Latina Life With Jen Aguillon

"Just because bad things happen to you does not mean that you have to have a bad life." Our Super Latina's story today is inspirational and uplifting. Producer and author Shareen King details her journey in her memoir "Candy's Girl: The Power of Faith To Conquer Life's Storms". She shares how faith helped her through traumatic moments with her parents and her childhood. Her mother was murdered leaving her father and grandmother to raise her. Belonging, as an Afro-Latina, was challenging. Faith and education saved her. Shareen started her journey as a producer during her college years at Stony Brook Southampton. She coordinated events for her sorority (Delta Sigma Theta) and through those connections she landed a real job booking music artists for concerts once she graduated. She met Queen Latifah and developed a friendship with her. When Latifah was offered a television show she asked Shareen to join. From there Shareen has gone on to work with celebrities like Tyra Banks, Mario Lopez and Steve Harvey. She has produced for big companies like NBC and Harpo - Hello Oprah! Shareen is also President and CEO of her own media company, The King's Daughter Media, which offers media training, consulting for events, television production and more. Shareen's story shows us that you can belong anywhere you want to be. Here's to believing in the power of faith, saying yes to new opportunities and supporting each other. #latina #faith #music Listen to the conversation on Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple and iHeartradio podcasts.

Today's Super Latina is electrifying, warm and direct. Actress Annie Gonzalez is a sixth generation Mexican-American who is unapologetic, authentic and confident in who she is. She has appeared in the Netflix dramedy series "Gentified" as Professor Lidia Solis, starred as the iconic and beloved singer Jenni Rivera in the biopic "Jenni" and recently showcased her comedic skills in the romcom "Relationship Goals". During our visit, the self-described creator, artist and human healer shared some of her bravest moments (like shaving her hair off before her audition for "Gentified"), and her insight into overcoming and healing from traumatic relationships - especially between mothers and daughters. She gives incredible perspective into the power of truth and breaking down walls between generations to understand each other better. Annie is in the studio now working on new music and she is sharing everything - anger, love, heartbreak. Her influences? Jill Scott and Alanis Morissette. Annie is not holding back and there may be a little smack-talking. It's life and let's be real about it! We are here for it! Here's to the Latinas (and all women) asking for what we want and sharing our truths. #latina #music #creator #speakyourtruth Listen on your podcast platforms - Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple and iHeartRadio podcasts

Today I share how I am "Latina Life-ing" with some inside tidbits from a few fun events I attended in the past few weeks. I also shine a light on a deserving Latina being honored at the 2026 Chrysalis Butterfly Ball this weekend. With the support of the Chrysalis' Employment Social Enterprise (Chrysalis Road) Guadalupe Rios has been able to rebuild her life after years of substance abuse. Guadalupe will be honored this weekend with the John Dillon Award which celebrates the journey and accomplisments of a Chrysalis client overcoming challenges. She will share the night with the inaugural Rising Phoenix Award honorees, the cast of New Girl (Zooey Deschanel, Max Greenfield, Damon Wayans Jr, Jake Johnson, Lamorne Morris and Hannah Simone). I also share behind the scenes moments from some of the fun events I attended: the premiere for the animated (and beautiful) movie "Forgotten Island" celebrating Filipino culture with the story about friendship and the after-party with actor Dave Franco and award winning singer- songwriter H.E.R. at the new Lucas Museum. Also, the Los Angeles Magazine Best of Beauty Event celebrating their beauty issue which highlights the innovative people and products helping us all look and feel our best. One more - the launch party for Dos Hombres Reposado Tequila with co-founders Breaking Bad's Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul! Here's to all of us Life-ing out there! #latina #tequila #breakingbad #filipina #beauty

Today’s Super Latina is an inspiration for anyone who is starting their career with a first time job as a barista or customer service representative. 

Susie Corona, grew up in a predominantly Latino community in Los Angeles, raised by Mexican parents who were proud of their heritage and taught her about good work ethic, the value of education and how not to let fear get in the way of reaching your goals.

