Today we’d like to introduce you to Mariana Doria
Mariana, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I was born and raised in Lima, Peru, where I grew up with my mother and older brother. Life became challenging early on when my father passed away in a car accident when I was just five years old. The loss was a significant hurdle for all of us, both emotionally and financially. I watched my mother work incredibly hard to provide for us, often putting herself last to ensure we were taken care of.
From my high school years, I was driven by the idea of living abroad and achieving great things in another country. In Latin America, we often view living in the United States as success, and I was committed to making that a reality. Although studying abroad seemed out of reach due to the high costs, in 2012 I got an opportunity to come to Utah on a temporary work visa while majoring in Communications and Media Studies at the University of Lima. A close uncle helped me financially through my first semester at this private school, and afterward, I earned scholarships based on my grades almost every semester.
I was given the chance to work at Stein Ericksen, one of the best ski hotels in the world, where I worked tirelessly every winter season to achieve my financial goals and support my family in Peru. I arrived to this country with nothing but a dream. A few years after earning my bachelor’s degree, I found another work opportunity in the childcare industry and returned to Utah in 2019.
During this time, I began sharing my passion for healthy food, yoga, and travel on social media, slowly growing my Instagram and TikTok following. This allowed me to travel to over 30 countries by working remotely and also by having brand partnerships and opportunities. To complement my career and follow my passion, I enrolled in the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, an online school based in New York, to become a Health Coach. This additional skill set gave me the confidence to share recipes and lifestyle tips on social media, leading to the birth of @gutbabe. I also took advanced courses in gut health and psychology for emotional eating, which profoundly changed my perspective on nutrition and health.
These experiences helped me learn more about myself, my physical body, and took my health to the next level. At the beginning of 2024, I started a new corporate job as a Media Strategist at Alpha Media. I specialize in helping businesses in Utah reach the Latino community through radio and multimedia solutions—a job that I thoroughly enjoy and embody my role.
Something surprising that people who know me might not know about is that I recently started dancing Peruvian folklore, which I enjoy immensely. As a teenager, I enrolled in art performance classes and participated in several musicals in Lima. Since moving to the US, my mindset had been in survival mode for a very long time, causing me to forget how much I loved dancing. Although I have always been active with sports and consistent at the gym, dancing brings me unparalleled joy. It allows me to express myself and helps me build a sense of community by sharing art with other Peruvians living in Utah. Human beings are designed to live in community, and I had forgotten what that felt like.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has certainly not been easy. Starting over from scratch with no family and no connections in a different country is only for the brave. This journey has come with more challenges than I could have ever anticipated. The language barrier was one of the first hurdles. My English wasn’t good enough initially, and I lost my very first job at a restaurant on Main Street in Park City because I couldn’t understand anything over the phone. However, this setback didn’t keep me down for long; it gave me the courage to seek something better, leading me to land a job in fine dining. Failure was never an option.
Being an immigrant is hard. You are vulnerable at all times and must learn to navigate a different reality. This led me to severe gastrointestinal issues, insomnia, and acne as I tried to succeed. During this time, I also faced challenges in the dating world due to feeling lost and disconnected. A few times, I ended up settling for unhealthy and abusive relationships because I didn’t want to be alone. Looking back at my younger self, I just want to hug her. I was scared and lonely.
All these challenges made me a warrior. I am truly the strong person I am today because of those hurdles. Living far from home never gets easy. It is like constant grief. I am grateful for this country and the opportunities it offers, but I often miss important events and milestones with my family. This is something every immigrant lives with daily and can almost become an identity crisis. We are not from here, but we also don’t belong there anymore.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I help businesses connect with the Latino community by leveraging our extensive media capabilities. My role involves strategizing and implementing media campaigns that resonate with this demographic, ensuring our clients’ messages reach the right audience effectively.
My expertise lies in multicultural marketing, particularly in reaching the Latino community. I am known for my ability to create culturally relevant content that engages and builds trust with this audience. Additionally, I specialize in integrated marketing solutions that combine traditional media, digital platforms, and experiential marketing to provide a holistic approach to advertising.
What sets me apart is my deep understanding of the Latino culture and my ability to translate this into compelling marketing campaigns. I bring an energetic, authentic vibe, ensuring it resonates well with the target audience. Additionally, my ability to build strong relationships and my dedication to helping clients succeed in reaching underserved markets make me a valuable partner in their marketing efforts.
Also, I’m currently working on a personal project that excites me tremendously. I’m creating an online course designed to help Latin women who feel disconnected from their roots and suffer from digestive health problems. This course aims to address gut issues related to the stress of living overseas, enabling them to find peace with food and discover what works best for their gut. This project speaks to a younger version of myself, and I’m passionate about helping other Latin immigrants find peace and achieve success.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
They can send me an email to mariana.doria@alphamediausa.com or schedule an meeting with me via: https://meetings.hubspot.com/mariana-doria
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gutbabe/
Image Credits
First 3 photos by David Yauney
Last photo by Mitchell Lobo
