“Quien no oye consejos , No llega a Viejo.” - Yudith Bustos
DC LATIN CREATIVES The Lookbook
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“Nunca olvides de donde vienes.” - Silvana Quiroz
SUMMER 2015
Briefly describe your work.
I am the anchor and producer of Buenos Dias DC, a morning news show in Washington, DC on Univision. Aside from presenting the news, I manage the production and research of the show’s content.
What inspired you to pursue this career?
As I child, I was very curious, always asking questions. In high school I began to study acting and being involved in debate and theater. It was a natural progression which inspired me study journalism in Bolivia, where I was born and raised.
What is your favorite part of your job?
I find it a blessing to continue to grow and learn in this field. I am grateful to be able to help our Latino community and feel we (our team at Buenos Dias DC) make a difference with the work we do. I am a believer if I can change the life of at least one person, it is worth the long hours and work involved to produce the show.
What role does your Latino roots have in your success?
A huge role. I have the ability to reach the Latino audience in DC from a genuine standpoint as I arrived in this country as an immigrant myself. Part of what I do is provide a bridge between the Latino Community not only with programming but with local events.
What advice do you have for those who would like to follow in your footsteps? Perseverance is key. I arrived to the United States ten years ago barely knowing anyone and kept on knocking on doors until I was able to work on what I love. Keep life/work balance is important as well. As a mother, I always keep family first. Mother first, journalist second.
What is your favorite saying in Spanish that inspires you to go forward? Nunca olvides de donde vienes. Don’t forget where you came from.
Jessica van Dop DeJesus THE DINING TRAVELER
Twitter: @DiningTraveler Instagram: @DiningTraveler Briefly describe your work. I am the founder of the blog The Dining Traveler which focuses on food and travel. I write about food and travel for other outlets such as Where Traveler, Edible DC, and INK361.
What inspired you to pursue this career? As long as I can remember, I have always been a storyteller. Even in my career as a Marine Officer, I have been asked to write awards and speeches for General Officers. Due to my military career and working for international organizations, I have been able to live in six countries and travel to over forty, which inspired me to share my travel experiences with others.
What is your favorite part of your creative job? Being able to inspire others to travel. Having grown up in a small town in Puerto Rico an subsequently going to high school/college in upstate New York, I always dreamed of going to far away lands. Being able to share with young people that traveling the world is attainable makes it all worth it.
What role does your Latino roots have in your success? A big role. First of all, growing up bilingual has opened many doors for me and made it easier to learn other languages. Also, I have inherited the perseverance and work ethic that Latinos are known for from my parents.
What advice do you have for those who would like to follow in your footsteps? The worst answer you can get is no. Be fearless. Never be afraid to ask for something. If no is the answer, ask someone else.
What is your favorite saying in Spanish that inspires you to go forward? My father always used to say “no hay gloria sin sacrificio� (there’s no glory without sacrifice).
Mariella Cruzado SPLENDOR STYLING
Twitter: @SplendorStyling Instagram: @SplendorInSpanglish Briefly describe your work/blog. I am a freelance interior designer and stylist. After a couple of months of starting my blog I created Splendor Styling, a boutique design studio that offers interior design, decoration and styling services for the modern hos(tess).
What inspired you to pursue this career? Design has always been an important part of my life. I’m constantly creating and adapting spaces, and I love to host! It was an organic process. Friends and family kept telling me they liked my home decor and styling, so I began documenting my personal projects. Exploring my creativity opened my eyes to so many possibilities as an entrepreneur. Soon after that I realized I could provide design services and, here I am. I just love creating beautiful spaces!
What is your favorite part of your creative job? Visualizing the possibilities in a new space! Interior design is much more than selecting beautiful pieces of furniture and placing them together. It takes building trust with your clients; listening to their dreams and helping them build a home of their own. That is happiness.
What role does your Latino roots have in your success? I’m a person who embraces and actually needs constant change, but when I moved to the US I felt too far away from everything. Peruvian culture is all about persistence and hard work, and I didn’t know I had that inner strength until I found challenge. It took me some time to embrace new possibilities and found myself in here, but I never stopped. Once I found what actually made me happy I just kept going and I’ve been working very hard since then. My dad is an unbreakable entrepreneur. He taught me to take challenge one day at a time and most importantly, to show up every day.
What advice do you have for those who would like to follow in your footsteps? You already belong. I’ve said it before, there’s no secret group of talented people. So, don’t be afraid of asking for help or giving your opinion. Make mistakes and make them now. Anything you dream of, write it down and list every single action you have to take to make it happen. Just do things. If it doesn’t work, try it again. Start now.
What is your favorite saying in Spanish that inspires you to go forward? “El que quiere celeste, que le cueste.”
