Perfectly, (Im)perfect

MEET

CARA SANTANA

For this month’s episode of Real Talk by Dynamite, Chloe Wilde sat down (virtually) with none other than Cara Santana for a brief and insightful chat about her journey thus far as an actress, fashion designer, producer, AND entrepreneur. Let’s just say your impression of her is entirely well-placed… she is in fact a badass babe!

Delving into her excitement about the opportunity to discuss women in business with Dynamite’s fangirl base, Cara explained why her upbringing was pivotal in shaping the fierce woman she is today, “I grew up with a really independent, hard-working mother. I also grew up with an incredibly supportive and loving father and the dynamic I saw was that my mom could be multi-faceted; she could be an incredible lawyer and still make it home to eat at the dinner table.”
For this month’s episode of Real Talk by Dynamite, Chloe Wilde sat down (virtually) with none other than Cara Santana for a brief and insightful chat about her journey thus far as an actress, fashion designer, producer, AND entrepreneur. Let’s just say your impression of her is entirely well-placed… she is in fact a badass babe!

Delving into her excitement about the opportunity to discuss women in business with Dynamite’s fangirl base, Cara explained why her upbringing was pivotal in shaping the fierce woman she is today, “I grew up with a really independent, hard-working mother. I also grew up with an incredibly supportive and loving father and the dynamic I saw was that my mom could be multi-faceted; she could be an incredible lawyer and still make it home to eat at the dinner table.”
CARA SANTANA. CARA SANTANA.
CARA SANTANA.

She continued to express the importance of advocating for women to find their own strength and power especially when it comes to battling the disproportionate recognition of women in business, “I want to be a voice to champion other women, and sometimes you need to hear it and be able to identify with whoever is saying it to be able to do it. There is power in numbers.” Giving kudos to both her parents for cultivating a relationship built on reciprocity, she proclaimed that we need men of privilege and power to support women and their ambitions as well.

She continued to express the importance of advocating for women to find their own strength and power especially when it comes to battling the disproportionate recognition of women in business, “I want to be a voice to champion other women, and sometimes you need to hear it and be able to identify with whoever is saying it to be able to do it. There is power in numbers.” Giving kudos to both her parents for cultivating a relationship built on reciprocity, she proclaimed that we need men of privilege and power to support women and their ambitions as well.

CARA SANTANA.

When asked about any advice she can give to those looking to start a business, she highlighted the importance of loving what you’re doing and being willing to do whatever it takes to become successful. Her experience with the Glam App led her to the realization that “no one’s going to work as hard for you as you are for yourself.”

CARA SANTANA. CARA SANTANA.
CARA SANTANA.
Shifting the conversation to all things glam, we asked her about what fashion means to her and who has inspired her style over the years. Her response? Noteworthy. “You can be a woman and strong and be feminine and tune into your masculine side. You don’t have to be one-dimensional.” Naming icons Bianca Jagger and Katharine Hepburn alongside her mom, Cara sticks to the overall rule of thumb that you should wear what you feel good in and dress for yourself. If that means taking risks, go for it!

With time quickly running out, the two ended their chat on an inspirational and emotional note about Cara’s journey with alcoholism and addiction, and how it guided her to where she is today: 17 years sober. Cara confessed that her struggle with addiction made her feel ashamed and isolated at first, but taught her that this disease affects so many and does not discriminate. Cara now makes it her goal to break down the stigma, and instead, create a sense of community for those affected to feel less alone. “When we can identify with people and see ourselves in each other, I think we become empowered.”
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