April 18, 2025 • 11 mins
Bernadette Alvarado, a dynamic leader in Southern Arizona's business and media scene. As the founder of Simply Hermosa, Bernadette champions culture and entrepreneurship through a modern Latina lens. She also contributes to Hola Tucson Magazine, leads LULAC Chapter 1234, and helps small businesses thrive with Tesoro Business Services.
In this episode, Bernadette shares her personal mission, rooted in the powerful question, “What makes you beautiful?”—a question that invites us all to embark on our own journeys of self-discovery. Tune in for an inspiring conversation that challenges us to embrace our true selves!
Instagram: Bernadette_alvarado, simplyhermosa_az
Facebook: Bernadette Alvarado-Simply Hermosa
Website: www.simplyhermosa.org
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Theresa Cesare (00:06):
Hey guys.
Welcome to Heart to Talk thepodcast.
I am the host and creatorTheresa Cesare My intention for
this podcast is to deliver toyou wisdom, inspiration, and
consciousness.
Through solo episodes andconversations amongst insightful
people.
It is my greatest honor to bringto you talks that come from the.
(00:32):
Amazing listeners, welcome backto another powerful episode of
Heart to Talk.
I'm so excited to introduce toyou all today's guest,
Bernadette Alvarado.
Bernadette is the founder andpodcast host of Simply Hermosa a
platform that celebratesculture, entrepreneurship, and
(00:53):
the modern Latina identity.
She also serves as a businesswriter for Ola Tusan Magazine,
where she shares inspiringstories as a sales consultant
for Tucson Table Magazine, sheconnects local businesses with
their audiences driving growthand engagement.
In addition, Bernadette is thepresident of lulac, chapter
1234, advocating for civilrights and economic empowerment
(01:17):
for Latinos.
Through her consulting firm, theSoto Business Services, she
helps small businesses thrivewith tailored growth strategies.
And there's one question she'sknown for asking, what makes you
beautiful?
So friends, let's go ahead anddive in to Bernadette's
inspiring journey and theincredible work she's doing to
(01:38):
bridge community commerce andculture with a whole lot of
heart and hustle.
Girl, welcome to the show, thankyou so much for having me.
It's such an honor.
So go ahead and dive intotelling us how do you became who
you are today?
Well, I am an executiveassistant by trade.
(01:59):
and then pandemic came and I gotlaid off, and so.
Rather than go back intocorporate or to a nonprofit, I
ended up starting my own,business consulting.
And it's basically a businessconcierge for small businesses.
I was doing all of these thingsfor, for a major corporation, so
(02:21):
I said, I'm just gonna do it forsmall businesses as well.
You know, when you're in thebackend on this as an executive
assistant, you never, um, you'renever really in the light.
Like you're never reallynetworking.
You don't really do any of that.
You're behind the scenes andyou're really the one that puts
everything together.
and so I never had aprofessional headshot done.
(02:43):
And I went and got my headshotdone with Rachel Castillo of
Tucson Headshots, an amazingphotographer.
She was like, you gotta be outthere.
You gotta have all of thesethings for your new business.
And let me tell you, I wasn'tprepared for what I had in my
mind and what was actually inprint.
(03:03):
It was kind of an emotional.
Um, event for me, because again,you're, you're not used to being
in the limelight.
You're not used to being infront of the camera.
And so you have this idea of whoyou are.
And, as a woman, I have so manyinsecurities, but it really hit
me that day and I was calling mydaughter and just so happened we
(03:27):
both had professional headshotson the same day and.
You know, she's tearing up andshe's crying and she's like,
mom, I don't like the way Ilook.
I feel like, like I have thesebig cheeks.
And I was like, but baby, you'rebeautiful.
And, and I'm upset'cause she'supset and I'm crying because I
(03:48):
had just had this emotionalevent myself.
And then she was like, but Mom,I look just like you.
How can you not like yourpicture?
If you feel I'm beautiful?
So are you.
And so that is where Simply Mosaactually birthed and The
question is, what makes youbeautiful?
Because I feel like so much ofour identity and our sense of
(04:13):
self-worth is pulled off of whatwe see in tv, in print.
And for not just young women,but older women as well, to, to
find their identity and becomfortable with whom they are.
And so when you come up.
Thinking that you're notbeautiful, not loving who you
see in the mirror, you don'trealize that you're passing that
(04:35):
along to your kids'cause you'retheir biggest example of what a
woman should look like or how awoman should act, or how mom
should be.
