My parents and I moved to New York when I was only a few months old. My dad had a fellowship at the Eye and Ear Institute in Manhattan. We moved in with my great grand aunt and her husband for about a year. They had no kids so they were very excited to have us in the house.

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At my baptism, they were named as my godfather and godmother; we’ve always been very close. They were like my grandparents, and they were always my favorite. After a year of living with them, we moved back to Colombia, but that didn't distance us. As soon as I was old enough to travel alone (6 years old), I started visiting them almost yearly in NYC.

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I remember that being my favorite vacation ever; going with mi Gachelita (as I called my aunt) to Manhattan and walking by all the 5th avenue shops. She loved shopping and so did I! We’d have the best time together and then we’d go back home to have dinner with my uncle Charles. I would be in New York for a month, it was the happiest month. I said to myself, “one day I will live here.”

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Time went by and I turned 17. It was time to decide where I was going to college. I decided to go to business school in Colombia, because I thought I wasn't ready to move to a different country on my own. It was perfect, I learned how to move on my own in my own country, before making the change to a new one.

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After graduating from college I said “ok, now is the time!” I'm moving to New York, working in fashion! Fulfilling what had always been my dream. I applied to LIM College, a fashion school in Manhattan specialized in the business side of the industry. 

During my masters I started internships and worked in many areas of fashion. Finally, I  clicked with styling. Ever since I graduated, retail has been my career path.

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I am so grateful to my parents for always supporting me in pursuing my dreams, and always teaching me to study and work hard to get where I want to be. I think that is definitely the most important thing I’ve learned from them: discipline, work ethic, and values.

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Now, after seven years of living in New York, I’m chasing more dreams and projects; seeing how networking and hard work can get you places. The best is yet to come!