june curly queen: Leticia dominguez

Every month Curly Queen Kit chooses a Curly Queen to be featured in our monthly magazine inserts! This coming June, you will be getting to know more about Leticia. Read more of her Question and Answer, and how is it that she deserves to be crowned as JUNE CURLY QUEEN!

Name: Leticia Dominguez

What is your Social media handle? @livingfitwithleticia

When did you decide to go natural? 2015

Leticia is both a curly queen and a fitness enthusiast. Read on and be inspired by her story!

Why do you want to be the featured Queen and share your story?

I hope that my story helps inspire someone that may be dealing with what I went through during those years that I hated my hair.

I want that person to know that she’s not alone and hopefully inspire her to want to embrace her natural beautiful hair and stand tall and proud to be a curly queen.

What Made you go Natural?

I grew up hating my hair because it was rare and different. My Mom didn’t know how to brush it since I was the only one in my family with curly hair and I was made fun of because of it.

I wanted to fit in and have pretty straight hair like all the other girls so I started to flat iron it right out of high school and did so for over a decade until I got into my early 30s and decided that I no longer cared to fit in and be like everyone else.

I wanted to embrace how God created me to be. I realized that curly hair was a beautiful and rare gift and I was ready to be 100% unapologetically me. That’s when I decided to start my journey to help heal my curls back to life after so many years of damage.

What was it like growing up with your hair type?

It was difficult because I was the only person in my family with curly hair so I felt like the oddball. None of my friends had curly hair and I had so much envy of their beautiful straight hair.

I always stood out and when you’re a kid, that’s not something that you want to do. I was made fun of a lot because of it. I had zero clue how to style my hair and I hated how different it was.

What is your go-to styling product?

Right now I am obsessed with Rizos Curls. I use their shampoo, conditioner, styling cream, and refresh spray. I also love Innersense Organic Beauty and use their hydrating mask and gel. These are the products that I am currently using and loving. I also use Olaplex 3.

What does a “wash day” look like for you?

I use Rizos Shampoo and conditioner and as well as Innersense Hydrating Mask on my wash days. I wash my hair 2 days a week, ideally.

What is the worst product that you have used in your hair and why?

I’ve honestly used so many when I was in my trial and error initial phase that I can’t remember them all.

I used to use A LOT of Rave hairspray in high school because I wanted my hair to be flat and not have any volume. That would probably be the worst product that I have ever used.

What is your message to the curly girl's community out there?

Don’t be afraid to embrace your beautiful curls. They are a gift and they are a part of what makes you so special. Have lots of patience with your curls and treat them with love and care.

It can be overwhelming and sometimes frustrating, but so worth it to have beautiful curls that were not created to blend in, but rather to stand out like the queen that you are.

How often do you work out?

I workout 6 days a week and I do only home workout programs. Right now I use Beachbody home workout programs and I am currently on week 3 of 4 of Mes de Mas.

What is your biggest challenge in achieving your fitness or wellness goals that you have overcome?

Being at war with my body and food. I battled with anorexia in my early 20s and like a lot of women, I grew up hating my body and tearing it apart.

I would compare my body to what society deemed as “perfect” and I hated that mine was far from it. It’s been a long journey to understand that my body is perfectly imperfect just as it was created.

I started to embrace the self-love journey 3 years ago and it’s been a blessing because I now workout to honor my health and life and not because I want to be a certain size or weight a certain number.

The scale no longer defines me and I am so proud of my body for all that it does for me. It helps me hug, love, and create lifelong memories with those that I love most.

What is your biggest motivation?

Getting to sweat for those who no longer can. Every day I wake up and give thanks for another gift of life. I workout and take care of my health in honor of those who no longer can.

I workout because it’s a privilege to get to move my legs and help strengthen my body. I am grateful each day that I get to move my body because I know that there are thousands of people who would give anything to be able to be in my place.

If you can tell anyone starting their journey health or hair, what would it be?

Don’t ever expect perfection. Simply show up every day and do your best that day. This is a lifelong journey so there is no rush, take time to enjoy every small win and enjoy the ride because that’s the best part of the journey.

Stop and celebrate every tiny win because that’s what success is made up of: small daily wins compounded overtime. Take it one day at a time and be patient, loving, and understanding with yourself.

Talk and encourage yourself like you would a loved one. Know that there will be challenging days, but it’s those days that help us grow the most so see them as learning experiences to help you grow and get stronger.

You CAN do hard things!