One of the recently named TikTok stars to follow by E! News, Marlene Mendez, is one of the people representing the Latino community on TikTok. But beyond being a known personality on social media, she aims to be a role model to young Latinas too.


Who is Marlene Mendez?

Mendez grew up happy in Los Angeles, where she experienced firsthand support from older Latina role models. Two of these role models were her parents, who were both professional photographers.

Like any other 23-year old, Mendez uses social media as a form of expression. On TikTok alone, she has more than 400k followers. Here, she shares videos of her fun and energetic side, often with her friend, Rosa.

She also has more than 100k followers on Instagram, where she gets to collaborate with brands like Dolls Kill and Laura's Boutique. Dolls Kill is an online boutique that lets you unleash your inner personality through clothing and style, while Laura's Boutique is your traditional go-to clothing store. Both online shops focus on elevating representation across the influencer community, making Mendez a perfect endorser of their products.


But having a good number of following on social media is not her only achievement. In 2018, Mendez acquired her undergraduate degree in business management and her bachelor's degree in business economics from UC Merced. When she's shying away from TikTok, Marlene is busy pursuing her hard-earned degrees as a banker. 


What's Next for Marlene?

You have probably seen Marlene Mendez playing a cameo role on her friend's TikTok account, @AdamRayOkay, where they talk about some funny, relatable chisme. But Mendez, who has her own TikTok handle @MarleneDizzle, plans to be more than a social media influencer.

This month, she is part of a plan that The Wall Las Memorias made for a virtual prom, which will be held via Zoom. Marlene, the event's choice for a co-host, says that she is excited to be a part of this opportunity as The Wall Las Memorias, a nonprofit organization, caters to a diverse community of Latinos, LGBTQ, and other underserved communities. "It's an honor to be part of this event," says Marlene.

She then talks about how social media platforms are a way to reach out to people her age, making it a great medium to reach her goal of becoming a role model. "TikTok seems to be the way into other opportunities, such as acting, reality television, journalism perhaps," she said. "I can't wait to see where my path leads me, and I hope it encourages other Latinx to chase their dreams and become successful without changing themselves or forgetting where they came from."


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