Today we’d like to introduce you to Marie Ramriez De Arellano.
Marie, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
My name is Marie Ramirez De Arellano, I was born February 15, 1987, I was born and raise in the little Havana area of Miami, FL. My parents are first-generation Cuban American and my grandparents were Cuban exiles who later came and established their own businesses, planting their roots in the Miami community. My grandfather being the first Cuban immigrant to open the only Natural Sponge Factory on the Miami River. Looking up to my grandfather and also watching my parents owning their own businesses, was something I truly admired.
I helped my parents a lot with their courier company when I was in middle school as a part-time job. Starting with basic administrative duties such as data entry, answer phones and filing, which would later prepare me for my future job experiences. I later went on to high school, Miami Senior High Class of 2005 where I took Television Production as my elective, all four years falling in love with the Television industry itself and not knowingly preparing myself for my future career.
However, a couple of years after high school I landed a job as a receptionist in a law firm later becoming a legal assistant. A couple of years of being a legal assistant, an opportunity presented itself and it was to become a flight attendant. I later got accepted and went off to flight attendant school at the famous Pan Am International Flight Academy, here in Miami, Graduated in 2007 traveled working for the charter airline based out of Miami with passengers such as the Miami Heat, Marlins, Pittsburgh Penguins, Military and other significant companies.
Two years or so later I decided that traveling as a job wasn’t for me. In the year 2009 I enrolled in a private college here in Miami, FL for my associates in paralegal studied graduating in 2014, while working as a legal assistant during that time at big-time law firm doing home loan modifications and foreclosures. Later expanding my knowledge as a paralegal working for a couple other law firms with different practices such as criminal law and Personal Injury.
Furthermore, between school and work, I also enjoy the Miami nightlife which of course at some point catches up with you. In all reality partying all night long and having to be at work the next day at 9 am was a recipe for disaster! I can’t lie I was fired at some point, but I was rehired a year after. I found myself hanging around the wrong crowd and somehow learned about the webcamming industry (adult film industry) to make what was easy money as a side gig while still working at the firm.
The ending of 2015 I meet Michael Blanco, where we immediately fell head over heels for each other, without delay, welcoming our baby girl in 2016. our relationship blossomed into what would eventually turn into a partnership, assisting Michael, with not only his business, Pure Blanco but also being his personal assistant, assisting him with solidifying several TV interview deals and endorsement deals.
Accompanying Michael in his en devours gave me the hands-on experience and knowledge to help build and co-direct my own brand. The exposure that today’s social media platform allows the public also allowed me to understand where I wanted to be in the future as a brand and as a social media influencer. At the time, an old friend of mine who I had always stayed in contact with, Katherine Tatubaby Flores, you may have seen her on spike tv’s Ink Masters, calls me up to tell me that she would love for me to be a part of a reality show on Vh1,
Eventually, becoming a big hit show know as ”Cartel Crew” throughout the seasons I had learned that I was in a perfect position to begin doing my brand. Given the platform I have, I believed it was the right time to move forward, that’s when I created Mia Monroe, still a work in progress. I am happy and excited that this was something I had always dreamed of. Finally, I am currently still working hard on getting Mia Monroe off the grown running smoothly and expect it to expand as we go, I live in Miami, FL but also travel a lot to California. Engaged to Michael Blanco, Blanco wedding 2020! So many amazing projects we are working on aside from our growing businesses.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Lol Its never a smooth road. I’ve been through it, everything has its ups and downs but you just learn how to keep a positive attitude and move forward. Always keep your Faith!
Cartel crew, Mia Monroe – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I currently just launched my first business, Mia Monroe, I also am a reality star for Vh1 Cartel Crew, I enjoy everything I am doing Cartel Crew allowed me to show the world who I am, help me get to building my brand, Mia Monroe, is a cosmetics line which I was very excited to begin what women doesn’t love lipsticks?!
Is there something we can do as a city to improve the outlook for businesses like yours?
Miami is the best place to start a business, I totally would recommend it.
Contact Info:
- Website: miamonroe.com
- Email: assistant2michaelblanco@gmail.com
- Instagram: @miamonroeofficial
Image Credit:
Images credits GP Exclusives @gpexclusives
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