And, and unknowingly, I passedalong some of my insecurities to
my daughter, so.
I have, been on this journeyasking other women what makes
(04:55):
you beautiful.
And for many women, it's a verydifficult question.
Theresa, we talked about that aswell on my podcast, and I asked
you what makes you beautiful?
I feel like that is such a hardbut simple question and nobody,
nobody ever really gets askedthat question.
(05:17):
You're right.
I wanna say, Bernadette, whenyou asked me, I was like, I
don't know, because I don'tthink I've ever answered that
right.
And I knew, I wanted thelisteners of this podcast to ask
themselves like, what makes youbeautiful?
And if you're a man listening,what makes you.
Handsome.
And there's no judgment I thinkpeople are uncomfortable too,
(05:39):
right?
Be humble but be confident.
And it's owning the things youlove about yourself, it's really
powerful to find what youranswer is and settle into it.
You know, a lot of women don'tgive a physical attribute.
It's all about either character,about their inner beauty, which
is something that is amazing,but also it kind of gives back
(05:59):
to why are we not loving thebody that we're in?
Why are we not seeing that weare beautiful?
I agree.
When you ask yourselfBernadette, has your definition
evolved?
Does it different from likemaybe one month, depending on
the season you're in of yourlife?
Well, and I think, I think asI'm on this journey, right, I,
(06:20):
it changes day to day.
I think we talked about thattoo, right?
Because some days you feelamazing and you wanna conquer
the world, and other days, eh,it's a struggle.
Like, it like life gets reallyhard.
So based on how you're feeling,I think determines what you feel
(06:41):
is beautiful that day.
Today.
For me, what makes me beautifulis my authenticity.
Um.
For genuinely wanting to, tosupport other people, and just
being a genuine person with lotsof flaws.
I.
And lots of, not necessarilyhandicaps, but insecurities,
(07:04):
right?
Because there's always thatmoment where I'm like, I don't
feel beautiful today, but I'mgonna own today anyways.
And that's what I want women towalk away with.
It's okay to, to feel notbeautiful.
It's okay.
Um, and own who you are today.
(07:25):
Own the authenticity and, andit's.
Again, today is a different day.
I had a huge day of meetings andI had, a beautiful conversation
with Tiffany Nakatani and, andit just kind of solidified the
reason that we're on thismission, right?
So for me, I'm beautiful becauseI care.
(07:46):
Ooh.
I love that.
So that being said, what is yourmission?
The mission of Simply Mosa is tocreate a brave and inclusive
space where everyone feelsempowered, valued, and honored.
originally we did simply Mosa asa woman's group, and it's turned
into so much more.
It is a nonprofit for everyonebecause Right.
(08:07):
I have kids and I have youngmen, and sometimes they don't
feel accepted and seen andheard, so I could not have
simply Admira without thewonderful men in my life.
I love that so much.
Is there anything else before Idive into the closing questions
(08:27):
per tradition that you wannashare with the audience?
Just opening the conversation,opening each other up to show
each other that, you know what?
Life is very hard.
It's very hard to to just bealive right now and.
When you have an example ofsomebody that maybe has handled
(08:50):
things in a different way, thenyou don't feel alone.
and again, ask yourself, whatmakes you beautiful?
And it opens up to the mostbeautiful conversation, right?
I, I mean that in itself thebest conversation starter.
From your podcast to being abusiness writer for Ola Tucson,
being president of lulac, you'rea mama as well.
(09:13):
How do you sustain being able toshow up in all these places?
What is it that.
Keeps you going.
It it definitely is a challengeand, and like I said in my
authenticity, there are dayswhere I'm struggling, but at the
end of the day, I just want, Iknow that sounds crazy, but at
(09:34):
the end of the day, I just wantmy kids to be proud of me.
Oh, I love it.
I love your authenticity.
Sarah Band Branick, which is oneof my favorite authors, she said
that authenticity is your soulmade visible.
that's probably why it feelsgood to be there because our
soul wants to come out so I'mgonna go ahead and pivot to the
ending questions, Bernadette.
The first question, what is yourfavorite book?
(09:54):
Oh, that's a very difficultquestion'cause there's so many.
But, Bless Me Ultima, is myfavorite book.
Bless me.
I love that.
And second question, what isyour favorite affirmation I am
powerful.
I love it.
You are.
(10:14):
I see your power.
And the last question, what doyou wanna be known for your
legacy?
I want to be known for, the wayI love my community and my
family.
