We were lucky to catch up with Carla/Romi Zuñiga/Imbelli recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Carla/Romi thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?
Romi and I started our podcast out of an EFF IT moment we are both going through. We both need change and do something that is more impactful than what we have been doing. At first, she and I were going to do beauty tutorials together (she’s a makeup artist and I am a hairdresser). But, that just didn’t call to our hearts. So, we just started talking about this mental shift we were both having and started wondering if there were other moms out there that have gone through the same thing and thought, “Wouldn’t be nice to hear from other moms going through the same thing? And that’s how we thought of our podcast.
Our mission is to create a common of Madres supporting Madres through their EFF IT moments. To help inspire and motivate other moms out there who need that nudge to go after what they want to go after.
Carla/Romi, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
Romi’s bio: I’ve been in the Beauty industry for over 20 years. I graduated from the M.U.D. Makeup School in Burbank, California, which offered me many opportunities to work on movies, TV, and shoots in LA. Then, I landed a role on Showtime’s reality show, “The Real L Word” for about 4 seasons. I was able to travel and host events around the world. Then I went on to create a jewelry line called Casa Por Vida. I have previous podcast hosting experience when I was on “The Real L Word” along with another girl from the show, and it was called “The Romi and Rose Production.” Years later, I got pregnant and married to my daughter’s father, and moved to Austin, Texas to provide a better quality of life for our daughter. I have worked for hair companies like Amika and Salon service groups, as well as a makeup artist for Bonita Brides. I’m now divorced, and my daughter’s father and I are co-parenting in the most magical way. Carla is one of my longest and best friends. This last year has been a big, life changing year for us both. We are in the middle of saying Just EFF IT and are going after scary and new things. We created this podcast for us and other mothers, and it has been the most magical journey so far. We signed up for a life coaching program, and we are going after new things. The women on our show are so inspiring and share their EFF IT moments in big, and honest ways. We are never too old to heal, grow and change our lives. This is 40 for me.
Carla’s Bio: I moved to LA from the OC to go to UCLA, and got my BA in Sociology. I worked in the corporate world for a few years before I realized it was just not for me. At 28, I decided to go to Cosmetology School so that I could become a hairdresser, and be in a more creative, less restrictive world. I’ve been a hairdresser for over a decade now, and although I still enjoy it, I am looking to be more impactful than just on the superficial level. And now that I’m a mom to a 1 1/2 year old, the pull to search for more has grown really strong, which is what brought me to my “EFF IT” moment, just like my best friend, Romi. We are both in our EFF IT moments together, so we decided to create a podcast of madres supporting madres (moms supporting moms) through their EFF IT moments to motivate and encourage moms going through it because taking that first step is the hardest thing to do. So, we want to be there for yours, and hope that you’re there for ours!
Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?
The story of how Romi and I met is a funny, and interesting one. So much so, that we made it our very first episode of our podcast! In a nutshell, she and I became friends because we share the same ex-boyfriend. I dated him first, and then we broke up. Then they dated, and broke up. And then we dated, and broke up! I guess you can say he REALLY had a type because Romi and I were mistaken for each other ALL the time. We had the same short haircut, the same style and overall vibe that people called me Romi, and her Carla. To this day, people still think that we are twins! It was the best thing that we both got out of that relationship. And we are still friends after a decade, and are now moms to little girls and are both 40!
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
I think for both Romi and I is that we both want to impact women, especially moms. Once you become a mom, you become part of a community of women with similar experiences that bond you together. But, motherhood isn’t easy. And, the journey ultimately leads you to major EFF IT moments that change the trajectory of your life and that of your family’s. That’s where we are at, and it made us wonder if other moms have had this mental mind shift as well. Turns out MANY have, and it has so far turned out for the better for all the women we have interviewed because this shift got them to do something they never thought they would or could do. And these are important moments that should be shared more openly so that other women can know that they aren’t alone. That there are other women out there who have gone through or are going through the same mental and emotional shifts that they may be feeling. We want to build community, and let women know that they are not alone in this. We are all here in this together, and want to help and support others through these moments.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.theeffitmadres.com
- Instagram: @theeffitmadres
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1ZR8iF3uOqbeI40-y-Fyfg
Image Credits
Photos by Eden Dozier