Award-winning journalist Mariana Atencio's tips to owning your Latinidad

Mariana Atencio knows a thing or two about being her authentic self in everyday life and when she is on camera for NBC News, MSNBC and, formerly, Univision. The Venezuelan-born journalist, who first came to the States to attend Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism in 2008, is reminding Latinas everywhere to always be proud of who they are. “Everything for me is about empowering other Latinas to embrace being themselves,” the PERFECTLY YOU: Embracing the Power of Being Real author tells HOLA! USA. “I call them my GoLikeMariana tips because ultimately, what I really want is for you to be inspired to be the best version of yourself.”

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Keep reading to find out the Gracie Award and Peabody Award recipient’s top five ways to combat any insecurities you may have and to realize you are perfecta.

Build Your Team

“I’m going to come out and say it: Behind every successful woman there isn’t a tribe of successful women. It’s more a squad made up of professionals, mothers, sisters, philanthropists, dreamers, stylists, triathletes, counselors, chefs, all at once! It’s doubly hard for us, so we need to be supported by other Latinas and sisters from other groups that understand and make way for us. No one gets anywhere alone. I know I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for Mami, my sister Gra, my mentor Maria Elena Salinas, Eva Longoria, Ana Navarro, Luzma Doria and so, so, so many. And that’s what motivates me to do everything I do. If I can inspire one girl/woman and create a butterfly effect, that's enough.”

Defeat the “imposter syndrome”

“It’s so common to have this constant battle with that voice inside your head that tells you that you aren’t good enough. It simply isn’t true. It’s the opposite; we have to accept all of who we are – strengths and weaknesses included – because this is where we come in contact with our grit, our resilience and what helps us slay that imposter dragon.”

Being bicultural and bilingual is a superpower

“We are born into different cultures, languages, food and textures and that means that the world is twice as big, twice as colorful and twice as wise. It is such a privilege to inherit so much and be able to use it as a source of inspiration and drive. This is why I take pride in my accent; it means I can communicate with more people in their own language. Accents, cultures and languages should be worn as medals, never frowned upon.”

Wear clothes that make you feel authentic

“It’s not about fashion or following the latest trend. I believe that every woman should feel confident to develop her signature style and express her personality. What works for someone you admire won’t necessarily work for you. It’s not about labels, price tags, or anyone else’s choices. Plus, research actually shows that the more confident you feel, the better you’ll perform at work and social occasions. Talk about 'dressing the part', and I would add 'feeling it' too.”

Pronounce your name correctly

“I cannot stress this enough. For me it’s not Mareeeeahnah or Mary-Anna, or Maria, es Mariana. I don’t change how I pronounce my name because some people can’t roll the r or elongate the diphthong. I do it because it’s the way it’s meant to sound. We borrow a ton of words from French and other European languages, and we are always encouraged to pronounce them as closely as possible to the original. Just look at c’est la vie or fait accompli. For me, every time I pronounce my name I am saying I’m really proud of who I am and where I come from. And if more and more Latinas pronounce their name the way they like it – on TV and on social media – we can create a positive ripple effect!”

Mariana’s book is published by HarperCollins and will be available on June 11, 2019.