Julia Buarque and Lupita
We are two girls from different corners of the world—one Brazilian, the other Mexican. Though we come from different cultures, we’ve found endless ways to connect. Through our friendship, we’ve bonded over shared experiences, celebrated our differences, and discovered beautiful similarities.
Julia lives and breathes Brazilian culture. As a child, she learned to play the pandeiro, a percussion instrument used to create the rich rhythms of samba. Surrounded by music, she not only listened to samba but danced it too—learning moves from her mother that still live in her body today. When it comes to food, Julia prepares mouthwatering Brazilian dishes like feijoada. She also practiced capoeira at a Brazilian cultural school and continues to train to this day.
Lupita’s Mexican roots run just as deep. As a child, she sang ranchera songs with her father, an iconic genre of Mexican music full of soul and storytelling. Music surrounded her growing up, and she took accordion lessons from her dad. Evenings are often spent in the kitchen with her mom, cooking traditional dishes while Mexican music plays in the background. She has danced since she was little, and it’s always been one of her favorite ways to connect with her heritage.
We chose this project because we wanted to dig deeper into our roots, to keep our ancestors alive in our hearts. For both of us, learning about the women in our family has been a powerful reminder of who we are and where we come from. We created a family tree filled with photos of inspiring women who taught us about strength, tradition, and womanhood.
For Lupita, her mom is a lifelong inspiration. She taught her to cook, to dance, and to embrace tradition. Her Aunt Cary has deepened her connection to Catholicism—a religion practiced by nearly 78% of Mexicans, and encouraged her to stay close to family. Her Aunt Lupe, an orthodontist, has motivated Lupita to pursue the same career path. She’s proof that women in the family can be successful and bold. Both of Lupita’s grandmothers have always pushed her to practice Spanish and keep the cultural flame alive through her hobbies and passions.
Julia also carries the influence of strong women in her family. Her cousin Monik became an anesthesiologist in Brazil, inspiring Julia to pursue medicine. She hopes to be one of the first doctors on her mom’s side of the family. Her mother, Nelma, ensured that their Brazilian culture stayed strong even after moving to the U.S.. Together, they continue celebrating Festa Junina every year. Julia’s aunt Noadia (her mom’s twin!) has been her samba dance teacher and Carnaval role model. Her eldest aunt Neide, known as the best cook in the family, taught Julia how to make all the traditional Brazilian dishes she loves today. Neide also promotes healthy living through cultural food events. And Julia’s great-grandma Zezinha—an artist, writer, and musician—brought the family together through art. She played the choro on accordion, painted, wrote books, and inspired Julia’s love for Brazilian culture and music.
Working on this project reminded us just how valuable it is to share stories about our families. It showed us how our roots, though different, can bring us closer together. Our cultures don’t divide us. They enrich our friendship, give it rhythm, and make it strong.
