Latina Leader Spotlight: Caroline Salinas
I discovered Caroline Salinas on my quest for Latina entertainment and let me tell you she and the team at Our Vibes Media delivers. From hot takes on pop stars to cultural commentary they keep it relatable and entertaining. Caroline is a multi-talented creator who sings, acts, produces, and creates content that deserves to be recognized! Enjoy our Q&A and be sure to give all the love, support, and follows:
Q: Tell us about yourself: what ethnicity are you, where were you born and where do you currently live?
A: I'm a 23-year-old Chicana and content creator from West Covina, CA. I grew up in the San Gabriel Valley, an area slightly east of Los Angeles. I'm passionate about social media, social justice, comedy, and Latin@/x representation. I've worked in politics and television, but now I focus mainly on digital content creation.
Q: Tell us about your creation, Our Vibes Media...
A: In 2020, I teamed up with local content creators whose work I admired, and together we launched @OurVibesMedia, a digital brand dedicated to entertaining and informing Latino Gen Z and Millennials just like us. We regularly share comedy sketches, reaction videos, and other content we feel best represents our community. Our mission is to create our own representation. You can find our content on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok at @OurVibesMedia. My Co-Founder, Sheryl Desir, and I have dedicated the past year to building the brand and organically growing our audience via social media. Each of our cast members bring different talents to the table from filmmaking to journalism and more. We're all recent grads with valuable media expeirence who are egaer to break into the digital media industry on our own terms. Personally, I also enjoy graphic design and writing/producing my own comedic sketches.
Q: What does it mean to you to be a Latina Leader?
A: What it means to be a Latina Leader is to be someone who is brave. As women of an ethnic minority group, the odds are stacked against us. Latina leaders must practice vulnerability, empathy, and the willingness to "be the first," and all of that takes bravery.
Q: Who is your Latina inspiration?
A: I have so many Latina inspirations! Latinas have accomplished so many amazing things, but if I have to pick one, it's AOC. I'm inspired by the way that she is always unapologetically herself and dedicated to serving others. She proved that an everyday person can become a political titan in a matter of months with enough passion for the work they do. She's a true testament that anything is possible through perseverance.
Q: What stereotype(s) about the Latina culture do you hope to break via your creations?
A: I want all of my creations to go against the belief that Latinos are a monolith. Some of us love Hot Cheetos and Bad Bunny, some love heavy metal and anime, and others love wine and Sara Bareilles. Just by being Latino creatives, our creations are Latino. I hope that I can tell as many stories of different kinds of Latinos through my creations.
Q: What do you want other Latina Leaders to know?
A: Support Latinas who support Latinas. Our community is out there in all levels of every industry, and the only way we can all go further is if our community supports each other. I could not have had the confidence to share my content publically or even begin creating without Latinx mentors who have supported me since I was in college. I have been able to come across amazing opportunities because I have gotten close to the Latino community actively in my industry.
Q: What can we look forward to from you in 2021?
A: 2020 taught me is to keep going and live one day at a time. I don't have big plans at the moment, but I do plan to continue creating videos and sharing more stories. I would also like to share more about myself on social media. I'm manifesting some fun collaborations for this year and looking forward to the new opportunities coming my way.
Q: How can people support/follow you?
A: You can support and follow my work on social media @TheSweetCarols. I'm on Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, YouTube, Clubhouse...almost every app! You can also find my work at TheSweetCarols.com.
