Meet Alicia Fernandez of Los Angeles

Today we’d like to introduce you to Alicia Fernandez.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Good morning my name Alicia Fernandez born in Los Angeles raised in Los Angeles (east LA montebello. 55 years old lived on the streets in n out of prison today I’m a cultural influencer I’m the voice of Chicano chola Latinos etc. I built a platform to uplift my peers in a positive way because when I was in prison I noticed everyone on the free world were taking selfies I said to myself I see so much that nobody or very few are talking about I thought if I ever get out of prison I will reverse the camera , my first video is called when you reverse the camera. it is a viral video after my release my cousin was studying on line I ask her what she doing she said a class on line zoom. I didn’t know what that was but I wanted to learn she gave me a homework assignment I told her I never did homework she said do whatever you do on weekends write about it bring it back Monday so I did the assignment is now a viral movement it’s called #theeoldschool assignment (I went to Santa Fe springs swapmeet because that’s where I would go on. Weekends , that’s where I wrote the video reverse the camera on sadfoos , my platform is called raised by cholas 213 because I was raised by cholas mom was always working today raised by cholas 213 has become a movement earning me the illustrious award 2026 from the Mexican American film and television festival founded by Dr. Ruiz Luiz. The award is a notable award one that is IMDb notable I have and continue feature my peers in a positive way each post tells a story one that resonates with the Chicano chola and or Latinas and Hispanic my platform Raised by cholas 213 in 2024 alone generated over 352 million views on TikTok alone. , I’m very humbled and it is my passion to do better and show anyone who is listening that Chicanos cholas Latinos are professionals talented Smart we are just like the next person sometimes we were overlooked and or underestimated I’m here as proof that a full circle can be done remember me oldschool , Alicia Fernandez

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?
At first people would laugh and say stuff like how embarrassing or why do you dress like that you stuck in the 80’s. People would have me erase the video of them I would explain that the world needs to see snd that are curious show em Chicano are people like everyone else then they started seeing themselves on my platform with Hundreds of thousands of views comments and questions. Some videos hit up to 23 million views I was the only photographer /videoagrapher culture influencer out there pounding the pavement regardless of prejudice and or hate. Because the little positive was enough so I didn’t stop now it’s been a trend a chola craze started becoming a thing for about a year we had to shut it down n keep it original

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am founder of Raised by cholas 213 the voice of the Chicano cholas Uplifting Chicanos in a positive way.

If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
Growing up I was always hungry didn’t finish school got in trouble ran the streets.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: Raised_By_cholas_213
• Facebook: Raised by cholas raised by cholas
• Youtube: Raised by cholas 213
• TikTok: @Raisedbycholas213