We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jahaira Gomez a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Jahaira, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?

There are so many lessons that I’ve learned from my mother that I carry with me wherever I go and in everything that I do.

I think the greatest lesson of all has been her teaching me to put God first, before all things. She taught me what it means to have and be centered in unmovable faith and that has truly made an immense and significant impact in my life.

As a creative individual, self expression requires a certain vulnerability and risk, but the career growth in itself takes time. One would easily find it discouraging, but putting God first helps us stay focused on what truly matters and helps us understand that we’re not defined by anything, including “success”. Having a relationship with God gives us the understanding that things will happen at the right time. All we have to do is believe and show up!

Jahaira, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m a certified Afro-Latin dance instructor and a certified fitness instructor as well. I’m passionate about representing my roots and culture in fitness spaces. I was formerly 300 lbs due to my struggles with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome and had to get gastric sleeve surgery in 2020. In summer of 2021, I joined the gym and started training myself. Eventually I got a job in marketing in the fitness industry in New York City and learned a lot from trainers and built connections with people in athletics and boxing. In 2024, I became a fitness instructor to teach HIIT and boxing and would bring Caribbean culture into the classes to keep the gym members engaged, entertained, and energized.

I’m big on cultural celebration and preservation which is why I also teach Traditional Bachata and Merengue Tipico. Our music represents our history; the good, the bad, the struggles, and the triumphs. Bachata is a representation of the Black identity and struggle in the Dominican Republic and as a biracial Dominican, being the daughter of a Black Dominican woman, telling our story through dance and movement is important and personal to me.

Aside from teaching fitness and dance, I’m also a speaker. My mission is to show people how faith and fitness saved and changed my life and that it’s possible for them too.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

My mission is to inspire people to never give up on themselves because I almost did. I want people to keep going.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Creating spaces for people to feel seen and heard feels rewarding. Sharing my story with people so they know they’re not alone is important to me. If I did it, if I’ve overcome obesity, divorce, abuse trauma, etc with Gods help, then I know others can too. People just need to see that it’s possible and I’m hoping that I get to show them that it is.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1-4DIClOdPlss8k3f3x7lkBW_fV3GQwLB
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamjahairagomez
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jahairagomez
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@iamjahairagomez