Today we’d like to introduce you to Marina Jacoby
Hi Marina, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My name is Marina Jacoby and I’ve been contemplating sharing my story for a while. I was born and raised in Nicaragua, and during my school years, I endured bullying due to my appearance. Despite these challenges, I won the title of Miss Nicaragua in 2016 and represented my country at Miss Universe in 2017.
In 2018, at the age of 22, I was a public figure when I made the bold decision to speak out against my country’s government dictatorship. Unfortunately, this decision led me to seek asylum in the United States, leaving my life in Nicaragua behind. This drastic step became necessary when the dictator introduced a new law labeling anyone who criticized the government as a terrorist. I was granted asylum and a work permit in 2019 while living with my sister in Texas. Became a permanent resident in 2023.
My dream has always been to pursue a career in acting, so as soon as I got my work permit in 2019, I relocated to Los Angeles. However, just a few months later, the COVID-19 pandemic hit.
I’ve had multiple jobs since 2019. I’ve worked at different places and have had different roles, but there is one job that Ive kept since 2021, dog sitting. Moving to LA by myself felt very lonely, so I started dog sitting and it changed my life for the better. I LOVE dogs, they are my therapy and working with them is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
In 2023, my mental health started declining. I am diagnosed with Bipolar 2. In March 14, 2024, I almost lost the battle against my depression. After my attempt, I was taken to the emergency and was admitted into a psychiatric center in Pasadena for 3 days. Since then, I have been sharing my story in the hopes of bringing awareness to mental health in my country, Nicaragua, where these topics are still taboo. I am still strongly struggling with my depressive and hypomanic episodes, but now im paying more attention and trying to understand it so I can share my story and help those who are going through something similar. We often see just what people want us to see or what’s portrayed in front of the screen. We also see people sharing their stories once they are out of the hardship, which is what I wanted to do. But that never came… so I decided to start speaking up now. I just hit one of the low lows in my life before and after my attempt, but I’m fighting it. I am fighting against a mental health disorder every single day hoping that one day I will understand why God gave me a second chance. Until then, I will share my hardships to hopefully inspire others to not give up.
Despite all these trials, I’ve persevered. I’m now 28 years old, and my life has been quite the rollercoaster, but I wouldn’t have achieved what I have without these obstacles. I had to mature mentally sooner than I’d hoped, but it is what it is. These experiences have made me stronger, allowed me to meet remarkable individuals, taught me a great deal about myself, and constantly challenged my perception of my own capabilities.
Ultimately, my goal is to create an incredible community where we can support and uplift one another. We never truly know what someone is going through.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I believe one my biggest challenges was leaving my family, friends and everything and everyone I knew behind when I moved to the States. The US is very different when you compare it to a developing country. Not only that, but the culture is very different. I didn’t grow up visiting the states, so everything was so new to me. The other even bigger challenge, was my decision to move to LA by myself to pursue acting. Los Angeles was a huge city for me back then, I was so young and scared and I didn’t really have the help to navigate it since my parents were still back home and my sister lived in Texas. I was determined to live in LA.
I was 23 years old and had no idea how I was going to make it, but the younger me had a dream and now I thank her for getting us to where we are.
All of this affected my mental health which has been one of my biggest challenges since I need to deal with it every single day of my life, but I am slowly starting to learn how to live with being bipolar.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I started modeling when I was around 15 years old after participating in the Miss Teen Nicaragua. I had been on a few other things here and there but that was mostly just random stuff my mom would sign me up for. I applied for a college in 2017 in the states but my parents couldn’t afford it at the time, so I got my Bachelor of Science in strategic marketing in Nicaragua. While being in college, I decided to run for the Miss Nicaragua pageant which I won, so then I competed at the Miss Universe 2017 pageant in the Philippines.
I would like to be known for my resilience and courage. In 2018, I publicly spoke out against my country’s government dictatorship, a bold stance that led me to seek asylum in the United States. I was granted asylum and a work permit in 2019, which allowed me to pursue my passion for acting in Los Angeles. Despite the pandemic hitting shortly after my move, I have continued to push forward.
My bipolar diagnosis has posed significant challenges but has also fueled my commitment to mental health advocacy. My personal experiences have driven me to support others through sharing my journey and speaking with people that reaches out who are going through the same. I wish I could do more. Right now I am trying to work on some mental health projects to help others that are struggling like I am. I currently work as a dog trainer and behavior specialist at karma dog training, but I also do social media, acting, dog sitting and modeling every now and then. I also have my own podcast focused on mental health called FakingFine.
One of my proudest achievements is the community I am building. Through my openness about my struggles and successes, I aim to create a space where people can support and uplift each other. This initiative is part of my broader goal to turn my personal challenges into a source of strength and inspiration for others. I am also very proud of being Miss Nicaragua 2016, it means so much to me that I was able to be Nicaragua and represent my people for a whole year. The people I met and the things I learned will always be with me. I am proud of moving to LA at 23 years old without a plan, friends, money, job, no credit, etc. and figuring it out on my own all the way till now. It hasn’t been easy but im still here. I am proud of being very independent, determined, and working my ass off with 4 jobs at a time in my early 20’s to help me get my own car and my own apartment, and now I am finally buying my very first own couch! I am proud of learning how to speak up for myself and even with all the hardships, staying true to myself and pursue my dreams.
What sets me apart is my unique blend of public visibility and personal vulnerability. My background in beauty pageants and my public stance against political oppression demonstrate my bravery and resilience. My ongoing journey with mental health, combined with my efforts to foster a supportive community, showcases my commitment to making a positive impact on others’ lives. Through my work, I strive to be a beacon of hope and resilience, showing that no matter the obstacles, it is possible to overcome and thrive.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
My favorite book that I will always recommend first will be “The Four Agreements” from Miguel Ruiz. I read it again every now and then, and that’s the book that got me into all the self-help books I like to read now. I would love to write a book about my journey one day.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @marinajacoby
- Other: TikTok: @marinajacoby
Image Credits
La Prensa/J.Torres
Alexis Cuarezma
Shane Rad
Cesar Uribe
Jorge Paniagua
