1/13/2025
In January 2025, VoyageLA sat down with Mariana Cabrera, the founder of Mamacitabod, for its Local Stories series. The conversation covers how a lifelong fitness person and new mom turned a personal discovery into a studio, why she left a corporate job to get certified, and what she wants every client to feel when they look in the mirror. Here are the moments we keep coming back to, with a link to the full interview at the end.
Mariana had always been active, but her body changed in ways she did not expect after her son was born. Body sculpting is how she got her confidence back, and the idea of building a business around it would not leave her alone. After five years in a nine-to-six corporate job, she took the leap in early 2024 and trained as a body sculpting specialist. Mamacitabod opened its doors that October.
I am the first generation in a Hispanic family who has taken the leap of faith in opening my own business. I encourage you, if you are constantly thinking of it, to just do it.
The plan was the easy part. Finding a studio space and building a clientele from nothing were not, and she credits social media, family and friends for spreading the word until the calendar filled up.
Asked what she does and what makes it different, Mariana described the non-invasive treatments that still make up the menu today: inch loss, cellulite, the post-baby pouch, lymphatic massage, ice sculpting and non-surgical chin work. The part she came back to, though, was the moment right after a first session.
When my clients look in the mirror after their first session, they are amazed by the results, and when they book their packages I know they have built trust and love my work. I am proud that my prices are affordable, because every session I take my time.
The interview closes with Mariana on her childhood: theatre, sports, a joyful person who finds a way through every difficult moment and lets go of whatever does not fit her life. Being a single mom, she says, gave her the strength and the love for the future that keep the studio going. In her words, this is just the beginning.
The complete conversation, with photographs from the studio, is on VoyageLA: Exploring Life and Business with Mariana Cabrera of Mamacitabod By Yera. If her story sounds like yours, book a complimentary consultation and come say hello.