It's simple.
Thank you so much for tuning into this
(10:34):
episode.
Please download, rate,subscribe, and share this
podcast.
Also, be sure to visit mytheresacesare.com to check out
my inspirational merch, connectto my social accounts, and much
more may you continue to befilled with wisdom, inspiration,
and consciousness.
Otherwise, friends, I will beback in two weeks for another
(10:55):
episode of Heart to.
Hey guys.
Welcome to Heart to Talk thepodcast.
I am the host and creatorTheresa Cesare My intention for
this podcast is to deliver toyou wisdom, inspiration, and
consciousness.
Through solo episodes andconversations amongst insightful
people.
It is my greatest honor to bringto you talks that come from the.
(00:32):
Amazing listeners, welcome backto another powerful episode of
Heart to Talk.
I'm so excited to introduce toyou all today's guest,
Bernadette Alvarado.
Bernadette is the founder andpodcast host of Simply Hermosa a
platform that celebratesculture, entrepreneurship, and
(00:53):
the modern Latina identity.
She also serves as a businesswriter for Ola Tusan Magazine,
where she shares inspiringstories as a sales consultant
for Tucson Table Magazine, sheconnects local businesses with
their audiences driving growthand engagement.
In addition, Bernadette is thepresident of lulac, chapter
1234, advocating for civilrights and economic empowerment
(01:17):
for Latinos.
Through her consulting firm, theSoto Business Services, she
helps small businesses thrivewith tailored growth strategies.
And there's one question she'sknown for asking, what makes you
beautiful?
So friends, let's go ahead anddive in to Bernadette's
inspiring journey and theincredible work she's doing to
(01:38):
bridge community commerce andculture with a whole lot of
heart and hustle.
Girl, welcome to the show, thankyou so much for having me.
It's such an honor.
So go ahead and dive intotelling us how do you became who
you are today?
Well, I am an executiveassistant by trade.
(01:59):
and then pandemic came and I gotlaid off, and so.
Rather than go back intocorporate or to a nonprofit, I
ended up starting my own,business consulting.
And it's basically a businessconcierge for small businesses.
I was doing all of these thingsfor, for a major corporation, so
(02:21):
I said, I'm just gonna do it forsmall businesses as well.
You know, when you're in thebackend on this as an executive
assistant, you never, um, you'renever really in the light.
Like you're never reallynetworking.
You don't really do any of that.
You're behind the scenes andyou're really the one that puts
everything together.
and so I never had aprofessional headshot done.
(02:43):
And I went and got my headshotdone with Rachel Castillo of
Tucson Headshots, an amazingphotographer.
She was like, you gotta be outthere.
You gotta have all of thesethings for your new business.
And let me tell you, I wasn'tprepared for what I had in my
mind and what was actually inprint.
(03:03):
It was kind of an emotional.
Um, event for me, because again,you're, you're not used to being
in the limelight.
You're not used to being infront of the camera.
And so you have this idea of whoyou are.
And, as a woman, I have so manyinsecurities, but it really hit
me that day and I was calling mydaughter and just so happened we
(03:27):
both had professional headshotson the same day and.
You know, she's tearing up andshe's crying and she's like,
mom, I don't like the way Ilook.
I feel like, like I have thesebig cheeks.
And I was like, but baby, you'rebeautiful.
And, and I'm upset'cause she'supset and I'm crying because I
(03:48):
had just had this emotionalevent myself.
And then she was like, but Mom,I look just like you.
How can you not like yourpicture?
If you feel I'm beautiful?
So are you.
And so that is where Simply Mosaactually birthed and The
question is, what makes youbeautiful?
Because I feel like so much ofour identity and our sense of
(04:13):
self-worth is pulled off of whatwe see in tv, in print.
And for not just young women,but older women as well, to, to
find their identity and becomfortable with whom they are.
And so when you come up.
Thinking that you're notbeautiful, not loving who you
see in the mirror, you don'trealize that you're passing that
(04:35):
along to your kids'cause you'retheir biggest example of what a
woman should look like or how awoman should act, or how mom
should be.
And, and unknowingly, I passedalong some of my insecurities to
my daughter, so.
I have, been on this journeyasking other women what makes
(04:55):
you beautiful.
And for many women, it's a verydifficult question.
Theresa, we talked about that aswell on my podcast, and I asked
you what makes you beautiful?
I feel like that is such a hardbut simple question and nobody,
nobody ever really gets askedthat question.
(05:17):
You're right.