Monica Garcia FITNESS BLOGGER
Twitter: @Monalavinia Instagram: @Monalavinia
Briefly describe your work/blog. Stylish Health and wellness evoker through fitness. I’m a Pilates Instructor at Pureryde, Coordinator for Nike Run Club and part-time vegetable and fruit gardener. Run, train and live in style.
What inspired you to pursue this career? It started with a seed ... work on the longevity in my life. That small seed led me to sign up for my first 5K race. I always admired runners as an outsider , that soon changed. I’ve engulfed myself into a life filled with sweat. I legit bought a book called how to run a 5K to a marathon and that’s what I did , after that , I never stopped running. I started having so many moments in my life that I thought to myself “ I rather be running “ and if I’m not running I’m doing something to enhance my form , speed , strength and flexibility. What I found was a fitness community that gives sweaty hugs and motivates you to propel forward and I was hooked. I needed to be a part of it and I wanted to share my journey. Having a background in fashion I also the needed to spotlight Athleisure and how a woman on the go can look stylish wearing her “gym clothes”. I love to engage people with an idea and a vibrant perspective.
What is your favorite part of your creative job? The very basic core of my living spirit is my passion for adventure. The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences and an ever changing horizon. What I’m saying is that I create a vision that makes me want to wake up in the morning and give it all I have. I sweat it out consistently and push my limits and goals. I have always been a changemaker pushing limits and boundaries and I love that I am around likeminded individuals. What I love is seeing not only my personal journey but
I am honored to be part of others people’s journey. I’m a social being so I am able to share my passion with others and express gratitude to them and the universe.
What role does your Latino roots have in your success? Resilience & Ambition . I not only see it in myself thanks to my roots but it is being instilled onto my nieces and nephews.
What advice do you have for those who would like to follow in your footsteps? You have nothing to run from and everything to run for. Run in pursuit of your best self. At the intersection of pushing your limits and experiencing joy is where the magic happens. Go for it.
What is your favorite saying in Spanish that inspires you to go forward? Crear una vida que refleje sus valores y satisface el alma. // Create a life that reflects your values and satisfies your soul.
Virginia Arrisue単o DENADA
Twitter: @DeNadaDesign Instagram: @DeNadaDesign Briefly describe your work/blog. DeNada is an emerging accessories line, specializing in handmade knits for women and men. Handmade with a high-quality alpaca blend, DeNada is currently sold at select retailers throughout the U.S. and around the world.
What inspired you to pursue this career? I always had a passion for business and for the arts, specifically with fiber art. When I graduated from college, I wanted to combine the two and create my own accessories brand. Seeing my father establish his career in the US inspired me to pursue my dreams as well.
What is your favorite part of your creative job? My favorite part of my job is designing up a new collection!
What role does your Latino roots have in your success? My designs are inspired by the art and culture of Peru. As a first-generation American, I find it important to thoughtfully combine traditional elements of my Peruvian heritage with modern style to offer my customers high-quality knitwear that is not just another accessory but a work of art.
What advice do you have for those who would like to follow in your footsteps? Never give up on your dreams. Always be passionate, and love what you do!
What is your favorite saying in Spanish that inspires you to go forward? Sigue adelante.
Mel Burgos ROCK YO RIZOS
Twitter: @RockYoRizos Instagram: @Rock_Yo_Rizos
Briefly describe your work/blog. My blog Rock Yo Rizos (Rock Yo Curls) was created as an outlet to showcase that Latinos are very diverse but also a “one stop shop” on tips and tricks to style your curls.
What inspired you to pursue this career? Growing up as a middle child (I have 2 fabulous hermanas) with the biggest head of curls also known as rizos. I stuck out like a sore thumb and hated all the attention that came with it. From being asked “what are you?” to “is that reeeeally all of your hair?” made me feel like an outcast, which led me to get my first relaxer at 13. It wasn’t until I turned about 15 that I realized how I was tired of my scalp being burned and my hair breaking off that I accepted my hair type. I felt like being Latina came with the notion that all of our hair should look like a Mirta de Perales or a Pantene advertisement but I’m here to show and tell the world we also have gorgeous ringlets and pajóns (afros) too and we need to rock ‘em! Rock Yo Rizos!!!
What is your favorite part of your creative job? eceiving e-mails and comments ranging from R preteens to older women and men that I have inspired them to wear their hair in its natural state.
What role does your Latino roots have in your success? I would like to think that in creating awareness that Latinos have curly hair too and embracing it exudes a type of confidence that is compelling.
What advice do you have for those who would like to follow in your footsteps? Being different is beautiful. You should never change who you are or how you look to fit in because you never who you are inspiring.
What is your favorite saying in Spanish that inspires you to go forward? No pare! Sigue, sigue. Don’t stop! Keep going and going. For me personally, whenever I thought about quitting something, I have be given signs that push me to continue pressing forward.
