUNA MAGIC draws inspiration from Latin culture, creating bold products that embody the phrase “in living color.” 

“We’re inspired by the rich cultures and music of the Caribbean & Latin America, the hustle and bustle of NYC and the glamour of Los Angeles. Luna Magic is a women-led and Afro-Latina owned company,” the sisters say. 

Mabel and Shaira began their entrepreneurial journey in 2019 with the launch of their UNO Palette, Matte Liquid Lipsticks and lashes. Makeup lovers themselves, the sisters had noticed there was a lack of representation while shopping for cosmetics in retail stores. Combining Mabel’s background in e-commerce retail and Shaira’s background in makeup artistry, they decided to create a brand that could represent the underrepresented.

LUNA MAGIC co-founder, Mabel Frias. (Photo courtesy of LUNA MAGIC)

“We know from industry data that the multicultural customer (especially Latinas & African-Americans) spend a sizable amount of money on makeup and beauty products, but there needs to be a better way for beauty companies to speak to this consumer base in an authentic way, and that is where our company comes in,” they say. 

LUNA MAGIC promises to serve their diverse customers by offering quality products that complement a range of complexions, at prices that are accessible to all. The sisters are excited to interact and engage with their customers both on social media and in real life. Seeing how much customers love their products and their company’s message makes them feel proud of how far they have come to bring their vision to life. 

“Being the first beauty brand with Afro-Latina co-founders, for us we are in a space where we can evolve the narrative on what it means to be beautiful and shape our vision along with the input of our amazing customers and community.”

As the sisters reflect on their journey so far, they also note some of the challenges they have faced and overcome. One of the biggest challenges they faced was launching their company during a global pandemic. 

LUNA MAGIC is a vibrant brand inspired by the sisters’ multicultural heritage, Latin culture and music—in living color. (Photo courtesy of LUNA MAGIC)

“When we first started LUNA MAGIC, we were hungry, eager and excited!” they say. “What many people don’t know is that we launched the company during a global pandemic. We are proud that we were able to weather the journey of launching in Walmart and Target, and continue to have the drive and motivation to champion for our customers and still achieve success in such a disruptive time, is what continues to give us the motivation to keep growing our business.” 

Their mission: to introduce high-performance cosmetics, bold flavor, diversity, inclusivity and vibrancy to the beauty industry. (Photo courtesy of LUNA MAGIC)

Another challenge they faced early on was figuring out how to work together as business partners. 

“People also say don’t go into business with family, which at the early stages of launching our company we quickly understood why,” the sisters share. “This is our first time working together as business partners and although we are only 15 months apart, we are both so different in every sense of the word.We had to sit down and see what complimentary skills we each brought to the table and be honest about our strengths and weaknesses.” 

LUNA MAGIC founders Shaira (left) and Mabel (right) Frías. (Photo courtesy of LUNA MAGIC)

In the end, their business partnership has only strengthened their sister-bond, making them better communicators, listeners, and friends. 

“We learned to be committed to listening to each other and focus on finding solutions when we hit roadblocks. We’ve learned that having multiple ways of thinking about something is actually a competitive advantage; as they say two heads are better than one.” 

You might be interested: 5 Afro-Latina-owned self-care brands to support

Now, having learned from their own experiences as new entrepreneurs, the Frías sisters want to give back and offer some words of advice to aspiring women entrepreneurs just starting out. 

First, they encourage all new entrepreneurs to “surround yourself with like-minded business people and create a community.” Networking, building business relationships, and finding mentors will help you go far. 

“Use others as a resource and knowledge-share, but also know how you can contribute. The more you expand your network, more opportunities come to you and knowing how to create win-win partnerships.”

Their second key piece of advice is to take advantage of grant programs and business accelerators that can help grow your business. 

“Apply to as many grant programs as you can,” they say. “Programs like Target Accelerators, Glossier Grant Program, Chase for Business Small Business Owners Program have elevated LUNA MAGIC and ourselves as business owners. These are lifelong relationships that we will continue to come back to, and that truly believe in helping minority and women-owned businesses.”

Moving forward, Mabel and Shaira are excited to launch their first entrepreneurship empowerment initiative, “Mentor Magic.” The program’s mission is to help uplift and empower fellow female entrepreneurs just starting their own businesses by providing actionable steps and resources to elevate themselves as entrepreneurs, leaders and business owners. 

To learn more visit lunamagic.com

podcast

5 Podcasts every Latina entrepreneur should be listening to

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These days, everyone’s listening to a podcast, and if you’re not then you should! Podcasts are not only a great form of entertainment—especially for the busy multitasker—but they can also be educational and inspirational. If you’re a Latina entrepreneur or career driven woman looking for a few new podcasts to motivate and inspire you on your journey, then check out our top five podcasts by Latinas for Latinas! 

Latina to Latina 

Latina to Latina is an interview series hosted by journalist Alicia Menendez. In this series, Alicia talks to remarkable Latinas about “making it, faking it, and everything in between.” The episodes are wonderfully candid and often hilarious with guests sharing both the challenges and triumphs they’ve faced on their journeys to success. As you listen, you’ll feel like you’re right there with them in these intimate and honest chats. 

 

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Café con Pam

Café con Pam is a weekly podcast featuring stories from fearless Latine/x and People of The Global Majority that break barriers, change lives and make the world a better place while living in the US. Hosted by business coach Pam Covarrubias, this podcast is the platform where Latinx are able to share their stories and inspire one another through conversation of course while enjoying a fabulous cup of coffee! 

latina podcast

cafeconpampodcast On this #internationalwomensday let’s talk about women in podcasting.
COLLECTIVE ACTION.
COLLECTIVE VOICES.
#ClaimPodParity
🤲 COLLABORATE. Women are essential to innovating podcasting in exciting and critical ways, bringing awareness to the talent and expertise of those historically excluded.
What was a male-dominated enterprise is no longer and women podcasting experts are driving this culture shift.
If you’re a podcaster, use and share #ClaimPodParity as we join together in collective action to make our collective voices heard.
Thank you all for being here and supporting my dream of sharing our stories 🙌🏽
#latinapodcasters #womeninpodcasting #womenwhopodcast #latina

 Going Forward with Angie Carillo

Going Forward with Angie is the podcast for any Latina entrepreneur looking to advance their personal and professional development. This podcast is about building a life and business you love. Hosted by content creator and entrepreneur Angie Carillo, Going Forward provides advice and actionable tools for you to move forward in your personal and professional development by creating the life and work you love without stress and burnout. 

All Things Latina Podcast 

All Things Latina is a podcast centered around business and career motivation topics. It’s uplifting, motivational, and educational. Hosted by co-founder of Latina lifestyle brand Latina Approved, Tania Estefany shares her expertise as an entrepreneur and digital marketing manager. Tania’s mission and passion is helping others find their “super power” and thrive. 

 

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Yo Quiero Dinero

Yo Quiero Dinero podcast is all about money!  In each episode Latinx and POC changemakers share their personal finance stories and inspire you to take your dinero to the next level. Hosted by Latina thought leader, speaker, and content creator Jannese Torres-Rodriguez, Yo Quiero Dinero helps to educate marginalized communities on topics such as financial literacy, investing, entrepreneurship, and building generational wealth. 

You might be interested: 6 Latina financial experts you should be following on social media