Daily Inspiration: Meet Elizabeth Sainz

Today we’d like to introduce you to Elizabeth Sainz.

Elizabeth, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I am a mother of two amazing children Anthony 24 and Jaylene 22 years old. I work for Azusa Unified School District as a Community Liaison, my role at the school is to help families that are struggling. I go out to the community and find them resources for Medical, Mental Health, Clothing, Food Banks and the most important Attendance. As a Liaison, I have the privilege to work with Azusa Police Department’s SRO who is on the school site and is my backup when doing Home Visits. I can say that my job is my calling I love to help people, the reason why I love my job and I did it with a passion is because I was a single mom struggling with my two kids, so I can definitely relate to their situation. (Ironic, I would always tell my mom I was a single mom that struggled and never received help…and look at me now)

I am also a Zumba Instructor and I promote healthy living as I suffer from High Blood Pressure. That’s the main reason why I became an instructor. I wanted to do the natural way and what better than medication, dancing while losing weight. With that being said, I always wanted to start something of my own and activewear fit right into Zumba. I was able to show off my fits while working out.

Then in the end of April 2021 something unexpected happened, my mom suffered a mild stroke and got admitted to the hospital. The news had me all over the place, mentally and emotionally. Seeing my family hurting and then finding out she had to have Open Heart Surgery was the worst. But that was nothing the worse was her coming out of surgery with a different outcome than what we expected. It was two long months in the hospital, day and night. All my family would stay at the park, in their cars, even in the patio tables outside UMC while my dad and I were beside her 24/7. To me, it seemed like two days, but it was two months, she was not getting any better as days passed. I can still remember when the Doctors asked my dad and I to decide because there was nothing else they were able to do. Can you imagine you had to decide to let the person who brought you to life was one hardest questions to answer. I looked at my dad and no words come out of my mouth. It was his decision, we decided to let her go when she felt ready. Seeing my mom lying in bed in her end-of-life minutes was one of the hardest days in my life.

I know if she was able to talk, she would have told me to follow my dream and make it happen. So that’s when I started to do some research to see where to buy active clothes, but I had no luck but that didn’t stop me I kept looking until one day I came across someone who was kind enough to send me in the right direction.

The next step was even harder, social media, I had no clue how to set up an IG or FB account. Luckily my nephew’s wife Cathy offered to help, and she took care of the social media for me. Now the next part is the one that till this day, I ask myself how it happened. As we were getting Zaphiro ready to lounge on Instagram and at the same time receiving private messages from users placing their first order!! Was something you just can’t explain, I was extremely excited, but as I was reading all the messages on my inbox, I came to a message from a photographer wanting to Collaborate, me thinking what the Heck is Collaborate lol. I remember asking David how much you are going to charge me as he responded nothing is FREE. I was like are you sure and he did say yes.

So, then I became curious to know how he found me, and he said your friend Ayde tagged me in one of your posts. Me thinking to myself I don’t have a friend Ayde and asked to see a picture of her, as I looked at the picture, I looked at David and said, “I don’t know her”. We both were shocked. I guess is true what they say, “God puts the people you need in your life, not the one you want”. After a few months after that, I started receiving messages from models who also wanted to collaborate that’s when Kim Quintana came along and till this day we are still working together. Zaphiro Fashion now has its own website, our own Photographer Edwin and two amazing models that support me 100% Gloria and Veronica. Today we still continue to do photoshoots in The Arts District in Los Angeles. Even though I have a photographer, I love to collaborate with others and models from size small to size 2xl.

We are proud to announce we had our first fashion show in July 2022 and l and will continue to have one once a year.

So, if you are in the Los Angeles area and would like to be part of my Zaphiro amazing team, just let me know!

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No, it hasn’t been easy. Having your small business on the side was what I always wanted but never took the time to think of everything that came with it. Taking time away from my family. Making sure I always had enough money to invest. Making sure I was making my money back, and at first you don’t see any of that, and you ask yourself if it’s even worth it.

Yes, I wanted to quit more than one time, but when friends and family would tell me how great I was doing I would just look up at my mom and heaven and asked her for strength. You also struggle with the people that don’t support you (the haters) and others that have been there from day one. Competition is another one, but I always said the sun shines for everybody and with that, I would collaborate and help others who wanted to be like me.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I would say what sets me apart from others is that I am Kind, Humble and always willing to give a helping hand. I love to encourage others to do their best even when I might be broken inside. I mentor one of my parents from work and she has me in a pedestal I am her inspiration. Hearing things like that can definitely set me aside of others

Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
No, I am a self-motivator and learned that through the years. When I catch myself falling off the wagon, I tell myself what the “F” if you don’t get up nobody will be here to do it for you.

Pricing:

• Nothing over $45.00

Contact Info:

• Website: www.zaphirofashion.com
• Instagram: zaphiro_fashion
• Facebook: Zaphiro Fashion

Image Credits
My Picture -Enrique Guzman others by various photographers: 1-Edwin Barrera 2-Edwin Barrera 3-Edwin Barrera 4-Edwin Barrera 5-Edwin Barrera 6-Jay Courtney 7_ Edwin Barrera 8-Ddarlinphotography 9-Enrique Guzman 10-Fred Johnson