VENEZUELAN INFLUENCER LA DIVAZA DOESN’T MIND BREAKING GENDER RULES
With a loyal following of over 7 million people from all walks of life, Venezuelan born influencer La Divaza has created a platform where young people feel like they can be themselves and relate to him in ways they can’t with any other influencer out right now. We get to know him a little better in our new interview so keep reading below!
TALK TO US ABOUT HOW YOU STARTED IN SOCIAL MEDIA.
I started in social media back in 2012. YouTube was the start of all. I uploaded my first video titled “PILOT”. In this piece I was deciding how should I say hello in every video, which is usually a trademark for a YouTuber. There, I was replicating popular hellos from Mexican content creators at the time, such as Yuya, CaeLiKe, HolaSoyGerman and many more. Looking back, it was a fun start for my career!
HOW WAS LIFE LIKE GROWING UP IN VENEZUELA?
Growing up in Venezuela was difficult, at best. I was born in 1998. When I was a child, and even a teenager, Venezuelan was all I knew, and my generation was always resentful of how they messed up and did bad things for the country. Overall I felt impotence as I saw my family struggling for money, earning less and less over every time and seeing how the money became less worthy year after year.
WHO ARE YOUR QUEER HEROES?
I would say my Queer hero is definitely RuPaul Charles. The original Drag Queen. I was little when my best friend introduced me to RuPaul’s Drag Race S1 and I just couldn’t believe what I was watching, and I also learned a lot about Drag. Also, I believe Britney Spears and Lady Gaga were the firsts pop stars I admired. I remember being about 11 when watching “Hold It Against Me” and jamming to “Alejandro”. They motivated me and created a safe space for me through their music. Back on early social media days, I would like to give a shoutout to Tyler Oakley, Connor Franta, Troye Sivan, Princess Joules and Gigi Gorgeous.
BEING A QUEER LATINX INFLUENCER, HOW ARE YOU DISRUPTING THE FASHION WORLD?
I like to play with clothes, bring something fresh to the table and break gender rules. Playing with dresses, forms, shapes, and pieces that are “meant for women”. I think those tags should be left in the past. Sometimes my identity as a queer Latin artist confuses people but I want to be a voice for celebration of all identities, a platform for visibility, and fashion is a big part of that. Fashion is a powerful medium for storytelling and I use it to tell stories that often are overlooked or silenced.
THIS IS OUR PRIDE ISSUE, WHAT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF?
I am proud that I am an immigrant that left my country looking for a better future and that I openly live my truth. I am proud of myself for speaking up, overcoming bullying in high school from both teachers and students. I have pride in belonging to a beautiful, fabulous, supportive and diverse community. I am proud of the challenges we have overcome as a collective and advancing in LGBT rights. Pride month is a time for celebration, reflection and I think it’s important to remember that Pride means different things for everyone and make sure to celebrate Pride! Whatever that means for you.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE YOUR 16 YEAR OLD SELF?
I think that as a teenager who was growing up through a period of economic crisis, conflicts and violence my best advice would’ve been to stay strong thought it all. Keep making videos and don’t pay attention to the negativity others are bringing on your work, because you are more than that. Rumors won’t ruin your life. Definitely love what you do! Failure is awesome and an important part of this journey. And be more careful of what you’re uploading. Now that I’m 26, I’ll admit that I’m still trying to figure life out.
TALK TO US ABOUT BEING ON THE SHOW LA CASA DE LA FAMOSOS. HOW WAS THAT EXPERIENCE?
Being on LCDLF was a life changing experience for me. I learned so many new things about myself that I didn’t know before. Being in isolation for 3 months really changes you. I learned a lot about managing relationships, because living with other 23 people in the same house leads to conflicts, disagreements and tensions. And the worst part is that these are amplified by the constant recording – but the trick is you don’t really get if this people is really mad about each other or they’re just doing it because there are cameras. I really think with cameras constant rolling, finding moments to relax is challenging, and there is definitely pressure to perform. There is this pressure of always be “on” and entertaining and that’s very emotionally demanding over time.
WHAT WAS IT LIKE TO LIVE WITH SO MANY PEOPLE? WHO REALLY GOT ON YOUR NERVES AND WHO BECAME A NEW BESTIE?
The part of living with so many people really stressed me out, because as a creative person it’s important to spend some amount of time alone and that just wasn’t possible here. There were times in which I would get away and lock up in the bathroom so I could find mental peace but you still could hear everyone discussing behind the doors. For me, the lack of privacy wasn’t an issue because LCDLF was the perfect opportunity to always be watched and to get people to know me. To me, Maripily, Thali and Lupillo were on my nerves all the time we had conform a family at the very beginning, but these three would always fight.
If Thali was in a good mood in the morning, then MP just wasn’t and viceversa. Then, the whole thing of Maripily vs Lupillo started and that would be very frustrating to the rest of us in the room (Ariadna, Clovis, Romeh and me) – because the problems under the roof of our room were still ours, and we had to discuss this all the time. I guess we just thought we all were “chosen” by the Earth Room in a way, so we had no other choice than to deal with it. Really, Ariadna, Clovis, Romeh and MP became important people to me because this experience brought us closer, we had infinite meaningful interactions and conversations, and we relied on each other for emotional support when thins got rough, so we will always be connected in a way.