Carolina Chavez & Gerdy Villarroel BENNACO
Twitter: @stylebybennaco Instagram: @stylebybennaco Briefly describe your work/blog. At Style by Bennaco we offer Image Consulting and Personal Shopping services with the objective of assisting our clients to define their true personal and professional style. Our mission is to empower our clientele to feel absolutely confident and beautiful inside and out!
What inspired you to pursue this career? It may sound like a cliche, but our passion for fashion is what united us to start our Image Consulting business. We both had a certain way for always helping our friends and family make the right impression with their attire, so pursuing what we love and starting a career out of this was just a matter of time for both of us. We have been blessed to be able to relay on one another and to be each other’s strengths
and motivator to continue to strive for bigger and better. A dream without a goal is just a dream. Our inspiration is to reach each of our goals and to become ‘the doers’ as opposed to just ‘the dreamers’.
What is your favorite part of your creative job? Being able to have the courage to follow our heart and intuition by fully staying true to ourselves and translating that into what we do is our favorite thing. Knowing that we can make an impact in people’s lives and how they feel about themselves makes it a thousand times worth it.
What role does your Latino roots have in your success? Our Latin roots and background have influenced us to have a strong work ethic, to work hard, and with determination. We were raised with a high level of discipline and that has certainly helped us to stay focused and committed to what we do. It’s a scary thing to break the molds especially in the Latin community as we are more conservative so it’s been an adventurous journey so far!
What advice do you have for those who would like to follow in your footsteps? Take risks, dream big, set goals, stay committed, and love what you do, because it takes time and effort... Nothing in life worth having comes easy! and remember, ‘You don’t have to be great to start but you have to start to be great’.- Zig Ziglar.
What is your favorite saying in Spanish that inspires you to go forward? Carolina: ‘El que persevera alcanza.’ Gerdy: ‘And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it’, by Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist.
Yudith Bustos PASTRY CHEF, THE FOUR SEASONS HOTEL
Twitter: @yudith_bustos
Briefly describe your work/blog. I am the Assistant Pastry Chef at Four Seasons Hotel Washington, DC and I help lead a talented baking and pastry team. Our team creates and prepares all the baked goods for In-room Dining, Seasons Restaurant, catered events and any special requests.
What inspired you to pursue this career? My love for pastry began in my hometown of Santa Ana in San Jose Costa Rica. I have a very good friend who owns a pastry shop and I had the opportunity to see and admire all the beautiful cakes my friend created. I found myself enjoying the smells of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies and the taste of a flan or Tres Leches. I wanted to learn how to make elaborate wedding cakes and design edible creations that got people excited. My biggest inspiration in my career is my mother who is always sharing her words of wisdom and support.
What is your favorite part of your creative job? I love the challenge to create something new and amazing that will exceed our guests expectations.
What role does your Latino roots have in your success? I have encountered various challenges as a Latina in the United States. As many Latinos have done before and will continue to in the future, I have won over my team and leaders with my dedication and work ethic. This is something that I learned from my parents who learned it from their grandparents. To
be successful, one has to create their own luck; this is done through hard work. I have found this to be true in other Latinos who have obtained similar levels of success in the food and hospitality industry.
What advice do you have for those who would like to follow in your footsteps? One needs to have discipline and be responsible. Every day we have the opportunity to learn something new. You need to grab these bits of information and keep improving. In my industry people make mistakes everyday but you must never give up and instead you need to learn from them to continue your growth. I also believe that you need to have a vision of where you want to be and having passion for your vision will take you there.
What is your favorite saying in Spanish that inspires you to go forward? Why do you always wake up during the best part of a dream? So that you may go out and achieve it. My mother used to always tell me that “Quien no oye consejos , No llega a Viejo.�
Carla Sanchez CAS SOCIAL MEDIA AGENCY / SPICYCANDYDC
Twitter: @SpicyCandyDC Instagram: @SpicyCandyDC Briefly describe your work. I am the co founder of the lifestyle blog SpicyCandyDC and founder of the CAS Social Media Agency.
What inspired you to pursue this career? On my second year of blogging, I realized how much I loved social media and putting together events that would help companies grow. I decided to take a leap a faith two years ago, quit my job and pursue my passion, never looked back!
What is your favorite part of your creative job? Being able to help small business owners grow! I love coming out with a plan that will help them expand and achieve their goals. It’s an amazing feeling seeing your clients happy with your work.
What role does your Latino roots have in your success? A pretty big role! My parents have always thought me to work hard. I came to the U.S. at 11 years old and because of my strong Latino values, I was able achieve a lot of challenges a lot faster. I’m also proud to be bilingual in both, Spanish and English.
What advice do you have for those who would like to follow in your footsteps? Don’t be afraid to stand up for what makes you happy! There is no better feeling than waking up every morning and doing what you love.
What is your favorite saying in Spanish that inspires you to go forward? “No dejes para mañana lo que puedas hacer hoy”. It translates, “ Do not leave for tomorrow what you can do today.”