BIENVENIDO

¡Saludos! Happy Friday, and welcome to the 53rd edition of Comprende.

The 3 Core Stories:

• This week, we feature Nicol and Cory Varona, two Dominican sisters on a mission to simplify curl care and celebrate natural beauty through their brand, OCOA.

• Then, we highlight Nopalera’s exciting collaboration with Disney for their new film Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Road Trip with a limited-edition release.

• Finally, we follow the launch of the Secure America’s Workforce campaign, where Latino leaders and hundreds of business voices are uniting in Washington, D.C. to advocate for immigration reform and economic growth.

So, grab your cafecito or cervecita (depending on where you are), settle in, and if you enjoy it, please forward the newsletter to friends or share it on social media! ☕️ 🍺

The Sisters Behind OCOA Redefining Hair Care and Reclaiming Cultura One Curl at a Time

For sisters Nicol and Cory Varona, hair care was a journey of self-discovery–rooted in culture, love, and sisterhood. Today, their brand OCOA is making big waves (and curls) in the beauty world, offering high-quality, Dominican-inspired products designed to celebrate natural texture with ease and elegance.

Growing up in the Dominican Republic, Nicol and Cory were surrounded by a culture that celebrated beauty in many forms. (Though natural curls often didn’t make the cut.) Like many Afro-Latinas, and those of us Latinos and Latinas with textured hair, they grew up hearing the phrase pelo malo; a term that quietly shapes how we see our reflection.

When their family moved to the U.S. in 2003, they carried with them not only dreams for the future but also the flat irons and routines they had grown accustomed to. Throughout high school and college, straightening their curls became second nature. A way to fit in.

After realizing they were chasing a standard that didn’t reflect their roots, something shifted. Nicol decided to start wearing her curls more naturally, and soon inspired her sister Cory to do the same–embarking on a transformative hair care journey together.

As busy moms juggling careers and motherhood, they knew they weren’t alone in wanting a simple process and products that worked with their hair, not against it. The solution? Create it themselves. After countless experiments, a diploma in natural formulation, and more than a few setbacks (including a fire and a pandemic), the sisters launched in 2021 under the name DN Organics.

The response was promising, but something was missing: the brand didn’t yet feel like them. So they hit pause, took a deep breath, and spent 15 months reimagining everything.

That rebirth led to OCOA, which officially relaunched on March 1st, 2023. Named after their mother’s hometown in the Dominican Republic, and drawn from the Taino word meaning “a place between mountains,” OCOA is a tribute to their roots.

Every design detail reflects the island: the sand-toned bottle, the sun-colored accents, the blues of water and sky, and the green caps symbolizing lush trees. Even the logo, a beautiful rendering of two figures joined by flowing hair, honors the bond between hermanas and the “sisterhood of curly hair”.

They take a skincare routine approach to hair, and each product from their lush curl cream to soothing shampoos, is crafted with clean, high-performance ingredients like hibiscus, mango butter, and marula oil.

Since the relaunch, OCOA has been on the rise. With a fast-growing social media presence and a thriving e-commerce store, the brand made its retail debut in 2024 at Urban Outfitters, selected for Ulta’s prestigious MUSE Accelerator program, and had a feature on The Today Show!

More than a brand, OCOA is a movement grounded in confidence, culture, and care. Through their story and company, Nicol and Cory remind us that embracing your natural self isn’t just powerful, it’s freeing. And every curl deserves that kind of love.

Nopalera Goes Hollywood with Disney Collab

Talk about a dream collab! Nopalera, the bold and beautiful Latina-owned luxury body care brand by Sandra Velasquez, has joined forces with Disney for an exciting cultural moment! The partnership celebrates the release of Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Road Trip, a new family film filled with laughs, love, and latinidad.

Set to stream today, Friday, March 28 on Disney+, the film follows a Mexican-American family as they hit the road on a wild RV trip to Mexico City. Along the way, chaos unfolds, but so does a heartwarming celebration of family, identity, and culture. It’s the kind of storytelling that mirrors Nopalera’s own mission–uplifting Latino heritage through products rooted in tradition, beauty, and pride.

To mark the occasion, Nopalera launched a limited-edition “Road Trip Essentials Kit,” featuring their best-selling body care and fragrance items, along with an exclusive version of their fan-favorite Dulce de Cuerpo Cactus Body Polish. The kit quickly sold out online, proving once again the power of community and cultura.

It’s a beautiful moment for Latina entrepreneurship and representation and proof that when our stories are centered, everyone wins. This weekend, make sure to stream the film on Disney+ and while the Kit might be sold out, treat yourself to a Nopalera product or two.

The Workforce We Need: Latinos Leading the Call for Reform

This week, a major movement took center stage in Washington, D.C.: the launch of the Secure America’s Workforce campaign. Backed by the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC), Comité de 100, the American Business Immigration Coalition (ABIC), and the Latino Donor Collaborative (LDC), this non-partisan effort is rallying over 300 business leaders to push for smart, balanced immigration solutions that address critical labor shortages and strengthen the U.S. economy.

With over 100 Capitol Hill and Cabinet meetings scheduled throughout the week, this isn’t just talk—it’s coordinated action. Leaders from industries like agriculture, healthcare, construction, and hospitality are making the case directly to lawmakers: America’s workforce depends on immigrants, and it’s time policy reflects that reality.

For Latinos, this effort is especially significant. The latest LDC data shows Latinos contributed $3.6 trillion to the U.S. GDP, making us one of the largest economic engines in the world.

The campaign promotes three key pillars: a secure and orderly border, lawful pathways for needed workers, and permanent protections for Dreamers and essential workers. It’s a powerful reminder that supporting immigrants is critical to America’s continued growth and prosperity.

How to Make: Mexican Spicy Mezcal Margarita 

Es viernes, mi gente–time to add some fuego to your Friday. This Spicy Mezcal Margarita is bold, smoky, and just the right amount of kick to start the weekend right.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz mezcal (choose one with a smooth, smoky flavor)

• 1 oz fresh lime juice (about 1 lime)

• ¾ oz orange liqueur (like Cointreau or Triple Sec)

• ½ oz agave syrup (adjust to taste)

• 2–3 slices fresh jalapeño (plus more for garnish)

• Tajín or chili salt, for rimming the glass

• Ice

• Lime wedge, for garnish

Instructions:

1. Rim the glass: Rub a lime wedge around the edge of your glass and dip it into Tajín or chili salt. Set aside.

2. Muddle the heat: In a shaker, muddle the jalapeño slices with lime juice to release the spice.

3. Shake it up: Add mezcal, orange liqueur, agave syrup, and ice. Shake vigorously for about 15 seconds.

4. Serve: Strain into your prepared glass over fresh ice.

5. Garnish: Add a jalapeño slice or lime wheel on top.

In our last edition, we asked: Where did chocolate and the word itself come from?

The right answer was Mexico

Mexico introduced chocolate to the world. The word “chocolate” comes from the Nahuatl word xocolatl, used by the ancient Aztecs. The Mayans also played a key role, cultivating cacao and using it in ceremonial drinks. Originally, chocolate was consumed as a bitter beverage, often mixed with spices. Its rich history begins in Mesoamerica and continues to sweeten the world today.

Question: What ‘famous’ freshwater creature is found in Lake Nicaragua?

Reply with your guess! Answers will be revealed in the next newsletter!

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