Starting as a customer service representative at Verizon, one of the largest wireless networks in America, Susie worked her way up the ranks to her current position as Associate Vice President of Brand Portfolio. Advice for others - Don’t be discouraged and invest in yourself. She gives us insight on steps that can be taken to reach your goal. 

Susie’s connection with her roots and the community has been important to Verizon’s multi-cultural initiatives. The latest one is in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. A collaboration with Total Wireless and Western Union –  an immersive pop up called “Mexico Transferred” which brings the sounds, sights and fragrance of Guadalajara, Mexico to Boyle Heights. It is a reminder how the scent of a flower or the sound of the city can transport us to much loved memories of a time in our lives. 

Here’s to investing in ourselves and embracing our heritage! #hispanic #heritage #guadalajara

Watch the interview on Youtube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCj3_AsbQ4F1U5_dCtwkHnEw

Today’s Super Latina is an inspiration for anyone who is are starting off their career as a barista or customer service representative. 

Susie Corona, grew up in a predominantly Latino community in Los Angeles, raised by Mexican parents who were proud of their heritage and taught her about good work ethic, the value of education and how not to let fear get in the way of reaching your goals.

Starting as a customer service representative at Verizon, one of the largest wireless networks in America, Susie worked her way up the ranks to her current position as Associate Vice President of Brand Portfolio. Advice for others - Don’t be discouraged and invest in yourself. She gives us insight on steps that can be taken to reach your goal. 

Susie’s connection with her roots and the community has been important to Verizon’s multi-cultural initiatives. The latest one is in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. A collaboration with Total Wireless and Western Union –  an immersive pop up called “Mexico Transferred” which brings the sounds, sights and fragrance of Guadalajara, Mexico to Boyle Heights. It is a reminder how the scent of a flower or the sound of the city can transport us to much loved memories of a time in our lives. 

Here’s to investing in ourselves and embracing our heritage! #hispanic #heritage #guadalajara

Our Latina today is a vibrant, intelligent, strong and inspirational Colombian whose early hardships shaped her perspective on life, helped her create opportunities for herself and fueled her need to support the community. A former model, Sandra Vergara has acted in various TV series, has been a television host and correspondent for various shows (including one with RuPaul), and was on Season 9 of Netflix’s entertaining series Selling Sunset. She is also a survivor of abuse who is taking the stigma out of mental health and is empowering females (and males) through her social media platforms. Her early upbringing was not traditional, as her parents were not able to care for her. She was adopted by her aunt and grew up with her sister, actress Sofia Vergara, until the family left for the States after her brother’s passing. Due to a visa issue, Sandra could not join them. It was during that time that Sandra had to use her internal survival skills to escape some traumatic moments. Two things that have kept her going was, and continues to be, her art and motto: “Don’t take it personally.” She attributes those two things with being here now. After high school she reunited with Sofia and her family, moving from Barranquilla to LA. Her path has taken her from make-up artist to entertainment journalist to television personality to mental health care advocate and now, celebrity ambassador for Osier, a skincare line with a mission of personal healing. She is also partnering with the National Alliance of Mental Illness for upcoming initiatives. Sandra shares advice to those who are interested in pursuing a career in entertainment, the best advice Sofia has shared with her and more. Here’s to being authentic and true to ourselves and to the power of self-resilience

Our Super Latina grew up in the Bay Area with Columbian-Dominican parents who were loving, yet protective, and made sure she kept a busy schedule. Her schedule was so busy that her high school yearbook’s saying stated: “I can’t. I have dance.”  Dance has guided her on her current journey as a singer and songwriter. 

NEZZA’s self described windy path in music led to her 2021 debut album “Solita” (which had over one million streams), sold out shows in 2022 and now, to her new album “Sweat”, which is out in August. More just keeps coming as our Spanglish Pop Princessa is giving her fans a new single, Final Season, on July 31st! 

