Grab your cafecito—here’s what’s brewing:
- Confidence is essential for empowering Latina fashionistas and designers to succeed and stand out in a competitive industry.
- Erika Cramer’s book Becoming Magnetic offers practical tools to build confidence and attract opportunities.
- Personal stories from Erika’s book tour and the Bad Moms Revolution event that highlight the power of community and self-belief.
- Why owning your voice and magnetism isn’t just personal growth — it’s a professional game changer for Latinas in fashion.
Real Talk: Magnetism in Fashion
Let’s be real y hablar de algo — the fashion industry isn’t easy. As a Latina designer, I’ve had to grow some serious cojones just to keep going. It’s not just the competition either. You can pour your corazón …into your designs or collections, only to be told it needs to be cheaper, changed, or worse — dropped, and it isn’t going anywhere. That kind of rejection can mess with your confidence.
And when you’re constantly under pressure from la jefa, being picked apart and barely ever getting any positive feedback, it starts to take a toll. You start questioning yourself, wondering, am I even good at this? That kind of self-doubt creeps in fast. If you are an aspiring designer or a fashion student, I’m sure you can relate too!
That’s actually what led me to open up Spotify one day and search for something — anything — about confidence. That’s when I found Erika Cramer, The Queen of Confidence, and honestly, her message about building confianza spoke to me.
Meet Erika Cramer: The Queen of Confidence
Erika Cramer, aka The Queen of Confidence, is a total powerhouse — coach, speaker, author, and a fellow Latina out here doing big things. She’s Puerto Rican, originally from Boston, and now living in Australia. After months of binging her podcast, reading her first book Confidence Feels Like Shit, and even joining her coaching program… I nearly screamed when I found out she was coming to the US to tour her second book, Becoming Magnetic.
On Thursday, May 29th, I had the incredible opportunity to meet Erika in person at The Bookmark Shoppe in Brooklyn. The event was hosted by Fashion Designer, Micakela Parbon, designer of Dressed in Joy. Micakela created a welcoming and intimate space that felt more like a heartfelt conversation than a typical book tour stop. With just a small group of women, we laughed, cried, and shared our personal stories of growth and how Erika’s work nos haz cambiando la vida and influenced our lives. It was an unforgettable experience that reminded me just how powerful connection and community can be, which is exactly what you need — especially in fashion.
To learn more about The Queen of Confidence, click here to visit her website.
To check out Mikaela Parbon‘s Fashion Line, Dressed in Joy, click here to visit her website.
Becoming Magnetic: Your Blueprint to attract opportunities
With limited time but unlimited passion, Erika poured her best work into this masterpiece. She breaks down the step-by-step tools to help you stop pushing away what you actually want — and start attracting it with intention. As Erika jokes, she didn’t hide the blueprint like J.Lo does!
As I sat in that bookshop, I couldn’t help but think about how deeply this all connects to fashion — how sometimes we repel the titles we want, the promotions we deserve, and compare ourselves to people who seem to “have it all,” even though we’re just as deserving.
Let’s be honest: you’re not getting the job you’re qualified for. You’re being overlooked for the promotion you’ve earned. Maybe you’re playing small at work or even in school — staying quiet, not speaking up for yourself. (I know, because that used to be me.) This book walks you through how to shift that energy and start drawing in the opportunities you’ve been waiting for.
I won’t give too much away — but this book definitely deserves a spot on my ‘must-have tools’ list from the previous post. (If you haven’t seen it, click here to check out the Top 10 Must-Have Tools for Fashion Designers.)
Yes, it’s a personal development book — but it absolutely applies to your business, your goals, and your dreams. If you’re a fashion designer (or trying to become one) and your brand or career feels stuck, this might be the exact mindset shift you need.
The Bad Moms Revolution: A Celebration of Women, Mothers, Magnetism, and Community
Just two days after meeting Erika, I had the chance to connect with her again — this time at The Bad Moms Revolution, a powerful event that felt like the universe aligned just for me.
This event was the vision of Yosi Maldonado from The Fierce Femme Tribe, a brunch-style networking gathering made by women, for women. It celebrated motherhood, womanhood, and entrepreneurship. When I heard Erika was the keynote speaker, I knew I had to be there.
On May 31st, I showed up to AT THAT SPACE in Little Ferry, New Jersey — completely solo, not knowing anyone, but feeling deeply called to attend. What I expected to be a simple brunch turned into an empowering experience full of connection, inspiration, and growth. Erika spoke on stage for over an hour, sharing hard-hitting stats on how many women don’t receive the opportunities or recognition they deserve — and I felt it deeply.
This mindset is all too common in fashion — especially among Latinas. We shrink ourselves, play small, stay quiet, and carry the weight of impostor syndrome. And honestly, it’s no surprise so many of us struggle with it. When Erika shared a slide with global stats — one showing that up to 82% of people experience impostor syndrome — it all clicked.
Many of us were raised on phrases like “Calladita te ves más bonita.” Our voices were silenced, our confidence dimmed. But Erika reminded us: the cycle stops now. The change starts with us — by speaking up, owning our brilliance, and taking what we deserve.
Confidence leads to Magnetism
The Bad Moms Revolution was about stepping into your power — just like Latina designers must own their voice and presence in the fashion industry. Both spaces demand confidence, resilience, and the courage to challenge traditional expectations. And with confidence comes the power to magnetize what you truly deserve.
By attracting what we want, we begin to break free from stereotypes, rewrite the narrative, and define success on our own terms.
