The 2025 LATINAFest was an unforgettable experience, set in a vibrant new DTLA -Grand Park venue and complemented by perfect-at-a-glance weather. The event was a celebration of diversity, with attendees from all walks of life. The fantastic array of food trucks catered to every taste, with mouth-watering aromas filling the air. The event concluded with a cultural shock panel, focusing on essential discussions about mental health, aging gracefully, and authenticity amid societal pressures.
Bel Hernandez, festival co-founder, was busy capturing videos of the panel, while I had the pleasure of meeting and greeting festival co-founder, Naibe Reynoso. This marked my second year at LATINAFest, and I thoroughly enjoyed covering the event, especially the engaging workshops led by Gina Zapanta and Lucee Cesena. One workshop caught my eye, offering a mini-retreat focused on wellness and self-expression through art.
I was thrilled to reconnect with familiar faces, including the Amigas on Tour booth. Sandy, co-founder of Peacock Travel, has a new venture making strides in redefining menopause with their Latina-owned CBD initiative: Flores de Juanita. These personal connections made the event feel like a true community gathering.
Among the highlights was indulging in delicious empanadas from Vivi’s Colombian food truck, as well as treats from Barrilitos and Simply Pop.
A memorable moment was meeting Melissa Shepherd Williams, the Panamanian ambassador and co-founder of the International Society of Black Latinos, where we embraced our identity as Afrolatinas and showed our support for diversity.
A particularly captivating experience was the long line of attendees waiting to participate in ‘la limpia,’ a cleansing ritual to recharge one’s chakras with incense and spiritual guidance. I was initially intrigued by the concept and decided to give it a try. The experience was both calming and rejuvenating, leaving me with a sense of peace and clarity. I left the festival looking forward to next year’s event, reminiscing about the joy and connection it brought.
Something Latina is a vibrant community created to uplift the voices, journeys, and everyday brilliance of Latinas and women of color. Our mission is to inspire, connect, and equip our comunidad with the support and resources needed to rise, thrive, and empower others along the way.
