“I do it for myself. Because I want to feel confident for me. I could care less about the male gaze. That’s a part of Latino culture that I have flipped.”Michelle identifies as Latina first. She is a 32-year-old creative, and in this first half of our conversation, we trace the roots of her identity from the mountains of Pereira, Colombia to her life today in Atlanta.From the "telenovela" of her first love and the end of a marriage to the intimate beauty rituals she shared with her mother, Michelle explores the complex "give and take" of inheriting a culture. We discuss how to honor your family's traditions while "flipping the script" to make room for your own modern, intersectional values.In this episode, we explore:The Identity Order: Why Michelle leads with being Latina, and how that anchors her journey as a queer and polyamorous woman.The Ritual of Makeup: Transforming a tradition rooted in the male gaze into a tool for community care and trans-femme empowerment.Subversive Tradition: The intentional process of deciding what to keep, what to leave, and what to evolve within the Colombian diaspora.Whether she's teaching her community how to find their confidence or reflecting on the chapters of her love life, Michelle offers a masterclass in living authentically.--------------------Support Our Season 3 FundraiserWe are building a platform for cross-cultural storytelling that fosters empathy across generations and cultures. If you believe in a global neighborhood where no one is an outsider, please consider contributing today: https://ko-fi.com/cultureful--------------------Watch on YouTubeSee the video version of this episode (Live at 11am EST on 4/14/26): https://youtu.be/-21BVGbeGEg--------------------Connect with Michelle Follow her journey on Instagram: @pebblespins--------------------Episode CreditsFounding Supporter Shout-outs: Special thanks this week to Jackson Evans and Judy Thornhill.Community Connection: Special thanks to Quinn O’Briant for connecting us with Michelle.Host, Producer, & Sound Design: Jess LinAdvising & Production Support: Ruben GnanarubanSupport the showConnect with us on Instagram: @thecultureful Website: https://linktr.ee/culturefulCultureful—Culture-F-U-L like beautiful.Thanks for being here!