Today we’d like to introduce you to Gabriella Cataño.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Gabriella. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I was born and raised in Miami Beach, FL, but have been traveling to California every year since I was ten months old, so I consider it my second home. My mother and father are actors in the Latin-American market, so as a child I was always around TV sets. The makeup room was where you could find me while my mom was on set doing her thing. That is where my passion and love for all things beauty started.
I stayed in Miami for college and graduated from Florida International University with my Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology. During my college years and after taking several intensive courses on makeup artistry, I launched myself as a professional makeup artist and bilingual beauty blogger known as “Catano Glam” on YouTube and Instagram. My love and knowledge of makeup and fashion allowed me to connect with my followers and draw the attention of various television shows and magazines in both English and Spanish. I have had the pleasure of going on live television shows such as Despierta America on Univision, Un Nuevo Dia on Telemundo, Hola Fashion TV and Deco Drive (just to name a few) giving live beauty tutorials and participating in various panels covering all sorts of “millennial” topics. I have also been featured in magazines like TVNotas Mexico and People Chica (People En Español’s digital magazine). As my social media channels and connection with my followers grew, I decided to further my knowledge in this digital world and am currently studying online at the University of Florida to obtain my graduate certificate in social media marketing.
Over the last year, I have had the opportunity to explore my love for being on-camera and tv hosting, as well as acting – which as you know, runs in my blood. I am currently traveling between Los Angeles, CA and Miami, Fl to expand my business as a makeup artist, as well as explore my love for being on camera! For the last four months, I have been taking on camera and acting classes and plan to pursue this new found passion. Although I love being on camera, I will definitely launch a makeup line in the future! Makeup will always be my first love, but I can’t wait for what’s to come when it comes to the beauty industry, YouTube and acting!
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Life is full of challenges. Some people may think the road to my success has been easy for me because of my parents, who are actors in the Hispanic/Latin American market. Although I cannot deny that my upbringing has allowed me to be around the “right” people at times, it has also made standing out in my own light way more difficult. I have always been referred to as “the daughter of so-&-so” instead of just Gabriella and that pushed me to find my own way of showing off my own talents. It is thanks to my hard work and dedication to my makeup clients, videos, and social media that I have been invited to TV shows and been featured in magazines as a “top 10 latina blogger” to follow (for example).
After years of denying my love for being on camera, I have finally accepted that it runs in my blood and plan on pursuing that other passion, as well. I know that I will be compared to my mother and father’s acting abilities, but I have decided to not let that fear of comparison stop me from exploring that talent.
My advice to younger women who are trying to figuring out their lives is: If you are passionate and excited about something, don’t let the judgments of others or fear of being critiqued and failing stop you from living YOUR dreams. Remember, this is YOUR life, not your parents or your friends or your followers’ lives. I was raised by a single mother who taught me that with hard work and perseverance you can achieve whatever you want!
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Catano Glam – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of and what sets you apart from others.
I have always been passionate about all things beauty and fashion, as well as a love for being on camera. But what most people don’t know is that I have always loved anything to do with art. I have taken dance classes, acting classes, horseback riding classes, ice skating lessons, and Spanish diction classes. I think having these opportunities to explore what I liked allowed me to figure out my true passions at an early age. Although I graduated from college with a degree in Psychology, my true passions are all things beauty and on-camera related.
I think what sets me apart from the rest is that I have not chosen a single career path, rather many and have shared this journey with my followers. I am open and honest in real life, as well as on social media. Being bilingual and a young Latin American woman has allowed me to connect with a variety of followers and makeup clients even more than I would have been able to had I spoken one language.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts or other resources that you’ve benefited from using?
Some of my favorite books are: The 4 Agreements, Ask and It Is Given, and Tu Momento Estelar. These books have helped me change my mindset whenever I am down and have helped me plan out the life I want to live.
My favorite apps for creating content are: Canva, Picsart, Unfold, PicSee, iMovie and Tezza.
Contact Info:
- Email: catanoglam@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gabriellacatano/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/gaby_catano
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/catanoglam/
Image Credit:
Gabriella Catano, OmgStudios, Photographer Nico, Lynn Parks
Getting in touch: VoyageMIA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
