Stefani Vara, Hispanic Lifestyle's 2015 Most Influential Latina, Stresses Education and Reflects Upon Childhood Hero Selena [EXCLUSIVE]
There isn't just one hat that fits Mexican-American recording artist and Entertainment Personality Stefani Vara.
Dubbed an "Entrepreneurial Songstress," Vara sings, models and acts. She also executive produces a reality-based cooking web series, "Comida Caliente" and a web series spinoff, "Casa de Vara" and co-hosts a weekly online radio show, "Flip Pop Radio with Stefani V and Sharp Dressed John."
Also a shoe model, Vara started "Follow My Feet" and "Friday's Fighting Hero" on YouTube where she talks to people who inspire her.
Vara was among 30 talented females chosen as "Influential Latinas" by Hispanic Lifestyle and had the opportunity to serve on an Entertainment panel at the Hispanic Lifestyle's Latina Conference 2015, which took place on April 2 in Ontario, California.
"This was the first time that I was on an Entertainment panel and it felt good to tell my story and more about my journey," she told Latin Post in an exclusive interview. "I got a lot of great feedback from the people at the conference. It was really just a positive movement that was going on. I was really excited and honored to be a part of it."
Vara was surrounded by an "amazing group of females in industries ranging from entertainment/arts, business, advocacy, health, to education," including Golden Globe winner Gina Rodriguez, who really inspired Vara.
She stressed the importance of social media, where "you can create your own brand, create who you are and who you want to be" as well as education. As a University of Colorado graduate, she said: "Plan A is education, and then you can do whatever you want with your life. That was key for my Mom ... as long as you know you have that under your belt."
Her mother has been a pivotal part of her reality-based cooking web series, "Comida Caliente," which is produced by TWELVE18 Media, and executive produced by Vara and Maureen Aladin. "Comida Caliente features Mexican matriarch Dene and her three daughters Danielle Vara Aleman, Stefani, and Dianna Vara, with the family kitchen serving as the backdrop for spicy conversations and really good food."
"It's one of my crazy ideas -- that's what I am known for!" Vara said. "We got funded on Kickstarter and we raised $10,000. My mom is a star herself," she laughed. "The production world is new to me and that has been super exciting."
Her entrepreneurial spirit has rubbed off on her entire family, as they are in the process of branding and distributing their "secret salsa" that goes great with their Tex-Mex cooking.
"It's just another business venture that we got into," she said. "We have always wanted to do it."
As far as her music, Vara has two independent music singles that hit the overseas charts in 2013, as well as her song "All Alone" which debuted in October 2014. She is currently working on various projects, including a number of upcoming music singles/collaborations set for 2015.
Staying true to herself and her beliefs, she walked away from "a comfortable recording contract" and sought her own career path and "has proudly infused her heritage and cultural beats into every song."
"I kind of lost some of my Hispanic roots and what I wanted to be as a brand," she explained.
Despite personal and cultural constraints and being pigeonholed by a record label, Vara always found comfort and inspiration in the late Tejana singer Selena.
Vara reminisced of her childhood idol after recently celebrating the late star's birthday and the 20th anniversary of her death.
"She lives in all of my music and everything. I grew up singing her music," she said.
Vara also recalled always hearing Selena's music during Cinco de Mayo while in her naive Houston, Texas.
"She was an idol for me. Some people have Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston, but for me it was Selena. Because she was Mexican-American, because she grew up in Texas and she overcame that English-Spanish barrier. She is an inspiration for Mexican-Americans today. She carried Tejano music, which lies deeply in my heart."