Inclusive Media Initiative Creator Q&A: Karmen Huerta

Pixability’s Inclusive Media Initiative is our mission to support diverse creators and communities on YouTube.

Hispanic Heritage Month is a time to honor the rich cultures, histories, and contributions of the Hispanic and Latino communities. In the universe of YouTube, Hispanic creators are not only shaping conversations but also bridging cultural divides and inspiring audiences around the globe.

Continuing our blog series focused on Hispanic creators in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, I was excited to interview another Californian, the talented creator and podcaster, Karmen Huerta. Karmen, is a Mexican American YouTuber based in LA, brings her creative flair and cultural roots to her engaging lifestyle and entertainment content. With a background in PR and a passion for storytelling, she has built a platform that celebrates diversity and amplifies voices in music and beyond

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Theresa: Can you tell us a little about your background and what inspired you to start your YouTube channel?

Karmen: I’m Mexican American, originally from San Diego but I’ve been in LA for seven years now. I was born in Baja California, a lot of people know Tijuana. It’s a common dynamic to be raised in San Diego but be born in Tijuana- we are like “border kids”. My parents are American and we just happen to be naturalized citizens. Living in San Diego is a totally different experience than living in LA. It’s a big military town and I went to school with a lot of Navy kids. I came to LA specifically because it would give me space to be more creative and would allow me to be who I wanted to be. My professional background is in PR. Right after my move to LA, the pandemic hit. This flipped a switch in my brain and I started following my passions to do more creative work. Nothing too serious, and still very fun so it doesn’t feel like a job. I think it’s cool to go back and see my digital history through my YouTube channel.  

Theresa: How does your Hispanic heritage influence the content you create and the stories you tell?

Karmen: My channel is heavy on lifestyle content and entertainment events. I am heavy on connecting with musicians for my podcast called “¿Y Tu Novio?”. The title is in Spanish to pay homage to me being a Latina. I introduce every podcast with “hey y’all my name is Karmen!” I ask important questions but also make time for some gossip! I am not as heavy with the gossip as some other platforms because oftentimes when artists hop on these podcasts they get asked some pretty personal questions like “are you single?” We get to that too, but I like to focus on the music and their artistry beforehand. The artists I focus on are primarily people of color but it is open to everyone. I throw Spanish words in there but it’s really a podcast for everyone.

Theresa: What are some challenges you’ve faced as a Hispanic creator, and how have you overcome them?

Karmen: For me right now, it’s scaling. This is a challenge for everyone because everyone wants to be bigger and better than they were the previous year. But I do want to commend myself for being a small creator, in the room with some big YouTuber’s. I’m so lucky to be in the room and invited to events at YouTube’s headquarters. I feel like that must mean I’m on the right path and doing the right thing. Branding is another area I struggle with. I try different things and experiment. It is important for me to integrate my heritage into what it is that I am doing on social or on YouTube because we all look different and have different experiences. I was born in Mexico but raised in the US since I was two. I have a very strong Mexican American heritage, but I know what my life was like in Mexico. I also speak English without an accent. If I wasn’t born in Mexico, I would have been a third-generation Mexican American. I want to honor my heritage. For example, a lot of people consider Jenna Ortega not “Latina enough”. She did an interview for Beetlejuice and one of the interviewers was like… “you know what? I just want to let you know you are Latina enough…” So that’s my biggest challenge right now is just the branding portraying my heritage in a good light and then just scaling in the right ways with the right brands.

Theresa: Are there any cultural values or traditions that have shaped your approach to your work or your life in general?

Karmen: I want to push myself to do more bilingual content and interviews in Spanish. I really love capturing different cultures. You will see with my channel I am a huge champion of the black community and I love the music and the artists that I have interviewed. I’m also hoping to start showcasing traditions from back home in San Diego as the Mexican community there is so different from the one here in LA.

Theresa: Who are some of your biggest influences, both within the Hispanic community and beyond (or on YouTube)?

Karmen: Lipstick Kitty (TikTok creator), Pero like, Revery (Mexican American Rapper).

Theresa: What advice would you give to aspiring Hispanic creators looking to make their mark on YouTube?

Karmen: Be honest and make it fun. I’m still on this journey. YouTube is fun for me. I’m also a YouTube kid. I would watch all these big YouTubers now who were just kids in their room back then. It’s still like that for me, ultimately we are putting ourselves out there with whatever content we create. Don’t take it too seriously and keep experimenting. When I started my channel, I didn’t have a podcast but now we have the podcast platform tab, so you just never know where your channel will take you. You could be a foodie turned true crime.

Theresa: How do you see representation for the Hispanic community evolving in digital media?

Karmen: Mi tu or Pero Like. I love that they make their own platform if you don’t see it in the mainstream media. The big platforms are making dedicated spaces, Casa Tiktik page, YouTube LatinX is super important. Obviously there is room for improvement, but I am glad there are more dedicated spaces. I would also encourage creators to work with brands and have conversations about your community. Sometimes it feels like, “Dang, I have to educate you.” But be honest because some people just don’t understand the community.

Theresa: What is the perfect sponsorship for you?

Karmen: I really do love Youth to the People. Not only do they put on really cool Latino creators that I admire, but they also support others.

Bacardi also touches on what I love, which is music, culture, and DJs. They have supported one of my favorite DJs, Viva Latina. The fact that Bacardi elevates DJs and Latina women is really important.

Also Target. I love Target since I am there all the time. 

Theresa: Do you have any upcoming projects or initiatives that you’d like to share with our readers?

Karmen: This month, I will be focusing on Latino, Afro-Latino creators. So it’s kind of interesting for me because I’ve never had a time where I just focus solely on these creators. And I’m really excited because one of the girls that I interviewed is a New Yorker and Colombian. Right now, she’s going pretty viral. I’m happy to be catching her early. She started a podcast called Bodega Chats. The bodega is really big in her community. And then the show that’s getting her a lot of traction is called Shop Cats Show. So not only does she go to the bodegas, but she interviews the owners and keeps the New York vibe. Although I’m a West Coast girl all the way, it’s really cool for her to showcase how New York is from a real New Yorker.

I hope to do more live-streaming shows before the end of the year and podcasting events as well.

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