Digame: Shomara Garcia Reminds Us Latinas Have No Skin Tone
Digame is a monthly series featuring prominent Latinx leaders, activists, entrepreneurs, and public figures uplifting the community and making a difference
Photo courtesy of Shomara Garcia
Digame is a monthly series featuring prominent Latinx leaders, activists, entrepreneurs, and public figures uplifting the community and making a difference.
Entrepreneur Shomara Garcia grew up in Connecticut and was always told who she was and who she wasn’t based on the color of her skin, hair texture, and the language she didn’t speak. She recalls growing up in “No-Man’s Land”, in a bi-cultural household with a Belizean and a Puerto Rican mom, exposed to their food and dance while also embracing American culture. Not being accepted for who she was and constantly reminded of who she wasn’t based on society’s standards led her to feel frustrated by the consistent ignorance and lack of knowledge of “Blatinas” that she believes remains to this day.
She founded BLatina with the Good Hair in February 14, 2017 selling empowering apparel that feature her signature message, “Latina Has No Skin Tone.” “I decided my experiences had a bigger purpose and my purpose is to help bring light to an intense movement of uniqueness and originality of Blatinas/ Afro-Latinas everywhere,” she tells HipLatina.
Which Latina(s) have had the greatest impact on your life and why?
Growing up, JLo had the greatest impact on my life and how I viewed a women’s beauty. From her singing, dancing, acting and more, I used to admire her especially when I saw her in Latina Magazine. As I got older, Amara La Negra impacted the way I was accepted to the world. Due to her being a Black Latina: dark skin, afro hair, and spoke Spanish…. She got the world talking and Shop BLatina went to a new level.
If you had a superpower, what would it be?
My superpower would be to rewind time. I would always want to rewind to the good moments. Losing my father due to Covid made me want to constantly rewind time to go back to how things were beforehand.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
Let go, and let GOD!
What would you title the autobiography of your life?
The Well-Rounded Go GetHER!
What was the first thing you bought with your own money?
A pair of Jordans sneakers as far as I can remember. I was in high school and needed these lavender and white sneakers for my birthday so I think I paid $150 for them because momma or dad wasn’t spending that for a pair of sneakers, lol.
What do you wish more people understood about what you do?
I wish more people would realize there is a purpose bigger than me. Maybe they would appreciate and take the content I share on a daily seriously.
What motivates you?
What motivates me is knowing I have nothing else but this entrepreneurial life, I have no choice but to keep pushing.
How did you end up on the professional path you’re on now?
I was teaching elementary school at the time and I kept having these prejudice-like experiences so I thought about blogging those experiences. I very quickly realized I don’t just want to blog, I want to put these messages on clothes. From there, I learned as I went with social media advertising my items modeled on family.
What is your greatest professional achievement so far? Personal achievement?
My greatest achievement was despite all the obstacles, I’ve been In business for this long and overcoming my fear of vending at festivals.
What is a goal you have that you haven’t accomplished yet and what are you doing to get closer to accomplishing it?
One goal I want to accomplish is tripling my revenue in t-shirt sales. To help get me there, I am: posting content daily on all platforms, collaborating with other brands/businesses, ramping up our email marketing, and vending at events.
Quick Fire:
Shoutout an Instagram account that could use more love and tell us why you’re a fan:
@nickysaysyolo is an Instagram account that I’m a fan of for sure. She always have: engaging stories, her chic fashion, knowing all the vegan food spots, to repping her natural hair, Nicky is definitely an account I watch daily.
Shoutout your favorite Latina owned business and why:
My favorite is: RizosCurls because I’ve been watching their journey for a long time and to see their transformation til now is amazing. I’m really happy for Julissa.
Name your favorites: Snack, Song, Artist
Snack: Guac and chips
Song: “Wild Side” by Normani ft. Cardi B
Artist: Mariah Carey
