We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Geraldin Ferrer a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Geraldin, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.
The biggest risk I ever took was in 2020 when I decided to move from Florida to Los Angeles. I was excited because I had landed an interview with a local university and was scheduled to fly out to L.A. the next day. But life happened —on my way to work the morning before my flight, I got into a serious car accident. My car was totaled, and I was taken to the hospital in an ambulance. I sat with myself, all I could think was, Is this a sign that I shouldn’t go? Should I cancel my trip?
I called my mom overwhelmed. But I had to give myself a pep talk after having a ling conversation with my mom and all I could hear her saying, “You’re not giving up. You’re going to L.A., and you’re going to kill that interview.” So, despite being sore and shaken, I got on a five-hour flight to L.A. the next day.
The interview went great—I gave it everything I had. Afterward, I stopped at a Dunkin’ Donuts on Vine Street in Hollywood and changed out of my interview outfit in their bathroom into something more comfortable. I took a moment to soak in the energy of the city, even with all the chaos leading up to that day. The next day I flew back to Florida.
A couple of days after returning to Florida, I got the call: I got the job! They wanted me to start in February, giving me just one month to sell most of my stuff, pack up a few boxes, and prepare for a cross-country move. A month later, I drove to Los Angeles and started a new chapter of my life.
Looking back, that risk taught me that sometimes the most rewarding experiences come when you push through doubt and adversity. If I had let fear hold me back, I wouldn’t be where I am today.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
My journey began when I realized I needed to embrace and take pride in who I am, with my curls being an essential part of my identity.
For years, I faced negativity for having curly hair. Society.. family.. workplaces.. the outside world didn’t view curly hair as professional or suitable for special occasions. Classmates would tell me to comb my hair, or say it looked like a mop. I eventually thought, “Why not just straighten it?” Straight hair was considered “good hair” after all. I would visit my Dominican hair stylist nearly every week for a blowout, unaware that I was damaging my curls. The heat and flat iron ruined my curl pattern and whenever I wanted to keep my hair curly it was not easy to manage nor the best looking.
In 2016, my sister did a big chop—cutting off all her hair and fully embracing her natural curls. Her courage inspired me to do the same. If she could rock her natural hair confidently, why couldn’t I? I owe her so much for pushing me to embrace my true self. I made a vow to stop straightening or coloring my hair for a while, and I kept that promise. In fact, I didn’t straighten my hair again until 2022, after six years.
I decided to document my journey on Instagram, sharing my experiences and trying to figure things out along the way. That’s when I started posting more on instagram and “agirlinlovewithbeauty” came to life. It was overwhelming to navigate all the different products at first, what worked for others didn’t work for me. I did find one product that became my holy girl, Miss Jessie’s Pillow Soft Curls—it was one of the first products that truly helped me start my natural hair journey. Once I found what worked for me, I shared side-by-side photos, showing my progress and the damage I was healing from to how I styled my hair from applying products and how I diffused my hair. I wasn’t afraid to be open and transparent. Through Instagram, I connected with so many amazing people within the curly hair community—people who were going through the same struggles or were just as uncertain as I was. I’ve made some of my best friends through this journey, and I’m incredibly grateful for those connections.
Beyond social media, my family plays a huge role in motivating me to continue embracing my curls. My niece has beautiful, big curls, and since she was little, I’ve always reminded her how lucky she is to have such gorgeous hair. Now, I tell my 13-year-old nephew the same—encouraging him to care for his curls and love them. I know when I have children of my own, I’ll instill the same message of self-love and pride in them.
Today, I’ve had the privilege of working with various brands, creating content ranging from lifestyle to curly hair products, and I couldn’t be more thankful for the opportunities this journey has brought me.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
The most rewarding aspect of being a creative is the ability to genuinely connect with people through social media. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of building meaningful relationships with people who truly support me and my journey. In fact, two of the most influential and impactful friendships in my life have come directly from those connections.
I never expected social media to have the power to create such deep and lasting bonds, but it has proven to be a platform for authenticity and shared experiences. I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to not only share my creativity but also to form relationships that have enriched my life in ways I couldn’t have imagined.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
During the time from 2021 through the summer of 2022, I faced one of the most challenging periods of my life. After a car accident the year before, I stopped working out and gained weight. I wasn’t happy with myself—I didn’t like how I looked, and I couldn’t stand seeing myself in videos or pictures. This led me to stop creating content altogether, and I withdrew from social media.
I finally overcame this rut when I realized that I needed to prioritize my mental and physical health. I started going back to the gym, eating clean, and attending SoulCycle. Little by little, I worked my way out of that dark place and reconnected with my passion for creating.
Fast forward to now, I’m proud to say I’ve overcome what I now recognize as a difficult period in my life—one that I might even call a bit of a depression. It’s not easy to say that out loud, but it’s part of my story, and I’ve learned so much from it.
The biggest lesson I’ve learned is the importance of putting yourself first—your mental and physical health are the foundation for everything else. I’ve also learned that it’s okay to take a step back, give yourself grace, and come back stronger when you’re ready. This experience taught me resilience, self-love, and the power of small steps toward big changes.
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Image Credits
Photographer: Chinonso Byron Agu