Today we’d like to introduce you to Gina Castellanos Pelaez.
Hi Gina, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Gina Castellanos Pelaez (aka Gina CP) is the whirlwind force behind Lady Put Your Pants On, a platform that turns life’s chaos into clarity, one story at a time. From her journey as a first-generation Cuban American and former teen mom to becoming a mother, grandmother, and powerhouse community leader, Gina’s lived experience is the heartbeat of her mission: helping women step into strength, claim their voice, and design the lives they deserve.
Through her Substack newsletter, Lady Put Your Pants On, she shares her story and invites readers to explore theirs, while offering tools for self-mastery, reflection, and actionable change. But she doesn’t stop there. Gina’s Brunch Study gatherings turn decadent Saturday mornings into Socratic-style explorations of culture, leadership, and personal growth through community memberships as well as her College Compass Consulting helps students navigate the maze of higher education with strategy, confidence, and a clear path to success. Each of these offerings is woven together under the Lady Put Your Pants On umbrella: a holistic ecosystem where stories, learning, and empowerment intersect.
Discover her story, find your own, and step boldly into yours, starting today.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Gina’s path hasn’t been without its challenges. From navigating the pressures of young motherhood to carving a space for herself in business, community leadership, and creative ventures, she’s faced the real, messy work of life head-on. Along the way, she discovered a calling that blends compassion with deep human understanding: serving as both a birth and death doula. Guiding families through the profound thresholds of life, welcoming new life and honoring the end of it, taught her that growth and transformation often arrive wrapped in both joy and pain. These experiences illuminated the delicate balance of strength and vulnerability, resilience and surrender, that she now channels into every facet of her work.
It’s from these lessons that Lady Put Your Pants On truly takes shape: a philosophy and platform that embraces the full spectrum of life’s transitions. Gina translates these intimate, powerful insights into her Substack newsletter, her Brunch Study discussions, and her College Compass coaching which focuses on improving college essays through storytelling and finding the perfect program avenue for each student, helping women, families, and students navigate their own journeys with courage, clarity, and self-mastery.
Through stories of birth, rebirth, and renewal, she shows her audience that the challenges we face are not roadblocks but invitations–to step into strength, to honor our growth, and to live fully in the truth of who we are.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I specialize in personal development, community leadership, and transformational guidance, weaving together my experience as a mother, grandmother, birth and death doula, educator, and entrepreneur to create spaces where people can navigate life’s transitions with courage and insight.
I’m known for connecting the personal to the universal—turning lived experience into lessons that empower others to take ownership of their lives. Whether through my Substack newsletter, where I share stories, reflections, and tools for self-mastery; my Brunch Study, which turns Saturday mornings into thoughtful Socratic-style discussions; my College Compass Consulting, helping students and families navigate the complex journey of higher education; or my Small Steps Community membership, which provides a space for meaningful connection and guided growth, I aim to meet people where they are and help them take their next bold step. I met people where they are so that I can serve them best.
What sets me apart is my ability to translate life’s messy, beautiful, and sometimes painful moments into practical wisdom and meaningful action. I’ve walked through challenges that range from teen motherhood to the grief of losing our home to a fire while owning/operating a cafe in Downtown Miami; these experiences inform everything I do. I’m proudest of building a community-centered ecosystem where stories, reflection, learning, and empowerment intersect—helping people not just survive life, but thrive in it.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
What I love most about Miami is its vibrant, layered energy—the way cultures, histories, and stories collide to create a city that’s both electric and intimate. I love the creative pulse of the neighborhoods, the food, the art, and the entrepreneurial spirit that seems to flow in the air. There’s a sense of possibility here, a feeling that anything can be built, curated, or celebrated. At the same time, I cherish the moments of quiet—the ocean, the light, the pockets of beauty tucked into historic streets or along the water—places that feel like Miami is giving you a hug even as it moves fast. It’s a city that challenges, inspires, and nurtures all at once, which aligns perfectly with the work I do helping people step into strength, tell their stories, and embrace the full spectrum of life..
What I like least about Miami is how fast it moves and how easy it can be to get swept up in the noise, superficiality, or constant hustle. The city’s energy is electric, but sometimes that intensity comes at the expense of slower, meaningful connection and the preservation of the things that give it soul—history, community, and quiet spaces to reflect. That’s part of why I’ve created Lady Put Your Pants On community memberships via the Small Steps Community, which provides a space for people to slow down, connect thoughtfully, and engage in real conversations that inspire action and growth. Still, these challenges are part of what makes working, creating, and building here so rewarding, because the effort to cultivate depth and authenticity is also what sets Miami apart.
Pricing:
- Substack Subscription $9/month
- College Consulting packages start at $400
- Small Steps Community Membership $19/month
- Free Substack Subscription also available for the curious
Contact Info:
- Website: https://substack.com/@ginacpelaez
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ladyputyourpantson/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ginacp/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@miamifoodfamily4270
Image Credits
Sasha de Almagro Photography
