An Inspired Chat with Marina Larina of Aventura

We recently had the chance to connect with Marina Larina and have shared our conversation below.

Marina, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: What are you most proud of building — that nobody sees?
I’m most proud of building my career while raising two kids with almost no external support. It’s just me and my husband, who works in the office 5 times a week. We don’t have grandparents here, no regular nanny, and my youngest only started daycare in August — just three hours a day. Most days, my kids are right next to me while I work.

What people don’t see is that my kids are actually part of my creative process. They help me test angles, remind me if I’m in the frame, hold a light for a second, or tell me which hook feels more “real.” I’m building a career in between school drop-offs, snack times, meltdowns, and bedtime… and sometimes with little hands adjusting my tripod.

And as an immigrant, I’m building this in a country that wasn’t familiar at first — with a new language environment, new market, and no existing network. So I truly feel like I’ve had to work twice as hard to create something that looks effortless on the outside.

What I’m most proud of is the resilience and creativity it takes to balance motherhood and career, and the fact that my children are growing up watching me build something from scratch — and even contributing to it in their own little ways.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Sure! My name is Marina, and I’m a Miami-based UGC creator and former SMM strategist. I specialize in lifestyle, wellness, beauty, home, and mom/kids content — with a strong focus on storytelling and authentic, real-life use cases.

Because of my SMM background, I approach UGC not just as “content,” but as strategy. I understand audience behavior, I write strong hooks, and I build videos designed to convert, not just look nice.

Right now I’m focused on growing my creator brand, partnering with companies I genuinely use in my daily mom life, and helping other women — especially moms — see that it’s possible to build a creative career even in small pockets of time.

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
As a child, I truly believed I was extremely shy — the quiet kid who avoided attention and never imagined herself speaking on camera. But as an adult, I realized that I’m not actually THAT shy; I just need the right environment to feel safe and confident.

Moving to a new country, raising two kids, and building a career from scratch pushed me to grow in ways I never expected. Now I show up online, speak to brands, film confidently, and share my story openly. So that old belief doesn’t fit me anymore — I just needed space to become who I really am.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
I would tell her: believe in yourself and trust life. The things you’re scared of now — the challenges you think you could never handle — will become the experiences that shape you into your strongest, happiest self. Life will take you places you never imagined, and you’ll grow in ways you didn’t think were possible. Trust that you’re more capable, brave, and resilient than you realize.

Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Is the public version of you the real you?
Absolutely. What you see online is genuinely who I am. I don’t try to perform or create a polished “persona.” I’m a grounded, real, mom-of-two creator — and brands actually value me for that. My content comes from my everyday life, from the messiness, the humor, the honesty, and the small moments that make my days real. I think people connect with me because I show up as myself, not as someone I’m trying to be.

Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. How do you know when you’re out of your depth?
I know I’m out of my depth when I start feeling overstretched — when my creativity drops, my energy feels scattered, and even simple tasks feel heavier than usual. As a mom of two building a career in a new country with very limited support, I’ve learned to be very honest with myself about my capacity.

If something feels too far outside my expertise or values, I notice it right away: I stop enjoying the process, I overthink every step, and my intuition tells me, “This doesn’t feel like you.” That’s usually my signal to pause, ask questions, or get clarity.

I don’t see being out of my depth as a failure — it’s just a reminder to slow down, learn what I need to learn, or sometimes simply say no. It’s part of growing both as a creator and as a person.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/luckymia.ugc/