YOU HAVE WORKED WITH A TON OF FASHION + BEAUTY BRANDS, HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT MAKING YOUR OWN BRAND?
I’ve always wanted to create my own brand. I only did a line of clothing back in 2021 and I loved everything about it. However, creating and managing a brand involves investment, time, and a lot of effort. I just think the whole process of developing a brand is a bit overwhelming and it’s definitely easier to work with brands that already exists, but definitely maybe in a future!
WHAT IS A RED FLAG WHEN DATING?
Dating is always complicated, specially as an influencer. Any sign that there may be an unhealthy pattern or behavior is absolutely a red flag for me. I think if my date is consistently unwilling to discuss feelings, future plans, shows emotional unavailability that is a red flag for me. I also pay a lot of attention on how they talk about their past relationships. If they consistently blame their exes without much self-reflection, then that’s another red flag.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE VENEZUELAN DISH?
My favorite Venezuelan dish is the Cachapa, and is made of fresh corn. I think it’s similar to a pancake, or a really really thick crepe. They are served with different types of cheese, but my favorite is the cachapa with chicken and queso de mano. They’re just so delicious and versatile, definitely a comfort food for me.
WHAT IS YOUR GO TO FRAGRANCE?
The fragrance I’ve been using is Tobacco Vanille by Tom Ford. I love a sweet scent. It has notes of tobacco leaf, cocoa, vanilla, and spices. It just feels luxurious, it’s slightly smoky and sits very well on my skin.
WHAT IS YOUR BEAUTY PHILOSOPHY?
A true beauty philosophy for me revolves around self-love, acceptance and self-expression. Everyone is unique and has unique qualities and beauty comes in diverse forms. But self-care is important too, because if enhances your natural beauty and confidence.
There is no point in being perfect, and authenticity has a bigger value. Focus on feeling comfortable in your own skin rather than conforming to beauty standards. Remember that beauty is not a measure of worth, it’s something you can play with! Everyday you can try new make up, new hair styles, clothing and that’s the beauty of beauty.
WHAT IS ONE BEAUTY ITEM YOU CANT BE WITHOUT?
I don’t think I can just pick one. To us Venezuelans, personal grooming, beauty and appearance has always been highly valued. I always need to carry with me at least a face cleanser (I use the LaRoche Posey Effaclar) and sunscreen (mine is the ISDIN Fusion Water) at the very very least. Otherwise my skin loves to break out and make me miserable!
IF WE WERE TO SPEND A DAY WITH YOU IN CDMX WHERE ARE WE HAVING LUNCH DINNER AND PARTYING?
I love Mexico City because it’s such a diverse city. If we were to spend a day in Mexico City, we would wake up and do brunch in Niddo Cafe, Juarez for that. For lunch/dinner, if you like seafood, we would go to Contramar, especially the tuna tostadas and pescado a la talla. And yes, of course we are partying. The fun thing about Mexico City is that there are so many places you can go to, and it’s so vibrant, but we are definitely going out!
WHAT IS NEXT FOR YOU ON THIS SUPERSTAR JOURNEY?
I’m focusing on my job as a content creator for now. Don’t get me wrong, being a social media person it’s amazing as I get to play with other formats such as reality TV, books, music, and maybe even acting. That’s the beauty of it, and all of that happened because of me being a creator.
HOW IS YOUR CREATIVITY DISRUPTING THE CULTURE OF BEAUTY?
I like challenging norms and celebrate style that deviates from mainstream expectations. I would go for authenticity and self-expression over conformity any day. What I like most about this generation is that we are redefining beauty by offering alternative perspectives, promoting inclusivity and empowering others to embrace their true selves, and that’s so powerful. Queer creativity has always disrupted beauty.
HOW DOES COMEDY HELP YOU WITH YOUR MENTAL HEALTH?
Engaging with comedy breaks me from my routine, and it’s a powerful coping mechanism in dealing with difficult situation that I could be going through. It’s a great way to navigate stress, and it offers me a fresh perspective on life’s challenges.
Seeing problems in a different light makes things seem more manageable and even as an influencer, seeing the positive impact of my content on my audience in incredibly fulfilling. Knowing that I can brighten someone’s day and provide a laughter during a tough time motivates me to continue creating stories that resonates emotionally. Comedy allows me to connect with my audience on a deeper level.
LEAVE US WITH A SECRET.
Here’s a little secret for you: The key to online success isn’t just about posting consistently or having a great aesthetic. It’s about genuine engagement. I spend a lot of time interacting with my followers, listening to their stories, and building real connections. Behind every like and comment, there’s a real person, and treating them as such has made all the difference. So, remember, it’s not just about the numbers. It’s about the community you build.
TEAM CREDITS:
Editor in Chief: Prince Chenoa (@princechenoastudio)
Feature Editor: Taylor Winter Wilson (@taylorwinter)
Photographer: Juan Retallack (@ilretallack)
Styling: The Common Room (@thecommonroom_mx)
Styling: Venus Fabbricatore (@venusfabbricatore)
Styling: Diego Salvador (@diegosalvadorc)
