We had the good fortune of connecting with Lizeth Morales Tena and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lizeth, what role has risk played in your life or career?
I think about risk as the seal to all of success. My late mother used to say to me daily, “the one who doesn’t risk, doesn’t win” and I’ve lived by that my whole life because she was right. Taking a risk means trusting in yourself, knowing that getting out of your comfort zone will only make you better. Not being afraid of losing and understanding that it takes risking practically everything to get to where you want to be. To achieve the level of success that one desires. my life has taught me so many things but most importantly that whatever you’re risking doesn’t matter as much as what you are risking it for. If it weren’t for those risks I took I would not be where I am now.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Of course! Thank you so much. Well, ever since I was little I’ve always dreamt of being on stage in front of a lot of lights and an audience. I remember living in an apartment complex and modeling all around the building at 6 years old so my audience could see me. I’ve always been so fascinated by the cameras and being on stage that when I turned 18, instead of going to college I put myself in a modeling and acting school at the time called Barbizon. I studied so many semesters in various different modeling and acting schools but never really had the opportunity to do it professionally. When I met Ruben Soto in 2019, I was working as an account manager at the largest facilities company here in Colorado. I remember vividly being so busy and consumed with work that year that when Ruben offered me to be Mexicana Universal Colorado I rejected his offer. This is the pageant that allows you to compete for the Miss Universe Mexico crown. Skip to one year later and it’s 2020, the pandemic hit and the entire world changed. I receive another message from Ruben but this time asking if I would like to be Miss Grand Colorado. Since I was an Account Manger trained in SARS and COVID-19 sanitation I became an essential worker at that time and although I never stopped working, it did slow down a bit and so I thought “It’s now or never!” I sat down with my sister Senyacy and asked her what she thought about the whole situation and I remember very clearly that she said to me, “go for it Liz, what do you have to lose?” so I went for it and said yes to Ruben. That is when my career as a model/actress changed forever. Thanks to him and me accepting that huge challenge the doors to my dream coming true started to open and quickly. Thanks to the the training in catwalk, runway and stage presence my coaches Jovani Soto and Moises Vazquez were giving me at Soto Academy I was able to do various fashion shows that year like latin fashion week and I also got to work with amazing designers like Yanique Designs all while preparing for the job of my life! I flew out to Chicago in June of 2020 – with a luggage full of hopes and dreams- to compete for the Miss Grand USA crown and although I did not bring it home, I can say that it was the most beautiful experience. I was able to represent the state that watched me grow, the state I call home and my Latino community all at the same time on a national stage. Before my reign was over I started working at Univision Colorado in the Radio Production department but decided to be a full time model and actress in April of 2023 and ever since I have been working diligently towards my dream which is to work for Tom Ford some day or possibly host a Latin Grammy or something of the sort.  

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Colorado in my opinion would be the best place to vacation for a week long! There is always something to do on all seasons of the year. If my bestie was visiting id take her everywhere! We would go hiking (if it was warm). Manitu incline in Colorado Springs is one of my favorite hikes. It really challenges you to keep pushing. We would also go on a horseback ride in Maroon bells where they take you to breakfast and then explore the mountains. My friends would love taking a mini horseback ride tour of our beautiful mountains. I would most definitely take her to all of my favorite lunch spots like Le bilboquet Denver, 54thirty or my neighbor Felix. I am also really big on museums so we’d definitely have on our list to visit meow wolf, the art museum and one of my favorites the nature and science museum. I’d definitely have a pair of concert tickets ready for Red Rocks since the amphitheater is iconic and wouldn’t want her to miss that by any means haha! We would spend a day in aspen skiing or snowboarding (if it happened to be winter). I am a huge foodie so we would hit all of my favorite dinner spots like Avelina, Uchi or Matsuhisa. And if she’s still up for it and has the energy on the weekend we would go to market street for some dancing and parting vibes.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would love to dedicate this shoutout to my mother Maria de Los Angeles Tena Rodriguez and my sister Senyacy Morales for they are the reason I am where I am today. My mother taught me everything I needed to know about making my dreams a reality and although she’s no longer with us I put everything she taught me to practice. She always told me that to make your dreams come true one must be patient, have courage and be kind while doing it. My mother was a Mexican immigrant living here in the United States and regardless of the circumstances she showed us day in and day out that anything is possible so long as you never stop fighting for it. “The mind is your strongest asset” she would say. “Learn to control it and use it to your advantage to make things happen.” And ever since I have religiously lived by those words. My mother was everything to me, my mentor, my best friend, my guide in life but most importantly she was the best mother a girl could ask for. And my sister Senyacy because she is the one pushing me to risk everything (with no fear) to make my dreams a reality. The one telling me every single day to not give up until it happens. She is the one who gives me the strength when I don’t have it and the one to set my feet on the ground when things start getting too crazy. Haha My sister was, is and always will be my saving Grace. Both of these women (the strongest in my opinion) are who I want to give this shoutout to because they are the ones deserving of every single one of my accomplishments and who I do it all for.

Instagram: https://instagram.com/lizethx.mt?igshid=MmVlMjlkMTBhMg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lizeth-morales-tena-69186b226?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app

Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/LizzieMoralesTena?wtsid=rdr_0Uf0VQ9c74lj3TANV&mibextid=9R9pXO

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@LizethMoralesTena?si=dgRtsc5xpIlvSWfL

Image Credits
1. Edgar Ovalle – Edgar Ovalle Photography 2. Dustin Moon – Dustin Moon Visuals 3. Jovani Soto – Soto Academy 4. Dawn R. Petit – Storylight Photography 7. Jovani Soto – Soto Academy 10. Tony Gallagher – Tony Gallagher photography

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