Today we’d like to introduce you to Cristina De La Cruz.
Hi Cristina, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I was born and raised in the Dominican Republic by both my grandparents and my single mother. My sister and I immigrated to South Florida in elementary school and grew up in Broward County. I hustled throughout high school as we dealt with many rehoming issues caused by financial struggles. I graduated high school with an associates degree and then left home for Tampa to acquire a global business bachelor’s degree from the University of South Florida. That’s where I met my now fiancé, Isaac Glener. We then moved back to South Florida for him to get his JD from FIU! Once he passed the bar, we purchased our first home in Sanford, FL at the age of 24. We’ve been working hard to make our dreams come true and that resulted in us neglecting our health. Isaac had to get a tumor removed from his knee and had stress-induced heart issues. I was severely neglected by doctors for years and had to have an emergency partial hysterectomy cause by a 10 lb dermoid ovarian cyst. I was basically carrying a cyst the size of a full term baby for years. That came with many other complications. So this last year we made it our mission to be more mindful of our bodies and take care of what we can control. We started by doing YouTube yoga classes at home, then we started taking local classes and now we’re regulars! Two months ago, we also decided to go vegan! Eating plant-based has drastically improved our overall health and I’m so excited to continue learning about more ways o can implement wellness in my day to day life. Sharing about my journey on social media has allowed me to inspire others to not only start their journey, but to gov themselves grace in the process.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has never been a smooth road for me. I struggled with mental health issues my whole life. I’ve dealt with all sorts of life circumstances that would push someone to give up. And I did give up for years. I spent 5 years in therapy processing all the life altering situations I’ve been in. Learning how to emotionally regulate and detach from what I can’t control. From homelessness, immigrating to a new country, racism and classism, learning a new language, lack of dietary education and eating disorders. I’ve been diagnosed with clinical anxiety and depression for years but have seen exponential improvement after surgery which was most definitely a wake up call.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I work as a marketing co content, and create a strategist for Hispanic marketing agency based in Miami. My job is to manage creative productions for life insurance, and Medicare advantage advertisements. I’ve been able to manage high stress situations for years. And I do it very well. I’m a leader, and find fulfillment, and expressing myself creatively while helping others find themselves as well. I’ve also been creating social media content for over 15 years. One of my biggest passions is sharing my life on the Internet. I love to edit and shout out businesses and people that have similar values to me and share about my community. I’ve recently started sharing more on TikTok and YouTube. I’ve always wanted to make concent, creating my full-time job, and I’m very proud of how I’ve been able to stay, consistent and authentic throughout the years. I think my vulnerability, my honesty, and my story is what sets me apart from others.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
Finding a mentor was key for me. I needed a guide to give me reassurance of my capabilities while also providing constructive feedback to challenge me to grow. One of my mentors is Allison van Tilborgh, @TheSanfordVegan. She is not only a personal friend and family at this point, but has been an inspiration throughout my journey and incredibly insightful and supportive. She taught me the importance of networking as I begin sharing more about businesses near me and connecting with others in my community.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cristinandlc?igsh=emo1aDM1aTF1ZGE4&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1BkWH4HYno/?mibextid=wwXIfr
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@cristinandlc?si=MhdqssYvcCWZzv0m
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@cristinandlc?_t=ZP-8xHX1Nz5H9b&_r=1
Image Credits
I took all pictures @cristinandlc
