Name: Gina A. Liard Ramírez
Age: 22
Graduation Date: December 2016/June 2017
Major: Marketing
Faculty: FAE
Favorite food: Lasagña
Favorite song: Casi by Soraya
HCUPR: Why did you decide to study Marketing?
Fun fact: my bachelor’s, at first, was in Accounting. In my second year, I realized Accounting was not for me. That semester, I took the Marketing 101 class and that’s when the lightbulb switched on about changing to Marketing. I’m an active, versatile, and social person and marketing is all about that. It’s about connection and being creative. That’s what basically made me change my bachelor’s to Marketing.
HCUPR: You’re a blogger, when did you decide that you wanted to embark on this adventure?
It was during my freshmen year. I started to watch YouTube videos and read blogs about makeup and fashion until it practically became a hobby. Also, my mom always told me that I’m good at writing because she saw how I nailed and got good grades in college papers that I wrote a day or night before the due date. Having my mom say that to me, made me decide to embark on this adventure. During freshmen year, I had a blog named Versace of Curvy but I stopped writing in it because it got mixed up with college and of course, college is first. This last semester of my bachelor’s degree I decided to start again this adventure, because my muse came back, and A Curly Mess was born.
HCUPR: What have you learned, so far, while being a blogger?
I have learned to edit, not only the articles, but also photos, to be more social, have patience, and be more organized. I also have learned how to approach bloggers, brands to do collaborations and of course, my followers.
HCUPR: What are 3 things you can’t leave your house without?
My cellphone, any lipstick, and a bottle of water.
HCUPR: What advice do you have for anyone who wants to start their own blogging adventure?
Don’t let anything or anyone stop you just go for it. Do research about how to start your own blog, choose the name, and what your blog will be about. Something I did when I decided to start blogging again was to reach my favorites bloggers from Puerto Rico and United States and ask them for advice. They helped me, and I know they will definitely help you.
HCUPR: What has been your favorite experience thanks to having your blog?
My favorite experience thanks to my blog has been getting invited to awesome events held by makeup brands and meeting people who love and enjoy the beauty and fashion industry the way I do.
HCUPR: Who are your favorite bloggers? And why?
Some my favorite bloggers I have to say Carla Fernández from Oda a la Moda, Kritzia from Kokoloom, Fran and Scheila from Colorful Disaster, Carlina from Carolina Bermúdez el blog, Julles from The Bold Budget, Jadiena from Blog de Jadiena, Tanniane Rivera, Lyzette Adonis, Nathasha Bonet, and Leyla from Beyond Her Curls. Most of them are from Puerto Rico and I know them personally. They are extremely nice and friendly. Some are my favorites because they make interesting and helpful beauty and fashion posts, have awesome fashion sense and connect with people very well. Leyla’s blog is more about curls and, as a curly haired girl myself, I use her advices a lot. They also helped me and gave me advice on how to create my blog and finally made me do it, so to them I say thank you.
HCUPR: What is your favorite makeup brand and why?
I use a lot of brands and most of them are drugstore brands. My favorite brand is NYX Cosmetics because it’s not expensive, their products are used by many makeup professional artists, lasts all day on your face, and personally works well on my oily face.
HCUPR: What is your least favorite beauty product? Why?
I don’t know if what I’m about to mention counts as a beauty product but I do and it has to be false lashes. It’s a very messy process because I don’t know how to put them on. But I have to say, when they’re part of your makeup look, it goes from nice to flawless.
HCUPR: What are some of your plans for the future?
My plans for my future are to keep studying. I was accepted at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles, California in the Beauty Industry Merchandising and Marketing major. This is a well known institute, and also hard to get in, so when I got accepted you can imagine how excited I was. I will be one year doing this major and hopefully after that, find a job within the beauty industry. My professional plan is to be Brand Manager or Product Development Manager of any makeup brand and I know that FIDM will be the one to open doors for me on that. And of course, continue blogging.
HCUPR: Now that you’re graduating, what would you like to say to fellow graduates as you embark towards “real life”?
Take advantage of any opportunity, don’t forget who you are and who your friends are, remember that you graduated from the best university, the University of Puerto Rico – Rio Piedras Campus and I wish you the best in your professional life. To my classmates, friends, and obviously my AMA Family, thank you for everything. I will miss you but I will never forget you.
HCUPR: What would you like to say to the ones that stay at UPRRP? Any inspirational messages?
I would like to start with a line from a book I am reading titled Girl Boss that caught my attention: “It’s a weird world we live in, and until time travel exists we’ve all got to make the most of where we land.”Just have fun, get the most out of la IUPI, and remember, always be proud of being a Gallito or Jerezana. I wish you all the best and, for those who are graduating like me once again, CONGRATULATIONS!