That day pushed me out of my comfort zone, encouraging me to network, speak on stage, and stand tall in spaces I once felt too small for. I felt imposter syndrome melting away as I connected and danced with women across industries — finance, content creation, wellness, and more. And yes, there was a dance party (because what’s a revolution without a little joy?).
The event included a panel of inspiring entrepreneurial moms and a genuine spirit of community. It was more than just a book tour stop — it was a movement.
As a Latina in fashion — where we represent such a small portion of the industry — I left feeling renewed. This wasn’t just about personal growth; it was professional, too. Events like these remind us how important it is to show up, not just for ourselves, but for each other. We need to be the ones lifting as we climb, no matter the field. And I’m so grateful I didn’t sit this one out.
To learn more about Yosi Maldonado and her events, click here to visit her website.
Catch a glimpse of the magic — hit play to join the Becoming Magnetic book tour and the Bad Moms Revolution!
Why Confidence Is Crucial for Fashion Designers
Whether you’re already a fashion designer or just starting out, you’re going to come across people who seem to have more resources, more connections, or more experience than you. And as you know — I’ve been there. When I applied to the Fashion Institute of Technology, I had the option to interview in person, and I took it because, truthfully, I didn’t think my portfolio was strong enough on its own. I knew I had to sell myself — show them my passion and let them see who I really was, so they could believe in me the way I believed in myself. “Si se puede” was my mantra that day.
I remember walking in with my little apron I made during a Saturday Live sewing course I took at FIT and some sketches I’d done in high school — BIG shoutout to my art teacher, Elizabeth McParland, she helped me put my portfolio together and made sure I was ready for that interview.
As I sat there nervously waiting my turn, a girl walked in pushing a full rack of clothes — a whole collection just for the interview. That was the first time I truly felt the weight of real competition. Up until that point, I thought I was the best — but that moment humbled me. I was now in a room full of people who were just as talented, if not more. And when you don’t have confidence, moments like that can crush you.
Thankfully, I still got into FIT. Real talk, I’m not sure if it was DEI (diversity, equity, inclusion) efforts, or if it was something else — but I do believe that day, my magnetism helped open the door. And I’ll always be grateful it worked out.
The Magnetic Factor: What Every Designer Needs
Confidence isn’t just important in fashion — it’s non-negotiable. As a designer, confidence is your superpower. You need it to:
- Pitch your ideas fearlessly
- Present your collections with authority
- Make bold, game-changing decisions
- Stand out in an competitive industry
- Embrace and own your unique style and voice
- Network authentically and build real connections
- Rewrite your story
- Be magnetic — attracting the opportunities you deserve
Fashion is raw and vulnerable. Every design is a piece of yourself you’re putting out there — and that takes serious courage. If you don’t believe in yourself, how can you expect anyone else to?
Confidence isn’t optional — it’s the key to unlocking everything you want in this industry.
Latinas in Fashion
For Latinas in fashion, confidence and being magnetic is key. We are a small percentage of this industry — according to Data USA, as of 2022, Hispanic or Latino individuals made up approximately 18.2% of the U.S. fashion designer workforce — but despite this presence, Latinos remain underrepresented in leadership roles across the industry. The ones in the fields are the ones carving out space and paving the way for others. So if we let fear or doubt hold us back, we’re not just limiting ourselves — we’re also doing a disservice to the next generation of Latinas coming up behind us, and we can’t do that. We need to empower one another and break the cycle.
That’s why I connected so deeply with Becoming Magnetic by Erika Cramer. Two chapters in particular hit home:
Chapter 5: Self-Mastery is all about doing the inner work, healing, and facing your trauma; and Chapter 7: Your Alter SHE-Go (Erika’s favorite) focuses on stepping into your power and activating your magnetism — that next-level version of yourself.
As Erika teaches, you can’t become the next-level version of yourself without doing the inner work — so both chapters serve as powerful reminders that this is a daily practice, and the more magnetic you become, the more aligned opportunities you attract.
Here’s the best part: Erika doesn’t gatekeep. At the end of the book, she generously shares every resource she mentions — complete with QR codes that link to podcast episodes, books, and tools for deeper personal development. It’s truly a book that keeps on giving and absolutely worth the investment.
*Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post, and I do not earn any commission from recommending this book. I’m sharing it simply because I believe in its message and think it can genuinely help!
Transforming Doubt into Magnetism
As I sit and reflect on Erika’s book tour, I’ve been reflecting on all the moments I held myself back— the school competitions I didn’t apply for, the jobs I never went for, the raises I didn’t ask for, and the stressful roles I stayed in far too long. All because I lacked confidence. I wasn’t showing up as my full self, and I definitely wasn’t attracting what I truly wanted.
Pero eso está cambiando ahora.
I’m stepping into a new chapter — one where I become magnetic. I’m ready to attract the opportunities, the dream job, and the life I’m intentionally designing for myself.
I’m sharing this with you because I don’t want you to play small like I once did. Let this be your sign to start now — tune into Erika’s books and podcast, and begin your own self-development journey. Her teachings are the kind of tools I didn’t know I needed in my creative toolkit — but now I won’t go without them.
Let’s Talk: How Do You Define Confidence and Magnetism?
I’d love to hear your thoughts — what does confidence and magnetism look like in your life and creative journey? I hope you are feeling empowered by the end of this article! If you are, vamos hablar and drop a comment below!
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Let’s keep growing together, one magnetic step at a time.
