Today we’d like to introduce you to Maya Fuentes.
Hi Maya, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Growing up I always had an interest and passion for culinary and pastry arts. I loved watching both my grandmothers prepare their traditional recipes from each of their respective cultures. Food has always been a representation of happiness, comfort, and tradition in my family and life.
From preparing tamales every Christmas to pupusas on special occasions; cooking has been with me since the very beginning. Despite my love for all culinary practices, baking and pastry arts have always been my focus. I started by making cakes for family birthday parties and cookies for myself at home. Learning whatever I could from videos and websites online. Through this, I eventually discovered the art of cake pops. Spheres of cake dipped in colorful chocolate with endless possibilities for decoration. I was immediately fascinated and put all of my efforts into learning how to perfect them. After a lot of trial and error, I was able to learn how to make cake pops and began making them for every event/party. At the age of 13 I received my first paid order from a family friend and the rest is history.
It has been four years since I received my very first cake pop order and I have had countless orders since then. Now, at the age of 17, I have my very own small business, Maya’s Cake Pops and Confections selling primarily cake pops and various other treats. I specialize in character cake pops and have re-created popular designs such as Hello Kitty and Spider-Man. I have a loyal and supportive client base who bring in multiple orders per month and help my business grow. I recently began signing up for pop-up vending events where I sell my creations to people in real-time.
It has been a long journey to become as successful as I am now, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world. The support I receive from my family and loved ones has always encouraged me to work hard and never give up. I would not be where I am today without their love and support.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
My journey definitely hasn’t been perfect or easy. In the beginning, I had a lot of self-doubt and even embarrassment when it came to advertising or sharing my products with new people. I am very much a perfectionist and I have always been critical of myself. It has been hard for me to accept that my work will not always be perfect but I now realize there is always room to grow. In 2020 at the age of 14, I was hit with one of my biggest obstacles. I was diagnosed with a chronic illness called Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension or increased pressure in my brain and eyes. It was very hard for me to come to terms with the fact that I would have to live with this illness forever; I would never get better. This diagnosis took its toll on my motivation and mental health and caused me to stop baking for the better part of 2020. I was also diagnosed with depression and severe anxiety. With proper treatment and the love and support from my family, I was able to overcome my mental health struggles.
In 2022, I decided to continue pursuing my love of baking and I began rebuilding my business. Baking has really helped me cope with my mental health struggles. Ultimately, I feel it really saved my life. Opening and maintaining my business has given me the motivation to keep going and to pursue my dreams in culinary arts.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Maya’s Cake Pops and Confections?
My company is Maya’s Cake Pops and Confections. I specialize in cake pops but also offer other confections such as Chocolate-Covered Strawberries, Cupcakes, Mini Cakes, and more! I am known for my custom-made Character Cake Pops that meet the needs of any party theme/occasion. One of the things that set me apart from others is my age. I started my business at 13 years old and now at age 17 I have established my brand and I am concurrently taking college-level Culinary Arts courses. I want your readers to know that anything and everything I do, I do with love. Additionally, my small business offers items beyond what is generally offered and I can bring any vision to life.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I don’t believe luck, good or bad, has played any role in my business. My passion and love for my craft, coupled with hard work have fueled my success. However, I feel lucky to have the support of my friends and family; I would not be where I am today without them.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://shop.bakesy.app/b/mayas-cake-pops
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/mayas.cakepops?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
- Other: https://linktr.ee/mayascakepops
