What happens when you ask God for a sign and embrace it? Melina Hernandez, the owner of the brand often seen adorning our favorite celebrities, By Lolita Jewelry, serves as a testament to the power of pursuing your dreams and following your heart. Lolita’s jewelry has graced the likes of Winnie Harlow, Jordan Woods, Billie Eilish, Cardi B, The City Girls, Chloe Bailey, Monet McMichael, and many more. In this episode, Melina discusses her upbringing, journey to success, networking strategies, life as a mom, and more. This one’s for the girls, and you won’t want to miss it!

When life throws you curveballs, it can lead to a complete shift in perspective and purpose.  In this episode we are joined by Joyce Rojas, who, after facing divorce, navigating the recession, and surviving a near-fatal truck accident, transformed herself into the Licensed Financial Advisor that we now know as MoneyMindsetMami. Her story is a powerful testament to the idea that wealth begins in the mind, and that regardless of your background or challenges, you too can achieve financial success. Get ready for an episode filled with motivation and inspiration that we all need in our lives.

Dive into the fascinating journey of Zoila Darton as she takes us on a compelling narrative, starting with her roots in Latin music, leading to the creation of her own Creative Agency, Word Agency, and exciting collaborations with iconic brands like Rare Beauty… owned and created by the global sensation, Selena Gomez.

In this conversation, Zoila candidly shares the pivotal decisions that shaped her path and the invaluable lessons that came along with them. She shares what motherhood and marriage has taught her as well as the importance of community. Zoila is a woman who created her own path and pushed herself into spaces where real Latinas were needed. Join us for an exploration of the art of crafting exceptional brand campaigns, guided by her firsthand insights. Zoila Darton's incredible journey is a testament to resilience, determination, and the pursuit of excellence, offering a wealth of knowledge and inspiration to all who tune in.

What do you do when you've hit rock bottom? Tina Cabrera joined us in the sala this week to share how she rose from the ashes. Tina, an entrepreneur and virtual trainer, has a track record of helping people achieve both physical and emotional well-being. She discussed how she started working at a very young age, how the spirit of hustle has always been a part of her, her passion for training, her deep love for Puerto Rico and traveling, the challenges of motherhood, and more. This is not only a source of motivation to inspire change, but also a story that many can relate to. 

It got extra Bori in la sala this week as Gabrielle Santana, better known as Gaby Santana, joined Alyi V to discuss her love for Puerto Rico, her upbringing which involved losing both of her parents, leaving corporate America to become an entrepreneur, her journey with curly hair leading to her rise to fame on social media platforms, her jewelry brand Santana & Co., and even her experience with endometriosis. Gaby uses her platform to shed light on important issues and address topics that are often considered taboo or not frequently discussed. At GUL, we encourage conversations that drive change. Tune in and be a part of the movement.

Step into the Sala with Alyi V and meet our extraordinary guest, Shaira Frias, in this special episode that shines a spotlight on her entrepreneurial journey. As the proud owner of Luna Magic Beauty, Shaira has graced the pages of Forbes, swam with the Sharks on Shark Tank, and shared her story with CNN. A Dominican by heritage, she grew up in the vibrant heart of New York, where taking bold risks, like leaving home at 18, helped her discover her true self. What began as a passion project blossomed into the million-dollar empire known as Luna Magic. Tune in as she imparts invaluable insights on achieving entrepreneurial success and mastering the art of brand selling. Don't miss this absolute must-watch episode!

The talented Grizel “La Chachi” Del Valle, who was on the show back in 2018, returns to share the changes in her life since. Join us as she opens up about the profound changes in her life, from discovering her unique musical style to teasing what her devoted fans can expect in the near future. Grizel also shares her heartfelt endeavors in aiding those affected by Hurricane Maria, her journey in manifesting love with her husband, Chef Kelvin, and her raw experience battling postpartum depression. The energy in this episode is nothing short of electrifying, and you won’t want to miss it. 

On this week's episode of Growing Up Latina, Alyi V welcomes Janet Peguero, the first Dominican American to become New York City’s Deputy Borough President. Janet recalls the culture shock of her move from Dominican Republic to NYC at the age of 6 years old. She speaks on the lack of encouragement she had to discuss politics as a young woman and how as a community, we can break those barriers in our homes. She discusses the history, changes and  her hopes for The Bronx – as well as exciting things that are to come. You don’t want to miss this!

