Hello & welcome! Thank you for visiting Paola’s Lifestyle (formerly LatinaLifeAndStyle.com)! I feel fortunate, blessed…and happy with life! Being bicultural and bilingual is one of those fortunes! I am grateful to have have the best of both worlds, of being American, and also being Mexican, of enjoying both cultures, languages, countries, and lots of other amazing things that come with it! I like fashion and beauty, I think if women (and men) feel comfortable with how they look and their own style, they will feel confident and happy! No matter what you are wearing, you have to be happy in your own skin! I also enjoy traveling, so I share experiences and tips from my trips. Having worked in media for many years, I enjoy the entertainment industry, in particular movies, the theater, events, and concerts, which I write about in this blog. Two years ago, we were blessed with our daughter, Alessandra, and that is how the topic of motherhood got added to the blog.
This is how Paola’s Lifestyle came to be and continues to expand. As my life and priorities have changed throughout these past years, so has my lifestyle. I decided to change the name of the blog because, I live the lifestyle I choose and which works for our family at the stage we are in. I continue to enjoy my career, but am also a mom and wife. I look forward to connecting with you! Thank you for visiting the blog!
My Story
I was born and raised in sunny San Diego, a beautiful city in Southern California (right on the border with Mexico)! Travel has added many enriching experiences to my life….I have lived and studied in Mexico, and traveled to many countries. I am married to a wonderful man, Jim, and we have a daughter, Alessandra. We live in San Diego, with our three kitties, Mimi, Moritz, and Maxime.
My career started in modeling at age 16, where I immediately started working in public relations and event coordination for an agency. I preferred working in public relations over modeling, and that helped me decide what path to take in college. My first big project, at the age of 17, was the Miss Baja California Pageant, a state-wide beauty contest, where I worked on the public relations team (I was the youngest person on staff – even younger than the contestants). Through college, I continued working and learning new skills in marketing and public relations. I went straight into college after high school and completed my BA in International Business, then about fifteen years later I went back to school to complete my Master’s Degree, in Business Administration.
My career in public relations and marketing has taken me from positions working for the District Attorney’s Office, to a position for a regional non-profit, city government as Chief of Staff to Mayor Nick Inzunza, and working on numerous state-wide political campaigns. In all these positions I worked with the media, pitching stories for news coverage or building media campaigns. My career in television and media, began in 2007 when I accepted the position of Community Outreach & Publicity Manager for ABC10, Azteca San Diego 15, and LiveWell Network. My on-air work included hosting and producing weekly community segments, interviews, station promos, and client commercials. I’ve had the honor of being nominated for three Emmy Awards for my work in television. In 2014 and 2015, I wrote a newspaper column for El Latino, the largest Spanish language newspaper in San Diego. After more than eight years of participating with the San Diego Latino Film Festival as a sponsor and covering it as a television host, I joined the team in 2015 as their Ambassador and Host. In every position I have held, I’ve helped make a difference in the community. Throughout the years, I have had the opportunity to volunteer with multiple non-profit organizations and educational institutions. I continue to emcee charity galas, events, and fashion shows, as well as make public appearances, which I greatly enjoy! Meeting people and connecting with others is one of the favorite parts of my career…and life!
I recently started a YouTube channel, and am having fun recording and editing videos related the topics I cover in the blog.
Many people, including my husband, suggested I start a blog as a way to further connect with friends, women/girls, and to share some life lessons, my experiences as a Latina, as well as some of my favorite things, beauty and style tips, and my “joie de vivre” (joy to live)! Thank you for joining me on this adventure – I look forward to hearing from you!
Hugs,
Paola