Brenda Anguiano

Brenda, you often describe life as a cinematic adventure. When did you start seeing your everyday experiences as stories worth telling on camera?

I think it started very early, even before I knew what to do with it. I always felt things deeply and noticed moments other people seemed to rush past. But it really clicked after I’d lived a few different lives, life as the daughter to immigrant parents, the Army, struggling with my career, hitting rock bottom, becoming a mother. I realized those experiences weren’t random; they were stories. Once I survived them, I felt called to tell them.

Your content blends humor, artistry, and motherhood in a very natural way. How has becoming a mother reshaped the stories you feel called to share?

Motherhood grounded me, but not in the soft, romantic way people always talk about. It cracked me open first.

When I became a mom, I had to grieve the version of myself I used to be. I missed my old life, my freedom, the ease of who I was before. There was a moment where it really hit me that nothing would ever be the same again, and I spiraled. I questioned who I was, what parts of me still existed, and whether I had somehow lost myself forever.

But somewhere in that chaos, I realized something unexpected: I wasn’t a different person, I was the same person, just without the ability to avoid the parts of myself I’d been scared to admit were there. Motherhood brings everything to the surface. The fears. The softness. The messiness. The parts you can’t outrun anymore.

That process changed the way I create. After years of feeling lost or searching for meaning, becoming a mom gave everything context. It pushed me to be more honest, to find humor in survival, and to create from a place of presence instead of performance. I tell stories now that honor imperfection, growth, and tenderness alongside strength.

You built a strong digital presence before stepping into on-camera acting, including Disney+ ads. How did that transition from creator to actress feel for you?

It honestly felt like coming home, but with a version of myself I finally trusted.

I was in theater as a teenager, long before everything else, but back then I lacked confidence and belief in myself. I loved acting, but I didn’t think I was capable of carrying it. So I walked away and spent years building skills in other worlds — business, digital creation, storytelling — without realizing they were all leading me right back to this.

Building my own platform changed everything. For the first time, I could look at my work and say, “wow, I did that all by myself”. That realization gave me something I never had before: proof. Proof that my voice mattered. That I was capable of more than I gave myself credit for. That if I believed hard enough and worked hard enough, I could do anything I set my mind to.

That confidence is what made on-camera acting possible for me. It’s such an intimate thing, and it has nothing to do with being “pretty.” It’s about whether you’re willing to let go, be present, and allow yourself to feel in front of other people. That used to terrify me.

So the transition from creator to actress didn’t feel like a leap. It felt like a return, but this time with courage and the self-belief I was missing all those years ago.

Writing, producing, and starring in Barriga Llena, Corazon Contento is a powerful creative statement. What personal truth were you most excited or nervous to bring to life through that film?

The personal truth I was most nervous to bring to life was letting go of how I looked.

I made a very intentional decision while making this film that my appearance didn’t matter. I didn’t want polish. I wanted something raw, real, and human. That was scary, because when you’re in front of the camera, it’s easy to hide behind angles and control. This film asked me to do the opposite — to just be.

The story was also deeply inspired by my grandpa, Alejandrino. He was the rock of our family, and when he passed away, I realized something that shook me: we barely had any photos or videos of him. I had more than most, but even that didn’t feel like enough. That loss changed the way I move through the world.

Since then, documenting everything has become non-negotiable for me. Not the highlight reel, the ordinary, messy, beautiful moments. Barriga Llena, Corazón Contento came from that place. It’s about memory, presence, and honoring the people and moments we don’t realize are sacred until they’re gone. Making this film felt like an act of remembrance, and a promise to never stop capturing what matters.

The short film is deeply cultural and intimate. How do your roots in San Diego and Oaxaca influence your creative voice today?

My roots influence my work in a very honest way, because my family experience wasn’t exactly the Pinterest version of a Mexican household.

My family dynamic has always been complicated. There was a lot of comparison, envy, and conflict, and growing up, I was very clearly the black sheep. Watching friends grow up in families that felt supportive and calm was eye-opening, mostly because I kept wondering where they ordered that experience from. Is it on Amazon?

At the same time, my family in Oaxaca believed in me in a way that truly saved me. They grew up with far less than I did, yet carried so much dignity, generosity, and love. Their faith in me was steady, unconditional, and never based on what I could “prove.” They are everything to me.

That contrast — between doubt and belief — is the foundation of my creative voice. I create for the people who saw something in me when it would’ve been easier to write me off. I want to be a voice for those who believe quietly, love deeply, and don’t always get centered in the stories we tell.

You are known for embracing glamour while keeping things honest and relatable. How do you balance authenticity with the visual storytelling that social media demands?

I’ve been very intentional about building a community that knows I’m not perfect and that I don’t want to be. I embrace the chaos and let people see it, because that’s where connection happens. Social media may demand visuals, but people stay for honesty. Even if it’s wrapped in a little sparkle. But some days I’ll be in a full beat, and other days it’s messy hair and real life. I let both exist. Social media may love visuals, but people connect to truth!

As a seasoned digital strategist, how intentional are you when shaping your personal brand versus letting it evolve organically?

I’m intentional about my values, but flexible about the form. I know what I stand for, what I won’t compromise, and what stories I want to tell; but I leave room for growth and change. My brand has evolved alongside my life, not in spite of it. I think the most compelling personal brands aren’t forced; they’re allowed to breathe, shift, and reflect who you actually are in real time.

You often turn ordinary moments with your children into something magical. What do you hope they learn by watching you live and create this way?

I hope they learn that life doesn’t have to be perfect or cookie cutter to be meaningful. That joy can exist in ordinary moments. How the little things can be so magical. The way the sun rises, the birds sing, how beautiful someone’s smile is or the way they laugh… Everything is beauty.

I want them to see a mother who isn’t afraid to feel deeply, creates freely, and shows up as herself. If they grow up believing they’re allowed to take up space and express who they are, then I’ve done my job.

Supporting causes like the ASPCA and children’s charities is an important part of who you are. How does giving back inform the way you choose projects?

Giving back keeps me grounded. It reminds me that the work I do has reach beyond me. Supporting causes I care about isn’t separate from my career; it’s part of the same value system. I want my work to reflect not just what I create, but what I stand for.

As you continue building your career in film and television, what kind of stories do you feel most called to tell in this next chapter of your life?

Lately, I’ve been in a very honest reckoning with the roles I’m meant to play. I’ve been through a lot, and I realized that depth lives in my body whether I name it or not… and ignoring it is limiting my work. I’m constantly told that wanting to play these darker roles is going to me nowhere but I disagree.

I feel called to tell the stories of underdogs: the black sheep, the overlooked, the troubled, the women carrying grief, addiction, or chaos quietly. Those characters come naturally to me. I understand them, and I play them truthfully.

What excites me is that this work is very different from my social media presence. Online, I share lightness and humor; acting lets me explore the darker, more complex sides of humanity. I love that separation.

What are the three keys to success for an artist today, based on your own journey?

First: self-belief. No one will believe in you,  if you don’t believe in yourself first.

Second: discipline. Talent matters, but showing up, even when it’s uncomfortable, matters more.

Third: honesty. The more truthful you are in your work, the more people feel it. Authenticity isn’t a trend. It’s what lasts.