Meet Suzette Rodriguez

Today we’d like to introduce you to Suzette Rodriguez.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Suzette. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I am a second generation Latina raised by a single Mexican mother in the southside of Tucson. My mother came to the United States with my father, who unfortunately after a couple of years, fell into the pressures of drugs and bad behavior. I was raised by a woman who fell into depression after separating from her partner. My mother dropped out of school in the 7th grade and spoke no English. My father went back and forth from being incarcerated. At a very young age, I experienced all this and saw things a young girl should probably never witness. I was a very quiet girl, but was always aware of our situation. It seemed as if my mother could never catch a break, but as a fighter, never gave up. We survived with her minimum wage and we were inseparable.  It was us against the world. I fought my way through school, working five jobs at once to pay for college. I worked at In-N-Out Burger, Journeys Shoes, The Cellar Bistro, The Drop Dance Studio and iHeartMedia. My motivation was my mother, who I wanted to support and give the world to. It was my turn to work hard and give back.

After graduating from the University of Arizona, I became a full time radio host for iHeartMedia. Within four months of graduating, I was asked to relocate for a bigger opportunity. I went from a small town radio host to a top market radio station in Phoenix. A year later, I was asked to join a syndicated morning show known as Johnjay and Rich. At the age of 25, I’ve accomplished so much and I owe it all to my mother and my older sister who has also been a great supporter. I thank God everyday that I am able to help my mother, emotionally and financially. Even with all the success and enough money for security, I found myself unhappy. Not all of our problems had gone away completely. We both had trauma. It was then I decided to go to therapy. I had many problems to confront and many wounds to heal. I was able to discover who I truly am and how to be mentally stable. I started to notice my mother’s unhappiness and anger. Things were not easy when I advised her to seek help. In time, therapy became a weekly routine for the both of us. I then decided to start my own company, Be Raw Clothing.

Be Raw is a movement inspiring future generations to be themselves, to be the real you, to Be RAW. Part of the proceeds will go to mental health foundations. These organizations provide information, carry outreach and campaigns. I want everyone to understand how important your mental health is and how important it is to be yourself. With social media, the youth try to mimic others and are not happy with themselves. It’s easy to fall into those footsteps, but I’m here to push and lead the Be Raw movement.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Looking back, it was not a smooth ride but it didn’t feel like it. I lived in my own world, thinking the world around me was the same. At that age, I was also able to spend time with my family in Mexico during the summers. I saw the way of living there, which helped me realize that I should consider myself lucky and fortunate. Looking back now, we hit many obstacles and challenges. It’s sometimes crazy to think we got through them.

Please tell us about your business.
Being on the radio has allowed me to have a platform. With this platform, I want to promote well-being and positivity. I have been fortunate enough to launch my clothing line BE RAW CLOTHING. Allowing some of the proceeds to benefit a mental health foundation. Teaching the youth about being authentic and real. I hope this movement grows to be something helpful for everyone. I also have a podcast titled RAW TALKS WITH SUZETTE, which is a platform allowing people to tell their stories and struggles. From celebrities, public figures to common people, we all have a story to tell.

If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
I don’t believe I would change anything if I could start over. Every mistake and every situation I’ve been in has molded me to be who I am today. Of course, there are moments I am not proud of, but those have taught me the biggest lessons today.

Contact Info:

• Website: Berawclothing.com
• Email: Suzetterod@gmail.com
• Instagram: @Radiosuzette @Berawclothing
• Facebook: Facebook.com/radiosuzette
• Twitter: Twitter.com/RadioSuzette

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