I wanna say, Bernadette, whenyou asked me, I was like, I
don't know, because I don'tthink I've ever answered that
right.
And I knew, I wanted thelisteners of this podcast to ask
themselves like, what makes youbeautiful?
And if you're a man listening,what makes you.
Handsome.
And there's no judgment I thinkpeople are uncomfortable too,
(05:39):
right?
Be humble but be confident.
And it's owning the things youlove about yourself, it's really
powerful to find what youranswer is and settle into it.
You know, a lot of women don'tgive a physical attribute.
It's all about either character,about their inner beauty, which
is something that is amazing,but also it kind of gives back
(05:59):
to why are we not loving thebody that we're in?
Why are we not seeing that weare beautiful?
I agree.
When you ask yourselfBernadette, has your definition
evolved?
Does it different from likemaybe one month, depending on
the season you're in of yourlife?
Well, and I think, I think asI'm on this journey, right, I,
(06:20):
it changes day to day.
I think we talked about thattoo, right?
Because some days you feelamazing and you wanna conquer
the world, and other days, eh,it's a struggle.
Like, it like life gets reallyhard.
So based on how you're feeling,I think determines what you feel
(06:41):
is beautiful that day.
Today.
For me, what makes me beautifulis my authenticity.
Um.
For genuinely wanting to, tosupport other people, and just
being a genuine person with lotsof flaws.
I.
And lots of, not necessarilyhandicaps, but insecurities,
(07:04):
right?
Because there's always thatmoment where I'm like, I don't
feel beautiful today, but I'mgonna own today anyways.
And that's what I want women towalk away with.
It's okay to, to feel notbeautiful.
It's okay.
Um, and own who you are today.
(07:25):
Own the authenticity and, andit's.
Again, today is a different day.
I had a huge day of meetings andI had, a beautiful conversation
with Tiffany Nakatani and, andit just kind of solidified the
reason that we're on thismission, right?
So for me, I'm beautiful becauseI care.
(07:46):
Ooh.
I love that.
So that being said, what is yourmission?
The mission of Simply Mosa is tocreate a brave and inclusive
space where everyone feelsempowered, valued, and honored.
originally we did simply Mosa asa woman's group, and it's turned
into so much more.
It is a nonprofit for everyonebecause Right.
(08:07):
I have kids and I have youngmen, and sometimes they don't
feel accepted and seen andheard, so I could not have
simply Admira without thewonderful men in my life.
I love that so much.
Is there anything else before Idive into the closing questions
(08:27):
per tradition that you wannashare with the audience?
Just opening the conversation,opening each other up to show
each other that, you know what?
Life is very hard.
It's very hard to to just bealive right now and.
When you have an example ofsomebody that maybe has handled
(08:50):
things in a different way, thenyou don't feel alone.
and again, ask yourself, whatmakes you beautiful?
And it opens up to the mostbeautiful conversation, right?
I, I mean that in itself thebest conversation starter.
From your podcast to being abusiness writer for Ola Tucson,
being president of lulac, you'rea mama as well.
(09:13):
How do you sustain being able toshow up in all these places?
What is it that.
Keeps you going.
It it definitely is a challengeand, and like I said in my
authenticity, there are dayswhere I'm struggling, but at the
end of the day, I just want, Iknow that sounds crazy, but at
(09:34):
the end of the day, I just wantmy kids to be proud of me.
Oh, I love it.
I love your authenticity.
Sarah Band Branick, which is oneof my favorite authors, she said
that authenticity is your soulmade visible.
that's probably why it feelsgood to be there because our
soul wants to come out so I'mgonna go ahead and pivot to the
ending questions, Bernadette.
The first question, what is yourfavorite book?
(09:54):
Oh, that's a very difficultquestion'cause there's so many.
But, Bless Me Ultima, is myfavorite book.
Bless me.
I love that.
And second question, what isyour favorite affirmation I am
powerful.
I love it.
You are.
(10:14):
I see your power.
And the last question, what doyou wanna be known for your
legacy?
I want to be known for, the wayI love my community and my
family.
It's simple.
Thank you so much for tuning into this
(10:34):
episode.
Please download, rate,subscribe, and share this
podcast.
Also, be sure to visit mytheresacesare.com to check out
my inspirational merch, connectto my social accounts, and much
more may you continue to befilled with wisdom, inspiration,
and consciousness.
Otherwise, friends, I will beback in two weeks for another
(10:55):
episode of Heart to.
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