As a smaller, independent, Latina-owned media company, we didn’t have the luxury of waiting for industry consensus. We had to anticipate how audiences were consuming content — faster, thematically, and on their own terms. We broke from the bi-monthly cycle to focus on moments and conversations that actually matter. Six print issues, six digital issues, all anchored in cultural themes amplified by live events, social, podcasts, and community. That decision wasn’t a gamble. It was foresight.

It was also intentional. Each of our issues is rooted in themes and cultural conversations that matter — from celebrating Latina entrepreneurship, to examining AI’s impact on creativity, to shining a light on wellness, beauty, and fashion in ways that inspire and empower.

Here’s the irony: when we made this move, it was labeled “necessary.” Now that Vogue makes the same call, it’s lauded as “visionary.” That double standard says a lot about how the industry assigns credibility — but it also validates what we knew years ago. The monthly print publishing model was outdated, unsustainable, and out of touch with how people live, consume, and connect.

I was born in the Dominican Republic, an island full of color, flavor, and contradictions. I grew up surrounded by family love, strong cultural traditions, and a sense of community that deeply shaped my identity. From a young age, I was drawn to stories, words, and the beauty of everyday life. But like many Dominican girls, I was taught to seek stability: a good job, a family, a “respectable” life.

We don’t need fixing. What happened to us… happened for us. There is power in the pain, purpose in the rebuilding, and beauty in the becoming.

Thank you to every brand that submitted, every winner who showed up and shined, our incredible Brand partners, and my powerhouse BELLA team. You helped create a night that reminded us all just how connected and inspiring this industry truly is.

Queen of 11:11

Taking time to reset and refuel isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity.

One of the things I love most about solo travel is the space it gives me. To breathe. To think. To just be.

It’s easy to show up when the rewards are obvious —but true character is built in the quiet moments. The choices you make when no one’s keeping score.

Sometimes, life throws you curveballs not to frustrate you, but to force you to adapt, to lighten the load (literally), and to make room for what’s next. We can either panic over what’s lost—or embrace the unexpected and trust that it might be leading us somewhere better.

Keep going. Keep shining. Keep showing up.

Motivation is fleeting. It comes and goes like inspiration after a good TED Talk or a powerful quote on your feed. It gets you started — and I honor it for that.

But if you’re building a business, chasing a purpose-driven life, or walking boldly in your calling… motivation alone won’t get you there.

Discipline is what carries you when motivation packs up and leaves.

Women showed up. Women who inspire, create, and uplift. Women who have held my hand, challenged me to grow, and built something bigger than a business with me—a community. A space where we don’t just chase dreams, we create them. Where we don’t just support each other, we empower each other to do more, be more, and lift as we climb.

In our fast-paced, consumer-driven world, it's easy to fall into the trap of constantly striving for more—more stuff, more success, more validation. But did you know that the secret to genuine happiness lies not in acquiring more, but in truly appreciating what we already have?