Discover The Fire In You with Natalia Castillo - Miss Texas Latina 2014, Ep #124

I am excited to announce a series of events I will be hosting in Texas this year with incredible Latin speakers and change makers. One of those speakers is Natalia and I loved hearing her story on the podcast because it’s an incredible example of making the most out of the opportunities you find.

Born and raised in the beautiful South American country of Colombia, Natalia prides herself in her Latin Heritage and cultural traditions. After moving to the United States at the tender age of 18, Natalia received her B.A. in Advertising and Public Relations from the University of Houston in 2012. 

Her friends and colleagues call her a Colombian firecracker with her bubbly personality and also setting sparks in the Fitness and Pageant world as a 3X Ms. Bikini Universe Pro Champion, Model Champion America, Miss Houston Latina 2014, Miss Texas Latina 2015; now current Director of Miss Texas Latina and Founder of Fireyoup Movement. 

She’s also a social connector and female motivator like no other! This powerhouse brings along with her a wealth of knowledge about Nutrition and Fitness. She definitely knows how to bring the heat on any stage. She is excited and passionate to continue to use her forces to further empower America’s women.

You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in...

  • Why moving to the U.S. from Colombia helped Natalia to challenge herself (2:31)

  • How she found the support to go to college and succeed (7:27)

  • Why communicating in the U.S. presented a challenge for her (14:20)

  • How her experiences with the Miss Texas Latina organization has helped her to open doors and network (19:43)

  • The importance of overcoming the stigma of mental health in your community (24:32)

  • How Fireyoup has helped women to succeed (30:35)Growing up in two countries at once

What made Natalia choose the States over Colombia

Natalia came to the U.S. when she was just a teenager and was only planning on being here for a few months as a student. She didn’t love it, she felt homesick, and she was ready to be done when her time came. However, her parents encouraged her to stay a little longer and explore additional opportunities that might interest her. She took their advice, ended up going to college at the University of Houston, got a job in marketing, and then was invited to participate in the Miss Texas Latina pageant. She never considered herself a model because of her short height, but this was the moment when she learned that it really isn’t about what you look like, how you speak, or where you come from. She surprised herself by winning and more importantly she discovered that it was about what’s inside you and what you do with those gifts.

The power of being supported by your community

Natalia realized that surrounding herself with the right people was key to making any of the big steps that led to her successes and growth. Her family and support system helped her see what kind of potential she had within her before she saw it. She kept hearing them tell her words of encouragement, that she could do it, and that they trusted her. Her dad told her the vision he had for her of being bilingual, bicultural, and a brighter future living in the States. Even as she struggled in English classes and doubted that she could do it, she relied on their words for a time. Natalia also challenged herself to make friends with everyone in her class that didn’t speak Spanish. Her humble heart allowed her to make mistakes in order to learn. She also learned the value of trying new things. You never know what can happen, what talents and skills you have, until you start trying things.

The opportunity of responsibility

When Natalia won Miss Texas Latina, she realized she had the responsibility to use her platform to show women in her community what was possible, what was important, and that there were resources available to them. During her reign, she promoted mental health, specifically her story of working through depression during her first year in the U.S. Her communication and use of her platform was so successful that after her reign, the pageant organizers offered her the opportunity to take a leadership role in the organization. She had learned the value of getting professional support for treating her depression, as well as family support, which allowed her to move through a big challenge and achieve successes she couldn’t have imagined while she was struggling.


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