By: Catalina Perez de Armiñan
“I’ve never been interviewed before,” said Isabella Santos. Ironic, for someone who interviews other people for a living. With a welcoming smile, kind eyes, and perfect lighting, Santos looked extremely professional. But don’t let the word professional mislead you into thinking she had a cold personality. It was the complete opposite. Her kindness radiated through the Zoom screen.
Santos was born in Lima, Perú. She moved to the United States with her family at the age of eight. It was at that age that she already dreamed of becoming a TV host.
“One day my principal called me up and asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. She looked me dead in the face and said, but you can’t be a TV Host, you have a funny voice,” said Santos. That moment deeply marked the next years of Santos’ life.
She went on to study architecture at the University of Miami. She was good at it and enjoyed it. However, she knew she didn’t really love it. She decided to change her major to Public Relations in hope of finding more meaning in that academic path. One day, one of her professors announced there would be a speaker from Telemundo Enterprises- Telemundo Deportes at their next class. Santos knew this was her chance at getting an opportunity to work at Telemundo. She printed her resume and headed to class.
At the end of the presentation, Santos was one of the many students that approached the speaker. Everyone seemed to be asking him for the same thing: a chance to experience the journalism industry from within one of the biggest Latinx media companies. However, no one had printed their resume. Nobody but Santos, that is.
So, she got the job.
Santos went on to work with Telemundo Deportes on content about the FIFA World Cup for three months. This experience reignited her interest in journalism.
When she shared this with a friend, her friend immediately signed her up for an opportunity to be on camera at her school’s media channel, UniMiami. She was hesitant at first but decided to give it a chance.
“When I sat there, the nerves, the adrenaline, I never felt like that before like ever, so I knew this is it,” said Santos.
Today, she works as a TV Host and Producer for ¡Hola! TV and as a Host for Bitcoin Magazine. She does the production, the camera work, and the recording and editing for about 90% of her videos.
She has done countless interviews, both with tech and entertainment celebrities, as well as with strangers on the street.
“I would have to say that I like to interview random people, because random people are so authentic, they are the craziest, most spontaneous people, and you just thrive off their energy,” said Santos.
This highly speaks to Santos’ humble and approachable personality.
While many in the entertainment world may find the outfits, the glamour, and the fame the most flattering and enjoyable part of the job, Santos sees things differently. She says that many people in the journalism and entertainment industry experience extremely high levels of stress during their everyday life. The part about her job that Santos enjoys the most is meeting new, interesting people she can share her personality and positivity with.
In terms of future goals and career plans, Santos hopes that her work will earn her an Emmy Award one day. She also dreams of becoming someone like Jacqueline Bracamontes, a Telemundo TV personality she greatly admires. Another dream in the list of her next career accomplishments, is to one day host Univision’s Premios Lo Nuestro.
Regarding her work at Bitcoin magazine, she hopes to become the Spanish host and have her own show in Spanish. She believes there is still a lot of big things to come in the tech industry, and that this is the best time to get started.
While these goals are big, they’re not big enough to stop Santos from getting there. As someone who believes deeply in manifestation, she says that when you ask for something, the universe delivers. All you must do is visualize your goals daily, and work hard to get there.
Santos’ phone’s backscreen is a vision board of everything she hopes to achieve in the years to come. She also writes these goals in her bathroom mirror, with the purpose of visualizing them daily and speaking them into existence.
Santos wants other people thinking about entering the business to know that there is indeed space for everyone. She says many people get discouraged by the competitiveness of the industry, but there are more than enough opportunities for those whose dreams also involve interviews, cameras, and teleprompters. She also hopes people know the importance of connections and highlights that she wishes she would have believed when others told her that connections were a big part of finding opportunities.
Although she didn’t brag about her qualities, those around her didn’t hold back in doing so. Her cousin, Rafaella Santos, who sees her as an older sister, says her determination and empathy are two qualities that greatly distinguish her in her personal and professional life.
“She is very focused, whenever she sets a goal, she will not stop until she has accomplished it. She is a hard-working person, no days off,” Rafaella said.
Santos’ longtime friend Makayla Connor, says Santos never misses an opportunity to meet someone knew, get a new story, or help someone out. She adds that her positivity is one of the biggest qualities that has helped her get to where she is today.
Looking back at when they met in middle school, Connor says Santos always has been a loud, colorful, and energetic human being.
“As a young kid I wasn’t as carefree as Isabella, so being around her taught me to have fun,” said Connor. She added that Santos has always encouraged her to stop overthinking.
It was actually because of this, that Connor met her now fiancée.
She says Santos encouraged her to speak to him at a party, and now they’re soon to be married.
With a smile that is almost audible through the phone, Connor expresses that she can’t wait to see what else life has in store for her friend.
“She will get there. She’ll get to wherever she wants to go,” said Connor.
Santos instantly provides a sense of happiness to anyone that encounters her Instagram profile (@isabellasantostv). Through her incredibly sense of style, the bright colors of her outfits, her interactive videos, and some funny moments with her interviewees, she shares a little bit of what her day to day looks like.
She succeeds at bringing a fresh and positive energy into her work, and makes guests feel comfortable and enjoy their time in front of the camera. She remains true to herself and her goals by working hard and approaching every day with a positive and can-do attitude. Above all, she mentioned that it’s important to enjoy the process, and that she often reflects on the small moments that bring her joy throughout her day.
She is the example of someone, who despite being told that they could not reach their goals, not only reached them, but surpassed them. She recognized her passion and went for it, and she wants others to feel confident enough to do the same.
“This person told me I wasn’t gonna be on TV, now I’m on international TV. Everyone expects you to be the same but no, there’s room for everyone,” Santos said.
Love that interview was totally amazing
Describe exactly how Isabella really is .
Happy for her she is great in what she loves to do being on the TV and the best of all this is she loves what she is doing 🤩
My beautiful niece you always inspire us , you are are a person who has set a goal & I know you will reach it, you are determined,charismatic, and you radiate Joy, We Will be there to see you achieve your goals! Emmy awards!!! ISABELLA IS comino for u!!!
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