ZITLALIC LEY: Zitlalic Ley was born in Culiacán, Sinaloa, Mexico, into a large, humble, hardworking, and deeply honest family. She has a twin sister named Osiris, two more sisters—Alondra and Mitzuy—and the youngest of them all, Jorge, the baby of the family. Together, they form a tight-knit team that supports each other unconditionally.
Her parents, Blanca Angulo (a dedicated teacher) and Jorge Ley (who holds a doctorate in education), have always encouraged each of their children to keep learning and growing. They instilled core values in their home. Her dad would often say, “With persistence, everything is possible,” while her mom would challenge doubt with, “What do you mean it can’t be done?” That blend of discipline and optimism deeply shaped Zitlalic’s belief that perseverance, discipline, and courage are the key to achieving her goals and dreams.
From a young age, Zitlalic was cheerful, creative, and full of energy. She loved staying active and stood out in gymnastics, running, and ping pong. The unity of her team, their afternoon practices, and the discipline shared among a group of talented, competitive, and supportive athletes and coaches helped them succeed. Together, Zitlalic and her group of four proudly represented the state of Sinaloa at Mexico’s National Youth Olympics in Table Tennis, earning third place as a team.
With her funny, imaginative, and sociable personality, Zitlalic made friends easily. She had great times in middle school and high school while living in Mexico due to her influential and supportive friends who helped her shape her adventurous side by deep connections through fun gatherings and experiences such as dancing, playing sports and racing. She’s forever grateful for the constant support she’s received throughout her life from those who helped her grow and reach her goals.
Though cooking wasn’t her favorite, Zitlalic loved enjoying the delicious food her mom prepared at home and her aunts made on the weekends at the ranch. Still, she sometimes tried to create homemade concoctions made by candies with her friends—most of which didn’t go as planned.
In high school, Zitlalic and her best friend launched a little candy business just for fun. During class breaks, they’d stick candies on the wall to advertise, using clever organic marketing. With a class that was 95% girls, they knew how to draw attention—opening spicy snacks like chips with chamoy and loudly saying, “Wow, these are sooo good!” They made some sales, but ate more than they sold… so profits were short-lived. Their classmates loved the antics, especially when the girls had to yank everything off the walls before a teacher came back.
One of Zitlalic’s happiest childhood memories is at the Huacharavito ranch, surrounded by 20 to 30 cousins in the house of her Abuelita Chonita from her mother’s side. As they say in the countryside, “there aren’t many beds, but there’s plenty of floor.” They all slept side by side on blankets, laughing and chatting. One night, an aunt warned, “If you don’t be quiet, you’re getting the belt!” Still, the kids kept mischief going by poking each other under the blankets, which got the wrong people in trouble and eventually everyone got the belt. A perfect example of how they could find joy in even the simplest of circumstances.
Zitlalic had an aunt who loved nature, gave red roses, and always encouraged the cousins to go on fun adventures—like hand-fishing in a creek near their grandmother’s house to make a caldito de camarón (shrimp soup) they’d cook and share.
Even after coming home hungry to a table full of delicious homemade meals—prepared with fresh, organic ingredients grown in their own yards or sourced locally—everyone still wanted that shrimp soup. The whole family would gather around to eat together, and many happily went back for seconds. To this day, they still laugh at how, with just a few shrimp, their aunt managed to make a soup everyone wanted to try.
On her dad’s side of the family, Abuelita Lupita, who lived near the coast, cooked incredible traditional Mexican meals using seafood caught fresh every morning. Every dish was rich in flavor, creative, and made with love. At the same house, her aunt made gorgeous, delicious cakes that Zitlalic loved watching her decorate with such patience and skill.
Her creative uncle—the family “nerd”—was always fixing things and inventing games to entertain the kids. He gave them love, laughter, and endless fun. Her grandfather, Abuelito Pancho, half-Chinese and half-Mexican, taught her grandmother a song in Chinese that she’d sing to them. He also taught the family to make homemade soy sauce—something they always had in the house.
Zitlalic had a fun-filled teenage life. Though they weren’t always allowed to go to every party, when they were, the twins made the most of it. They were popular and had many friends who loved inviting them out. But her mom always kept a close eye, reminding them to stay focused on their studies.
She sends a heartfelt hug to her middle school crew—“Los de C”—a close, hilarious group of classmates. They used to call her “China” and encouraged her when she ran for Student Queen. Their loyalty, love, and shared adventures still make her smile. They’d cheer, “Vote for China!” and even created a fun, creative marketing campaign to get votes. Perhaps that’s where her passion for branding and community began—and Latina Nerds® continues that spirit of playful, inclusive creativity.
She also sends love to her high school crew—the “nerds”—who made that season of life so fun and meaningful, filled with laughter, learning, and unforgettable pranks.
Her life in Mexico was simple and fun, but rich in the things that matter most: a big, loving family; fresh home-cooked meals; and the most wonderfully mischievous friends. She’ll always be thankful to her parents for their unconditional support—driving her to classes, paying for sports training, and pushing her to stay focused and get good grades. As educators, her parents emphasized proper speech, discipline, and education—and their circle of friends, many of whom were also educators, created a deeply academic environment.
When she emigrated to the United States, everything changed—the language, the culture, the education system, the lifestyle… and especially being away from most of her family and friends. All the laughter, support, and adventures of her childhood were suddenly distant memories.
But in this new land, Zitlalic developed fierce independence. She learned a new language, worked to pay for her education, and found her own opportunities. She continued exploring different sports, but it was in track and field where she truly shined. She trained up to 80 miles per week and was named an All-American athlete two years in a row. She ranked third nationally in steeplechase, earning a full-ride scholarship to a Division I university.
Fueled by her family's support, especially her mother, father, and siblings. She graduated and moved to Washington, D.C., where she began working in community empowerment and developing her leadership.
She hasn’t stopped growing since. Even in her limited free time, she pursues new skills and challenges—like running her own business and completing her MBA at USC, two of her biggest personal achievements.
Zitlalic adores her nieces and nephew—Amia, Jimena, Zoe, and Keusito—who bring endless joy to her life with their laughter, affection, and mischief. She showers them with hugs, kisses, and love.
She also pours her heart into her business, Latina Nerds®, which empowers the Latino community through branding, education, and entrepreneurship. Sometimes she works so hard that she sacrifices time with loved ones, but she’s grateful for their patience, encouragement, and unwavering love along the way.
And then came Alexander.
Since meeting him, Zitlalic has found a new kind of balance. He’s taught her patience and how to rest and relax by finding joy in simplicity. With his tenderness, loyalty, and constant support, he’s shown her that it is okay to take a breather and do something enjoyable. When Alexander helps her to be calm, ideas and solutions come naturally. He’s taught her that life is also about slowing down, being present, and cherishing time with the people you love most.
Zitlalic has a deep love for movement—running, biking, pickleball—and especially bachata, which she proudly considers a sport. Lately, she’s embraced a slower rhythm: enjoying yoga, baking, and creating beautiful, customized cakes and meals thoughtfully decorated with creativity inspired by gourmet chefs, all made with her mother’s secret ingredient: lots of love.
Today, Zitlalic feels grateful for this chapter of her life. She’s happy, excited, and filled with love as she begins this new journey. She hopes to keep growing—not just as a professional, but as a partner and future wife—ready to build a family rooted in love, presence, honesty and shared purpose.