Enter 48: Estefania Lacayo
Danucera Diaries
Q: Tell us about yourself.
Estefania: I was born and raised in Nicaragua and later moved to Boston for college. During my summers, I interned at Vogue, which really opened the door to my career in fashion. After graduating, I moved to New York, where I spent many years working across editorial, fashion buying, consulting, and brand strategy.
In 2018, I co-founded LAFS with the mission of elevating Latin American fashion on a global stage and creating greater access and opportunity for Latin entrepreneurs. Since then, the platform has grown far beyond fashion, collaborating with leading financial institutions, beauty and skincare brands, luxury companies, and global businesses looking to authentically connect with a highly influential Latino community with significant spending power.
Q: You’ve spent so much of your career in the fashion industry championing young talent, and now specifically Latin American designers. What inspired you to create this platform, and what continues to fuel your passion?
Estefania: I started LAFS because I kept seeing incredible talent and great businesses coming out of Latin America—and from Latin founders around the world—but so many of them lacked access to the right people. They didn’t have access to the right mentors, buyers, consultants, investors , showrooms, or industry leaders who could help them make better decisions. As a result, many founders were investing their time and money in the wrong places and struggling to scale. I wanted to help bridge that gap and build a platform that could give entrepreneurs not only access, but also the tools, knowledge, and relationships they need to grow sustainable businesses.
What continues to fuel my passion is seeing the success stories. Through our annual pitch competition, thousands of entrepreneurs have applied over the years, and seeing where some of these founders started versus where they are today is incredibly rewarding. Every success story reminds me why we built LAFS in the first place and motivates me to keep creating more opportunities for the next generation of Latin entrepreneurs.
Q: You’ve built a career on discovering and fostering new talent. What makes you stop and take notice of a brand or creative, and what makes you want to become a true supporter?
Estefania: I’m constantly meeting entrepreneurs and discovering new brands, so for me, originality is always what makes me stop and pay attention. The market is incredibly saturated, and it’s very difficult today to create something that feels truly distinctive.
I look for a strong brand DNA—a product that feels recognizable and authentic, combined with great quality, a compelling story, and a real understanding of the business behind it. But just as important to me is the founder.
When I meet someone who has that combination of vision, resilience, curiosity, and the drive to keep going even when things get difficult, I immediately want to support them. You can have an amazing product, but building a successful company takes so much more. When I see that entrepreneurial spirit in someone, that’s often when I feel most excited to mentor them, open doors, and help however I can.
Q: You wear many hats: mother, wife, and entrepreneur. What does your life look like behind the scenes, and how do you balance all the different roles you play?
Estefania: I’ve stopped believing that there is such a thing as perfect balance. When you wear so many different hats, it’s almost impossible to be equally present and equally great at everything, all at the same time.
There are moments when I’m a better mother, moments when I’m a better entrepreneur, a better leader, a better wife, or a better friend—and there are moments when I feel like I’m not doing any of them particularly well. I’ve learned to accept that instead of being so hard on myself.
I’m very fortunate that I work from home, which allows me to be physically present with my children, my husband, and even my pets a lot of the time. My children also understand that, beyond being their mom, I have dreams and ambitions of my own. We’ve always tried to have very open conversations about my work—why I sometimes have to travel, why certain periods are busier than others, and why my career is also an important part of who I am.
It’s definitely not always easy, but I think giving ourselves permission not to be perfect at every role, every day, makes all the difference.
Q: If you were pairing a Danucera product with a Latin American designer you admire, which product and designer would you choose, and what makes them a match?
Estefania: I would pair Danucera’s Cerabalm with Johanna Ortiz. There’s something about both brands that feels very connected to nature, femininity, craftsmanship, and a sense of effortless luxury. Johanna has built such a recognizable world around her brand. You immediately know when something is hers because there is such a strong point of view and brand DNA behind it. I feel similarly about Danucera. Cerabalm feels luxurious, sensorial, and elevated, but at the same time very grounded in ritual and care. Both brands make you want to slow down and enjoy the experience, and I think there’s something very beautiful about that.
Q: Imagine you’re giving a Danucera product its debut at LAFS. Which one gets the spotlight, and how would you bring it to life—from the look to the guest experience?
Estefania: I would probably put Iconic Eye in the spotlight because it’s one of the products I personally love and use the most. But for me, the experience would go far beyond just showcasing a product.
I would invite Danuta to LAFS to share her story—the purpose behind the brand, her philosophy around skincare, and the knowledge and science that go into creating the products. From there, I would create a very intimate masterclass for a group of Latina founders and leaders across fashion, beauty, wellness, and tech, where they could actually experience the Danucera ritual firsthand.
I love combining content with a physical experience. You hear the founder’s story and understand the “why,” but then you get to touch, try, and experience the product for yourself.
And of course, I would make sure every guest left with a little piece of Danucera in their bag so the relationship with the brand could continue at home.
Q: You’ve been a long-time supporter of Danucera. What initially drew you in, and what has kept you coming back?
Estefania: As I became more interested in wellness, I also became much more conscious about the products I was putting on my skin. Danucera initially caught my attention because of its clean, holistic approach, but also because I kept seeing the brand gaining recognition and credibility within the beauty space. Then I actually tried the products, and that’s ultimately what kept me coming back. The formulas feel luxurious and effective, but I also love the entire world they’ve created around them—from the philosophy to the ritual to the packaging. It feels elevated without being complicated, and that really resonates with me.
Q: What is it about Danucera that makes you want to share it with the women in your community? Is it the products, the philosophy, the rituals?
Estefania: I think it’s really the combination of all three. The brands I become loyal to are usually the ones doing many things well at the same time. With Danucera, there is obviously so much thought behind the formulas and the performance of the products, but there’s also a beautiful philosophy around wellness, ritual, and taking care of yourself. Even the packaging and overall experience feel incredibly considered. When I recommend something to my friends or my community, I want it to be something I genuinely use and believe in. Danucera is one of those brands where the product, the philosophy, and the experience all feel aligned—and that makes it very easy for me to share.
Q: Since discovering Danucera skincare, is there one product that has become a non-negotiable for you? What do you love about it?
Estefania: It’s very hard for me to choose just one, but Iconic Eye has probably become my non-negotiable. I actually keep it in my purse because it’s so easy to use whenever I feel like my eyes need a little refresh. It feels incredible and gives my eye area that brighter, more awake look almost immediately.
I also have to mention the D22 Tonic. I’ve tried so many exfoliating toners over the years, and I’m very particular about them. This is one of the few that I genuinely love and continue reaching for.
So if you force me to pick one, it’s Iconic Eye—but D22 is very close behind.
Q: Looking at the rest of 2026, what are you most excited about at LAFS? Is there anything you’re working on that you can’t wait to see come to life?
Estefania: What excites me most right now is continuing to evolve LAFS beyond one event and into a platform that creates meaningful connections throughout the year.
We’re doing more intimate experiences, conversations, workshops, and collaborations that bring founders together with the people who can truly impact their businesses. I’ve realized that sometimes the most powerful moments happen in a room of 20 or 30 people, where real relationships are formed, rather than only on a stage in front of hundreds.
So for the rest of 2026, I’m excited about creating more of those moments—bringing incredible people and brands together, opening doors for our community, and at the same time beginning to build what comes next for LAFS in 2027.
