Last but certainly not least in our Ando Al Cien series is host, content creator, and comedian Tefi Pessoa (she/her). Ya know, TikTok’s cool AF aunt? Thanks to the very natural and vulnerable relationship she’s created with her followers (and pretty much the entire internet), her social media presence has skyrocketed since the last time we spoke to her. Now, she’s done a ton of iconic sh*t like serving as a correspondent during New York and Paris fashion weeks, getting her own talk show, and going far beyond her phone screen to make a difference.

Below, we chat about her influence in the Latinx community, the millennial items she’ll never let go of, and the best advice she’s ever received.

You were recently named by Time one of the most influential Latina content creators of our generation, as well as one of the most influential influencers to date by The Hollywood Reporter. What do you hope to inspire in the next gen of Latinas?
You don’t have to prove how Latina you are to anyone.

How has your identity been shaped over the years, and what do you love most about being Latina?
I feel emboldened by my heritage. I feel protected, blessed, and highly favored. My relationship with God, storytelling, my pride, and my work ethic is all shaped by my Latindad and I wouldn’t trade it for a second. I can’t imagine not being Latina. Que extraño, que aburrido. (How weird, how boring.)
 

Now for some rapid fire questions! First one: Go-to pump up song?
Chulo, Pt. 2 by Bad Gyal, Tokischa, and Young Miko.What do you wear if you have a big meeting?
YSL Libre and four different concealers. I’m a millennial, I’m shackled to the bright under eye [laughing].

Favorite meal for starting your day?
Greek yogurt by FAGE and un cafecito hirviendo.

Best book you’ve ever read?
Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez.

What staple will you never leave the house without?
My carnelian rings for confidence and creativity.

Another Latinx content creator you love?
Erika Priscilla, Sasha Keable, Eric Sedeno, Monica Veloz, Julissa Prado, Laurie Hernandez, Andrés Acosta, Jorge Alvarez, and so many more.

Best advice you’ve ever been given?
La confianza mató al torero. (Confidence killed the bullfighter.) It reminds me to be intentional and patient—never to know it all. I can be very impulsive, and my grandfather used to say that to me all the time.

And lastly, is there anything else you’d like to share?
Every room in this industry without Latinas in it is a room not holding any weight.