The world became even more aware of Nezza when she performed the official Spanish version of the National Anthem at Los Angeles Dodger Stadium in June 2025. The performance, as well as the story of her resisting the pressure to not sing it in Spanish, went viral. Note: the Spanish version was officially commissioned in 1945 by the State Department as part of President Franklin Roosevelt’s Good Neighbor policy to foster better relationships with Latin America. Nezza has received support, criticism and hate for that performance. Her upcoming documentary, La Tierra del Valor, examines that impactful event.

She shares how her tight knit family’s support and protection prepared her for getting through that moment (then and now), where she gets her strength from and the challenges of the industry.

The Super Latina we are spotlighting today is a force in the tourism and travel industry. She has a global reach that touches families every day. As the Director of Communications North America for the Merlin Entertainments Group Julie Estrada oversees PR strategies as well as national (and local) media coverage across the US for 43 attractions that include Legoland Resorts, Lego Land Discovery Center, Madame Tussauds, Peppa Pig theme parks and more. This Southern California native has traveled to Dubai, Malaysia and the UK for the opening of the company’s theme parks. Before helping families create memorable moments at these destinations, Julie started her career in broadcast news and was an Executive Producer at the San Diego-based television station KUSI. 

Julie’s mother was born in Guadalajara, Mexico and her father grew up in Kansas. Both of her parents encouraged Julie to try everything she was interested in, whether it was acting and performing in high school or trying out for the Mickey Mouse Club the same year as Christina Aguilera and Justin Timberlake, and making it to the finals!

During our conversation Julie shares how motherhood steered her into public relations, the importance of always trying, how failing will make you stronger, advice her former supervisor shared with her about the three different categories people fall into and knowing which category you fit in will help shape your path. Most importantly, we talk about how her philosophy and relationships can help when navigating uncertainty in the job market. 

Here’s to creating roles that align with your passion and embracing new opportunities!

#latina #latinalife #latinatravels 

Listen to #latinalifewithjenandmilena

@spotify @iheartradiopodcasts tag apple podcasts 

In a new episode of Latina Life with Jen and Milena, we discuss the current administration’s actions towards immigrants and the impact that it is having on the country’s democracy. Many citizens, documented immigrants and undocumented immigrants are feeling anxious, angry, helpless … or unaffected… and so much more. What do you do if you are stopped and detained? What to do if you are witnessing a potential kidnapping by masked men? How is history repeating itself? How do we ensure that the USA continues as a democracy instead of a dictatorship? Why should it matter to all of us? Why are role models important? We cover all these topics and more with immigration attorney Jose Medrano. A first generation Mexican-American, and founder of Medrano Law Firm, he graduated from UCLA, Loyola Law School and passed the California Bar Exam so he could use his real-life experience to represent clients in Immigration Court, Superior Court of California and U.S. Citizenship and Naturalization Services. 

Let’s stand up for everyone’s rights, be positive role models and use knowledge of this country’s past history to continue being the best place to live, to create, to innovate, to prosper, to collaborate with and to be in. 

#latina #latinalife

In a new episode of Latina Life with Jen and Milena, we talk about surviving a crime and how to move forward from it. It was on a beautiful morning, two years ago, when Milena pulled into her garage and was robbed at gunpoint. She shares important information to keep in mind for anyone who finds themselves in a situation like this and why staying calm, following directions and having an exit plan is important. There is not a handbook to guide anyone on how to handle the aftermath. We discuss the importance of therapy, support from family and friends and how the mind shifts after trauma. 

After listening to our conversation, learn more about the next steps as Milena talks to host Amy E Wheeler on the true crime podcast “What Came Next” hosted by Amy E. Wheeler. 

Let’s be nosy neighbors, stay vigilant and protect each other.

#latina #latinalife 

Listen to Latina Life with Jen and Milena @applepodcasts @iheartradio @spotifypodcasts