The Unseen World of Latina Goths

two goth girls in dark clothing and makeup smiling in moody lighting

The emergence of goth culture within the Latina community is intertwined with the historical backdrop of Latin America. Born amidst socioeconomic instability and political unrest, Goth culture, with its emblematic black attire, a penchant for the darkly romantic, and roots in post-punk music, has woven itself into the tapestry of societies worldwide, offering an escape and a form of resistance.


Goth culture first made its way into the Latina community in the late 1980s and early 1990s. It was heavily influenced by the Gothic rock and post-punk music scenes. This was a time when bands like Siouxsie and the Banshees, The Cure, and Bauhaus were gaining international popularity, and the messages of alienation and rebellion resonated with many Latina youth.


Gothic culture's fascination with the exploration of mortality, melancholy, and the macabre found a natural home within Latin America's cultural framework. From Mexico's Dia de Muertos to various folklore tales filled with haunting spirits and tragic love stories, gothic themes echo in Latine culture.

Throughout the years, many influential personalities have helped popularize this unique lifestyle, seamlessly integrating it into mainstream consciousness.

Kat Von D, a professional tattoo artist, entrepreneur, and TV personality, draws on her Mexican roots and remarkable gothic aesthetic to champion goth culture within the Latine community. From her distinctive fashion style and makeup to her thriving beauty line, she illustrates how this vibrant subculture can be an integral part of daily life.


Kat Von D’s husband, Rafael Reyes, or Leafar Seyer, also happens to be a talented musician and author that’s significantly impacted the Latina goth scene, particularly with his band, Prayers. They initiated Cholo goth, a compelling blend of goth and Mexican-American Cholo subculture. Through his work, Reyes addresses potent themes like violence, survival, and spirituality, offering a reflection of his experiences that resonates with the community.

Goth Latina influences are also making waves in the entertainment industry. Goth culture is becoming more visible in TV shows and movies. From Jenna Ortega’s Wednesday Addams in “Wednesday,” to Jackie Cruz's Flaca in "Orange is the New Black.”

Influencers like Mexican artist Lupe Vasconcelos, whose horror-themed illustrations capture her cultural heritage; Fernanda Lira, the forceful vocalist and bassist for the Brazilian thrash metal band Nervosa; and Patricia Morrison, the Cuban-American bassist for the gothic rock band Sisters of Mercy, whose Cuban roots enrich her music.

Each of these figures continues to shape and diversify the goth aesthetic within the Latina community and beyond, underscoring the genre's global reach and cultural inclusivity. Not to mention the countless content creators showcasing their amazing style, talent, and artistry on platforms like TikTok.

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Goth culture within the Latina community serves as a tool for self-expression, a challenge to societal norms, and a reflection of their diverse heritage. This aesthetic allows Latinas to disrupt traditional beauty standards often associated with vibrant, colorful imagery, embracing instead a dark romanticism that mirrors Latin America's rich and contrasting history.

Latina goth culture offers a unique fusion of traditional and unconventional aesthetics, showcasing the community's diversity. Its evolution and growth, spurred by prominent figures and pop culture, continue to draw more of the Latine community into its witchy realm.

a woman giving the side eye to a man

Have you ever met someone who seems overly confident, self-centered, or even downright rude? Maybe they constantly talk about themselves, disregard your feelings, or even manipulate situations to their advantage. And, if you're anything like us and countless other Latinas, you might've thought, is this person just a purebred a**hole, or are they a narcissist?

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Image by Sayuri Jimenez.

Nathalie Molina Niño has never been one to shy away from breaking barriers, and now, she’s focusing her attention on a new mission: demystifying corporate boardrooms for women, especially Latinas. Molina Niño is the President of Known, an asset management and financial services firm, a veteran tech entrepreneur and builder capitalist, and a board member at the iconic lingerie Brand, Hanky Panky, and others.

Like many corporate boards, Hanky Panky hadn’t publicly disclosed its board composition until recently. After the brand survived the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, Molina Niño decided it was time for more women, specifically more Latinas, to know what it means to be on corporate boards.

Coincidentally, the decision to finally be more vocal about this topic aligned with the start of Hispanic Heritage Month, which served as the perfect kick-off to the work.

"Something that rarely gets talked about and I think almost gets kept opaque by design is boards,” she explains in a recent Instagram announcement. “[This Latinx Heritage Month], that’s what I’ll be talking about.” Her goal? To equip more Latinas with the knowledge they need to navigate onto for-profit boards, where they can thrive and build multi-generational wealth.

For-profit corporate boards often feel like an exclusive club. And in many ways, they are, especially for Latinas, who hold the smallest percentage of board seats in Fortune 500 companies compared to other racial groups. According to the latest report from Latino Board Monitor, while Latinos hold 4.1% of these board seats (compared to 82.5% held by white people), only 1% go to Latinas. Molina Niño, a first-generation American of Ecuadorian and Colombian descent, is part of this boardroom minority.

