Undocumented Creatives: We Build the Brand but It Wasn’t Built For Us.

La Chismosa Del Valle

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Undocumented creatives have helped shape the American brand—but we’re only good for the brand until we speak up. Rarely are we trusted to shape our own narratives.

In this episode, America Castillo sits down with Miriam Frutos, an influencer marketer, to talk about what it means to be a DACA recipient working in media and marketing and navigating an American workforce that often benefits from our creativity while quietly pushing us out.

In the first half, Miriam shares her immigration story crossing the border at age nine, growing up undocumented in a predominantly white neighborhood, and pushing through community college, CSUN, and grad school with little support and a lot of persistence.

In the second half, the conversation shifts to the challenges of being let go from jobs where they were praised one moment and dismissed the next. Despite showing up with ideas, care, and commitment, both Miriam and America experienced what most undocumented creatives risk when being outspoken about your status.

Journalism taught them to question what they were told. Branding taught them that speaking up can cost us everything.

They also explore:

• What it’s like being a DACA recipient in today’s political climate
• How companies perform diversity while silencing authenticity
• The pressure to stay quiet and grateful in unsafe environments
• Why the influencer economy and journalism aren’t interchangeable

Whether you’re a DREAMer, a creative of color, or someone genuinely trying to understand how the system works—you’ll want to hear this.

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Follow along on TikTok and Instagram: @la_ameriquita, @lachismosadelvalle