Conversations with Dianelys Fuentes

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dianelys Fuentes. 

Hi Dianelys, 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 backstories with our readers?
I went vegan during the pandemic after coming across a low-waste lifestyle video and watching a couple of documentaries that were suggested. I am an “all or nothing” type of person so I decided to become vegan overnight. I did not know a single person who was also vegan let alone another Latino. I started Consciouscuban on Instagram to share my journey and hold myself accountable. I began showing how I was veganizing my food, especially Cuban food, and trying vegan alternatives from the supermarket. I also started going to vegan restaurants or restaurants that vegan options in my area to rate the food. I was lucky that at the time I was living in Austin, one of the most vegan-friendly cities in the US. Soon after people started asking me for recommendations from restaurants to vegan cheese and even tips on how to eat more plant-based. It felt great to be able to share veganism in a positive and inclusive way and also help others. But Instagram wasn’t something I took seriously until I moved to Denver about a year ago and saw that there weren’t that many accounts dedicated to showcasing local vegan food. That is what I’ve been doing since, sharing my love for local food in Denver and making friends along the way. I was also lucky to discover a group of fellow Denver-based content creators that has become my home away from home. I’ve grown and learned so much thanks to them and I am very lucky to call them my friends. The next step for Consciouscuban is to incorporate more travel content and continue to share my tips on how to do so while being vegan. I’m excited for the future of this account and everything else I have yet to try in Denver and beyond. 

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?
I think the biggest challenge has been staying motivated to post/share my journey on a platform that is doesn’t prioritize small creators, especially when you are a person of color. But then I get a message from a follower saying they went to a restaurant I recommended and they loved it or I see someone recreating one of the recipes I’ve done or I have a great conversation with a stranger and it all becomes worth it. As much as I want to grow and reach more people, I am doing this to share my journey and help others along the way even if it’s one person at a time. 

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 the first person in my family to graduate from college and have a professional career and that is what I’m the proudest of. I came to the US when I was 13 years old and I had a lot of people tell me that people like me didn’t go to college to study journalism. I didn’t have anybody help with applying for college, choosing where to go, or how to finance it but I didn’t let that stop me. I made mistakes and it took me six years but I did it. I got my bachelor’s degree in Multimedia Journalism from the University of Central Florida (go Knights!) and I’ve been working as a news editor ever since. Writing has always been a huge part of my life. I love telling stories and for a while, journalism fulfilled that need but now I am exploring writing on my own terms. I will be launching my own blog soon so I’ll be giving a more in-depth look into what happens on Consciouscuban and navigating this world as a vegan of color. 

In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
As far as social media goes, I can definitely see it growing even more. It has become more accessible and less taboo for people to have careers as content creators or influencers and I believe that it will continue to grow that way. I do think the way we do or behave on social media as content creators will be changing. TikTok has shown us that people over the sanitized, picture-perfect feed that Instagram was so known for. People want to see the real and messy life that we all have. I hope it becomes easier/more doable for content creators of color like myself to share their content and grow on these platforms. 

Contact Info:

• Email: consciouscuban@gmail.com
• Instagram: Consciouscuban
• Other: TikTok: consciouscuban