Born and raised in the vibrant heart of Mexico City, my journey as an ardent nature lover began with my father. He taught me by example to appreciate, respect, and be utterly in awe of the natural world – from the rhythm of trees swaying in the wind to the intricate genius of a hummingbird’s nest, and the feeling of “aire limpio y fresco” (fresh and clean air) in his hometown in the Sierra of Puebla.

My father also instilled in me a profound compassion for Mexico’s indigenous communities, especially the Nahuatl people from his region. He regularly organized medical campaigns, ensuring my siblings and I joined him. Though he passed in 2012, his rich legacy of heart and purpose continues to guide me.

As an adult, my love for nature has evolved into a fierce commitment to defend and protect it. I saw the cost of our “take-make-use-lose” economy firsthand in Essaouira, Morocco, where miles of beautiful coastline and the seabird ecosystem were buried in plastic trash. My heart hurt for nature, I cried that day; and made a promise to defend it. That vow ignited my personal journey to reduce waste in 2017, and the more I learned, the more determined I became to drive change beyond my own home.