Rising Stars: Meet Monica Marquez

Today we’d like to introduce you to Monica Marquez.

Hi Monica, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story. 
Hi, thanks for having me! Off the jump, I am an Actor, Athlete, and CPT/ Boxing Coach. 

Film and Fitness are what I am most passionate about and what fuel my fire! 

Dominicana y Salvadoreña born and raised in Long Island, New York. Oldest of three girls, Capricorn, 90’s baby! Growing up, I was a tomboy (still am) in a gigantic family of females on my Dominican side. I played all the sports – basketball being my first love. Towards the end of my high school career, though, acting sparked my interest, and I decided to try out for the school plays and musicals, alongside playing sports- which led me to study it further in college. 

I studied and graduated from SUNY New Paltz with a degree in Theatre & Digital Media Management in 2017. Post-college, I was hustling and juggling a bunch of side gigs, like bartending and brand ambassador work, feeling stuck not pursuing what I really wanted to do – Acting. After feeling stagnant for a year and change, at the end of 2018, I decided to pull the trigger and buy a one-way to LA to “check it out.” Definitely not an easy move, leaving all my family and friends behind in NY, but I knew I needed a change of pace. 

Here we are four years later… and I can definitely say it was the best decision of my life! All I had in my pocket was enough to buy a car, shout out to my 2000 Solara – still going strong #hooptiedreams! I was also super fortunate to have an uncle out here that I could stay with for the first months, till I got on my feet. Gracias Tio! 

Along my journey to the West Coast, in pursuit of my dream, I created my podcast and brand – MoMo on the Move. MoMo on the Move represents a lifestyle of being proactive in one’s own life and being “on the move,” whether it’s in one’s career, travel, love, and life in general. If you want to know what I’m up to, you can follow me on the gram (@momo_onthe_move) and catch all my moves on my podcast available on most listening platforms and YouTube! 

In terms of film and television, I have worked on several commercials, shorts, a feature, and collaborative projects with the homies, writing, directing, and acting! 

Lastly, in terms of fitness- when I got to LA, I began boxing for the first time and completely fell in love with the sport and have been consistently at it for about 5 years now, still training till this day. Now, I am a CPT and boxing coach for Forj Fitness and Mija Fitness. I am also running a fire boot camp monthly called the Social Sweat Club with my boy, Zach Wilde! Great vibes, better music, and a guaranteed sweat. Last but not least, I am currently offering 1-2-1 coaching and a 6-week Blended Boxing program for those trying to build strength, get lean, and get their body/mind right! 

For information, follow the gram @movewithmomo_ 

We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I’ve had a few obstacles thrown my way, but nothing major that made me want to quit and go back home. 

What I can say is I was very fortunate to have met all my people within the first two weeks of me arriving to LA, that are still riding by my side till this day! I was able to build a family away from my family, which means the world to me. 

I feel like finding your circle and having that support with you along your journey is crucial to stay grounded and keep going. As a Latina from NY, loyalty is everything! The fact that I found that from the jump out here was an absolute blessing because I know that’s not the case for many people who move out here on their own. 

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I think what sets me apart from the rest is my resourcefulness and my ability to make something out of nothing. I am very big on if there is a will, there is a way, and risking it to get the biscuit! 

As mentioned, before I act/create, I coach, and I run my podcast/brand called MoMo on the Move! 

Aside from all that, I love to spend time with my friends and family, dance, and TRAVEL (hence “on the move!”). 

Over the years, MoMo on the Move became more of a vlog, as I am more of a visual person and think my adventures and interviews are more entertaining visually. Along with my podcast, I also sell merch that you can wear on the move! 

A fun recent project I have been working on is a series called Malas Sicarias – a Foxy and Roxy Series- which is like a Latina version of Charlie’s Angels! What started out as a fight choreography, that me and my girl, Cristina Florez, wanted to add to our reels led to people wanting to see more. We have two short episodes out on YouTube and are currently working on expanding to a five-episode series! 

When I am not training and coaching at Forj Fitness (pull up for a free class!), I am also currently working with Monique Flores with her brand and community – Mija Fitness. Training women to become strong, confident, and badass through the art of boxing! 

Also, as mentioned before, I am now also offering 1-2-1 coaching and a 6-week Blended Boxing program to help my ambitious individuals who struggle with inconsistency and time management get their body and mind right! I am also running a monthly boot camp with my homie, Zach. It’s called The Social Sweat Club, where we provide a killer workout, great vibes, fire music, and post-workout shakes and snacks. Follow my fitness content @movewithmomo_ to find out when the next one is! 

Do you have any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
My favorite childhood memory is probably being sent away to the Dominican Republic for the summer to spend time with my family. Being by the beach, playing with my cousins, and eating helado bon when it’s 90 degrees+ outside. Definitely core memories. 

Contact Info:

• Website: movewithmomo.com
• Instagram: movewithmomo_
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@momoonthemove