Q and A with Maria Z. from Bogota, Colombia, living in Palm Beach, Florida

“I believe loving what you do has the biggest impact in life. I try to live every day with purpose.”

Q: What are you passionate about?

A: I’m very passionate about my work. I believe that love is a force that guides us, and I love the human body and the human experience, and I love the magic that there is in how we were designed. The human body is such a simple yet complex system that is fascinating to me. I come from a medical background of 18 years. I went to school for surgical technology and health services administration. After everything changed with COVID, healthcare was never the same, however, people still need healing and I love healthcare so much that I decided to further my skill set and obtain my certification in Manual Lymphatic Drainage, ultrasonic cavitation, radio-frequency therapy, and laser Lipo.

Though I was familiar with the treatments from experience with my first child, the aftermath of my second child and the challenge that I was having to get rid of the “saggy skin,” despite exercising and keeping a healthy lifestyle, was what really pushed me to dive deeper into alternative treatments other than surgery. I also have a fairy hair and children’s entertainment business that is my heart. I started this project in 2020 inspired by my little girl and my friend and mentor who introduced me to fairy hair. Nellarina’s is a project based on magic and love, and I am known as the Fairy Hairmother, or the Queen Fairy as my friends call me [she laughs]. I believe in sparkles, and my inner child has healed tremendously with this project. I love to serve the community and have had the honor to work with foundations like Hands and Feet, which helps children in foster care, and the Palm Beach County Schools as a volunteer for their school events, and I am obsessed! I love to sparkle the kids, and their smiles when they look in the mirror is the best payment I receive!

Q: What were your younger years like?

A: I am the youngest of two sisters, and I come from a big family. I went to an all-girl Catholic school and moved to the United States when I was 16. It was a huge culture shock to be quite honest. My father’s health wasn’t so great growing up, so my upbringing was a little different. My parents worked in sales; my mom was one of the top Realtors in Bogota during the 90s, and my dad worked in sales. With both parents being entrepreneurs, it is only natural that I would develop the same mentality, so I grew up hustling! I would bake and sell my cookies in my building and candy to my friends.

After I graduated high school, I went to college and worked in healthcare full time while attending Keiser University, where I graduated with my degree in health services administration. Then I pursued a second degree as a surgical technologist from Keiser College, where I graduated with honors. I obtained my national certification with the highest score in my class and had the privilege of being a part of the advisory board for the student leadership body. I believe loving what you do has the biggest impact in life. I try to live every day with purpose.

Q: What is something valuable you’d like others to know?

A: If there is something I would like others to learn from my story it’s that only we are responsible for our destiny. Sometimes, we tend to get in our own way because we’re scared of failure, but understanding that there is no failure only lessons to be learned, we realize that we can always start again and do things differently.

I feel like the most valuable tool I have and what has helped me the most has been prayer/meditation. Being able to ask for divine guidance and really taking the time to listen will help you take the steps needed that are in alignment with your true purpose.

Remembering that we all put our pants the same way in the morning keeps me humble and grounded; it allows me to expand from a more authentic and empathic place, and to really take the time to listen to others…sometimes it’s important. To be of service is important. Walking without judgment is growth. Everyone is their own world, and oftentimes, we forget people are fighting battles we don’t know about. Being kind is important. A life of service is a life well-lived.

Q: What does feminism mean to you?

A: Well as the proud granddaughter of a widow with seven kids who raised them by herself and a mother who hustled to provide due to unfortunate circumstances, I believe feminism as a term has been misinterpreted by many.

I feel like being a feminist is embodying the soft side of what makes us a woman while balancing the strength, courage, determination, and fearlessness that women carry without trying to be like our male counterparts (I know personally I wouldn’t want to be like a man).
As women, we are sacred portals of life and even men come from women; we are the ultimate creators, we are sovereign and powerful! We are the ultimate warriors and even Earth is a woman. We run the world!

MORE from Maria:

-I’m only 4’10”

-I am a Clair

-Cooking and exercise are my mental health

-I was born and raised in Bogota, Colombia, and currently reside in Palm Beach County, Florida

Connect with me:

INSTA: https://www.instagram.com/nellarinasmagicalfairyhair?igsh=MWZyd2NxaTM5bm1ybQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

https://m.facebook.com/profile.php?mibextid=sCpJLy

https://m.facebook.com/nellarinasmagicalfairyhair?mibextid=LQQJ4d

Thanks for reading!