Stay connected with Us! #GrowingUpLatina #GUL

• Teaser: 0:00-1:27

• 1:28-4:15 Where Alyi and Janet first met 

• 4:40-6:23 Janet remembers the music in the sala

• 6:24-7:26 Janet’s appreciation for Worship music

• 7:27-9:19 Janet remembers the sala

• 9:20-11:17 Her early life in Santo Domingo 

• 11:14-12:19  What she envisioned New York City to be like

• 12:20-14:28 Her culture shock moving from Dominican Republic/ “Suppression of expression”  

• 14:29-15:30 Her sisters experience

• 15:31-17:28 When are we going home/ Dealing with the immigrant experience

• 17:29-20:15 Janet Public school experience

• 21:16- Social Studies/Ann Frank/The Great Migration

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Keep up with Janet Peguero:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jpegnyc

On this week's episode of Growing Up Latina, Alyi V welcomes Rea Ann Silva, the Founder and CEO of the one-of-a-kind edgeless makeup sponge that revolutionized the Beauty industry, Beauty Blender. Rea Ann discusses finding her identity as Mexican, Irish, and Portuguese, her start as a makeup artist in Hollywood in the film and television space, working on the hit TV Show, Girlfriends and how she invented the Beauty Blender sponge. She also shares her tips on how to become a successful entrepreneur. Tune in to the story of a true outlier.  

• Teaser: 00:00:00 - 00:01:09

• What memories does she remember from her sala?: 00:01:43 - 00:04:00

• Early life/childhood: 00:04:00 - 00:06:57

• Where did you see business introduced in your life?: 00:09:17- 00:14:40

• When did you feel like you made it/were a 1 of 1?: 00:14:41 - 00:17:31

• Her start as a MUA in film and television: 00:18:38 - 00:26:00

• Balancing love and motherhood with her career : 00:26:00- 00:29:49

• Finding her way back to makeup in Hollywood: 00:29:49 - 00:34:00

• Working on the set of Girlfriends: 00:34:00 - 00:39:00

• Beauty Blender: 00:39:00 - 00:56:53

• Why own 100% of your business?: 00:56:53 - 00:59:00

• Biggest truth and lie in entrepreneurship: 00:59:00 - 01:01:07

• Biggest Fear in her career: 01:01:07 - 01:03:50

• Tips on scaling business/Finances: 01:03:50 - 01:07:43

• Importance of influencers pushing brand: 01:07:43 - 01:09:57

• What do you hope people take away from this interview?: 01:09:57 - 01:14:22

• Rapid Fire: 01:14:22 - end. 

Stay connected with Us! #GrowingUpLatina #GUL

LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE:

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https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...

https://www.iheart.com/podcast/263-am...

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Keep up with Rea Ann Silva:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reaannsilva/

Beauty Blender https://beautyblender.com

On this episode of Growing Up Latina, Alyi V welcomes Dominican American Fashion Designer, Gabriela Lunna. Gabriela created her own custom atelier, where her goal was to make people feel confident in her clothing. She custom designs pieces for special occasions for the everyday woman like sweet sixteens, weddings, bridal shower dresses, as well as pieces for celebrities like Tokisha, Bernice Burgos, Jailene and Rauw Alejandro, and more. She discusses her start in the fashion industry, building a business from scratch, hiring a team and getting on-the-job training. She recalls the role her mother played in her love for fashion as well as the importance of being with family and living life to the fullest. Gabriela reflects on the loss of her close friend and her grieving process. You don’t want to miss this one, as Gabriela gives us an inside look into the world of fashion and business!

• Teaser: 00:00:00 - 00:00:34

• Introducing Guest: 00:01:06 - 00:06:13

• Early life/childhood: 00:06:13 - 00:16:23

• What memories does she remember from her sala?: 00:10:02 - 00:11:15

• Her custom design fashion business: 00:16:23 - 00:28:20

• Her fun lifestyle and personality on social media: 00:28:20 - 00:36:17

• Balancing dating and work: 00:36:17 - 00:37:50

• Who would we be surprised to see her work with?: 00:37:50- 00:39:00

• Would your younger self have imagined this life?: 00:39:00 - 00:40:30

• Grief/Losing a loved one: 00:42:15 - 00:47:20

• What drives you/what is your purpose?: 00:47:20 - 00:49:27

• What is something you fear?: 00:49:27- 00:52:25

• Latinos in the fashion industry: 00:52:25- 00:55:10

• Fashion trends: 00:55:10 - 00:57:07

• What does she want to be remembered for?: 00:57:07 - 00:59:05

• Rapid Fire: 00:59:05 - 01:04:29

Stay connected with Us! #GrowingUpLatina #GUL

LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE:

https://open.spotify.com/show/7tgaoOR...

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...

https://www.iheart.com/podcast/263-am...

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Instagram 👉 https://www.Instagram.com/GrowingUpLa...

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Keep up with Gabriela Lunna:

Instagram: https://www.Instagram.com/Lunna_