A lot has happened in my life—some fun, some heartbreaking, and some transformative. But through it all, one unexpected character has remained: Vlania, the cartoon version of me who now stands front and center in everything I do at Vlania’s Tres Leches and Pastelería.
It Started with World of Warcraft
I’ve been playing World of Warcraft on and off since 2005, back in my undergrad days. In 2013, I created a Blood Death Knight Night Elf—a tank class—and named her Vlania.
Why a tank? Because it’s the hardest role to play. You take the hits, protect your team, and lead the charge. It’s rare for women players to choose this role in the game, but I did—and I felt empowered doing it.
The name Vlania is a blend of my name, Tania, and Vladimir, inspired by a sweet guildmate from Mexico I met back in 2012, whose friends lovingly called him “Vlado.” I loved the name so much that I once hoped to give it to a future son. That didn’t come to be, but the name stayed with me—in a new form.
Escaping into Vlania During the Pandemic
In 2020, when the world shut down, I turned to World of Warcraft again for comfort. I joined a small Latin American server and a guild called Warsong, where I became known simply as Vlania. I even started a Twitch channel, streaming under my character’s name and persona. I felt confident, connected, and creatively alive.
So much so that I invested in custom emotes and branding for my channel—Twitch-style cartoon versions of my character, ready to build a community.
Then Life Took a Turn
Soon after that investment, I was diagnosed with chronic migraine with aura. Not long after, I became pregnant—after 7 years of trying—and then, devastatingly, lost the baby.
I lost my spark. My love for gaming, for streaming, faded in the grief. I stopped playing, and those emotes just sat there—unused and forgotten.
The Spark Reignites in the Kitchen
Somewhere in that quiet aftermath, I learned how to bake a Tres Leches cake. Then I flavored it. And flavored it again. Something about baking brought comfort back. It felt like storytelling—layered, intentional, filled with emotion.
And then the world moved on. I became a mom to my beautiful son, and with that, a new identity emerged: not just mother, but entrepreneur.
Vlania Is Reborn
I remembered those emotes. That cartoon version of me I had created for Twitch... I knew she still had a purpose. She represented strength, resilience, fun, and community. Everything I wanted my business to be.
So I brought her back—this time as the face of Vlania’s Tres Leches and Pastelería.
And she’s not just a logo.
She’s a tribute to everything I’ve gone through.
She’s the tank. The streamer. The baker. The dreamer.
She’s me.
A Sweet Symbol of Connection
Now, the Pastelito Community celebrates her. She’s playful and powerful, much like the desserts we serve. She reminds me that no part of our journey is ever wasted. Even emotes on a hard drive can become something beautifulwhen we decide to create from the heart.
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