When asked about her experience as a Latina board member during a recent Zoom interview, she said, “It’s been lonely. There’s not a lot of Latinas on boards.” She went on to explain that even serving on boards of Latina-founded businesses gets lonely because, “A lot of the times, people who serve on their boards represent their investors and, as a result, [...] you still don’t see a lot of Latinas on those boards.”

This lack of representation drives Molina Niño’s determination to increase Latina presence in corporate boardrooms. By sharing her insights, she hopes to give Latinas a roadmap to claim their seats at the table. “If you don’t know where to go, it’s impossible to figure out how to get there,” she says.

The Road to the Boardroom

Getting onto a for-profit corporate board isn’t an overnight achievement, but it’s not an unattainable dream either. People often think you need to be a CEO or have a certain type of background, but that’s one of the biggest myths about boards in Molina Niño’s experience. What they’re really looking for is expertise — whether that’s in finance, marketing, sustainability, or even technology. If you have that expertise, you’re already an asset. It’s simply a matter of which road you should take.

Understanding what boards are and how they operate is key to unlocking opportunities. For-profit boards serve as the governing body for companies, overseeing direction and financial stability, and guiding CEOs and executives in decision-making. But Molina Niño emphasizes that not all for-profit boards are created equal.

“There are two kinds [of for-profit boards] [...]. There’s the publicly traded business board and then, on the privately held side, there are, I would argue, two types of boards [...] the traditional business board and the venture-backed business board,” explains Molina Niño. Traditional businesses are often family-owned or long-established and may only form boards to meet requirements, like securing financing or transitioning through an ESOP. Venture-backed boards, on the other hand, are typically filled by investors who hold major stakes in the company.

According to Molina Niño, understanding the difference between them is how you can create a successful strategy. With publicly traded business boards, the whole world is privy to them, so, “The way that you get in there is a little bit more transparent. Sometimes those publicly traded companies will hire a recruiter to help them find new board members,” explains Molina Niño. For private companies, on the other hand, there’s no legal requirement to make announcements. As a result, most people don’t know anything about them or their inner workings.

“Usually what happens in traditional businesses that don’t have venture-capital investments is that the Founders, Executives, or the board members, if one existed already, they usually go to their friends,” and people they deem experienced to fill board seats. In other words, it’s the founder’s decision, and that’s an entirely different approach than hiring recruiters. When it comes to venture-backed business boards, the seats on the board are filled by whichever investor writes the biggest check.

This is why an understanding of the different types of boards and acknowledgment of their own strengths is what will help Latinas define a sound strategy. Whether that’s working with a recruiter, networking and connecting with founders to build trust, or making the biggest investment.

The Path for Latinas

For Molina Niño, the key to getting more Latinas into corporate boardrooms is education. Knowing what a board looks like and how it functions is how you can position yourself to get on it. In openly talking about this, without the mystique it’s usually shrouded in, Molina Niño is providing women, especially Latinas, with invaluable insights. “If we had Latinas understanding what are the three types of for-profit boards I think that, on their own, they would be able to figure out what their best chance is and adjust their careers to make themselves more competitive,” states Molina Niño.

When asked about the impact of increased Latina representation in boardrooms, Molina Niño flips the narrative. “Boards don’t help Latinas by offering them seats; Latinas help businesses thrive by being on their boards,” she says. “The whole point of sitting on a board is that you have experience and expertise, and as Latinas, you also have some cultural experience that everyone wants. [...] At the end of the day, we [Latinas] have to realize that we have a ton to offer and we have to be selective about where we put that expertise,” she explains.

As demand for access to the Latina consumer rises, Molina Niño predicts that more Latinas will find themselves recruited into boardrooms. But she’s not content to sit back and wait for that moment. By openly sharing her journey and insights, she’s making sure other Latinas know their worth and have the tools to claim their place at the table. “I realized that quietly being on boards that helped me personally is not helping other Latinas. [...] I was lucky enough to have friends who could advise me and share their experiences, so that’s why I’m doing this,” she stated.

With Hispanic Heritage Month as the backdrop, Nathalie Molina Niño’s mission is clear: “My goal is just to give Latinas enough information so they can make a plan for how to eventually get on a board that they’re paid to be on and that will eventually help them build generational wealth.”

flags of latin american countries fly behind performers wearing culturally traditional clothing

Ever noticed how September in Latin America is just one big celebration? As we wave goodbye to summer and avoid winter as long as we can, the streets come alive with parades, music, and festivities. Many Latin American countries celebrate their freedom this month, commemorating their hard-fought battles for independence from colonial domination. Let’s dive into these significant days and understand what makes each unique.

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