Today we’d like to introduce you to Lucia Mendieta
Hi Lucia, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I grew up in Guayaquil – Ecuador and came to the States at age 28 with little money and a bunch of dreams. I had finished my education there with a bachelors in Accounting and a Masters in Auditing.
I always dreamt of being in a different country and having the opportunity to experience life from a more challenging side; speaking a different language, learning a new culture, and getting better job opportunities. That is why I decided to leave my country and embark on this journey.
Besides my professional education I consider myself to be a creative person, but maybe a little bit introverted when alone. However, when I’m thrown to the masses, I thrive easily around. I love singing, it brings me much joy. I started in 2012 and have had the opportunity ever since to belong to various bands, sing solo, and perform in front of many people. I love the feeling of going on stage and performing. Similar to the feeling I get while singing, I did perform as well as an actress in some plays with the drama club I joined while I was in college, I also danced, and basically did any expression of art I could.
When I first started living in the US in 2016, I resided in Atlanta for 4 years, from there I was very active working multiple accounting jobs, and freelancing, plus I got the chance to sing in various festivals and even be part of a Latino music band. Then in 2020 life brought me to Florida, where I started a different chapter right after getting married. As I had bigger and better job opportunities in the accounting field, I also gave myself the chance to try in the pageant world. I won my very first pageant as Ms Mundo Latina 2022 in Orlando Florida, and then many modeling opportunities came along, including a participation in fashion shows like Punta Cana Fashion week and New York Fashion Week. Working and supporting my community was also essential for me to spotlight during my reign and after it ended, I continued to participate actively in the communications world and fashion industry as well. Participated in a second pageant in the beginning of 2024 with the Mrs World organization and met incredible like-minded women, started a series of interview with them and even after my own coaching business.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It’s definitely been a very challenging path. Not only from the professional side, but also in my personal life as well. When I started to live on my own for example, it was hard at first to even find a place where to live and that it was safe. I had to work more than 2 jobs at the time to make enough money to cover my expenses. I found people along the way that did help me out to get either a better job or to even support me with a place where to live and look.
I used to feel homesick at first, missing my family, especially my mom since we are so close. I thought at many times to go back and forget about what I was trying to do here in the States, but I decided not to give up. I had a bad relationship, and after it was over, I was able to rebuild and reconstruct my life from zero.
In my path through pageantry and even modeling, what many don’t know is that as glamorous as it is, it is an expensive path. At that point I could take care of my own expenses, but it does still become a heavy lift if you are all alone. In my first pageant I didn’t know anybody so all pageant costs were on me. Clothing, accessories, even any beauty care. I learnt a lot from that experience and met a lot of people after, so that helped for my next pageant.
I love pageantry and that is the reason why I wanted to help also other women through what I learnt in my experience. I love the opportunity to become an ambassador for a pageant platform and be their advocate, it brings a sense of fulfillment and pride.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
In the artistic world I’m currently a cohost for an amazing Latin show called: The Marky Marcano show TMMS, and we just had the launch of our new season on a local tv channel. I love communicating, and I have done so on my own creating my own clips and segments, interviews, and or with other platforms like TMMS, Edgar Entertainment, Ala Carta Conceptos, etc. I have placed aside the singing for now but I would like in the future to resume a potential comeback on it.
In terms of my current business – Queen’s coach by Lucia Mendieta-, I started pursuing this after my last pageant and I help women prepare for theirs. I have had the opportunity to prepare women with runway classes, a whole package preparation module which includes all you need to know to get started, how to find sponsors, I have my contacts for photography and also clothing (designers) a whole team that I got the chance to meet through these last years. I have had the chance to prepare models for the runway, and been guest speaker and preparer for the Miss Florida USA pageant.
I always try to make a special connection/bond with the girls I prepare, so they feel at ease and comfortable, I bring up the points and parts where they need to improve and I helped them with material so they can rehearse and repeat. I think most of all is my aptitude, experience, and personality that sets me apart and what make people trust me.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
For editing my interviews or videos I normally use capcut, and the apps that I normally manage besides that are Canvas, Instagram and personal Facebook. In terms of resources, I have prepared with some motivational books, pageantry material and many blogs on runway tips and tricks plus the ones I have learnt on my own.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/summer_lucita
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/summer_lucita/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@luciamendieta6290
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/queenscoachbyluciamendieta/
Image Credits
Visuals by Malone
J-Mel Da Honcho
