Karina Garden Jimenez is the CEO of Cheeky Chick Concepts, LLC. (Image: Source)
Which Latina matriarch do you most identify with and why?
Without a doubt my mother – she is the person that has most pushed and motivated me to excel in all that I do. She is truly the most inspirational person in my life.
Growing up in a single-parent household was tough, but my mother was tougher. She made my sister and I the center of her universe and decreed that she would do everything in her power to give us the best education money could buy, as well as provide us with all of the opportunities we needed to succeed. She worked three jobs so that we could attend the best private schools in Long Island and to ensure that we were able to afford the extra curricular activities necessary to help us get into good colleges.
By being an amazing mother and kick-ass entrepreneur, she is the first woman in my life that served as an example that women can do it all! As a small business owner, she eventually grew her one location into a chain of beauty salons in Long Island, which she eventually sold to pursue her other interests. She’s also worked as an educator for prestigious companies, such as Clairol, Revlon and Elizabeth Arden –all with a GED and a basic command of the English language.
I am still in awe of what she was able to accomplish, the struggles she endured and countless sacrifices she made for us. Her achievements humble me to this day.
What’s one piece of advice you’d give to your younger self?
The advice I would give to my younger self would be to embrace the differences that come from the distinct, culturally rich backgrounds that make up my ‘Afro-Latinaness.’ I spent a tremendous amount of my childhood through my teenage years and even mid-20s being uncomfortable in my own skin, and to some degree ashamed of my ‘bad’ hair. I wish I would’ve understood the beauty in having different skin color, body type and YES –big, uncontrollable curly hair and been able to celebrate my uniqueness.
If you want to suggest an amazing Afro-Latina to be featured in our Everyday Chica feature, tweet @aintilatina using the hashtag, #afrolatinaswhorock .
Additional reporting provided by Nichole S. Baker.
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