We had the good fortune of connecting with Brigette Lizarraras, BSG, MBA and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Brigette, let’s talk legacy – what do you want yours to be?
I want my legacy to be one built on authenticity, heart-led hustle, and a deep commitment to healing—not just for myself, but for the women and families around me. I hope I’m remembered as someone who made space for others to feel seen, especially the caregivers, the mujeres who carry the emotional, physical, and spiritual weight of their households and communities without ever asking for applause. I see them because I’ve been them.

I want people to look back and say, “She helped me feel beautiful—inside and out.” Whether it was through a thrifted outfit that made someone stand a little taller, a resource that made their caregiving journey easier, or just a soul-deep conversation that reminded them they weren’t alone—I want my impact to be felt in ways both big and small. I created OgAmigaFashion x Café Con Corazón, LLC exclusively at the Goddess Mercado Boutique in El Sereno not just as a secondhand clothing brand, but as a safe, soulful space where cultura, compassion, and community could thrive.

Every outfit I styled, every piece of advice I gave, every prayer I whispered—to God, the Universe, my spirit guides, and my ancestors—was done with purpose. None of this has ever been random. I truly believe this is the work I was sent here to do.

And if one day, my kids—and their kids—carry this same sense of heart, hustle, and purpose into their own lives, then I’ll know I did something right. That’s the kind of legacy I’m working toward. One rooted in love, lifted by community, and led by something greater than myself.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My career has been anything but traditional—and honestly, that’s what makes it so meaningful. For over 20 years, I’ve worked in health and human services, primarily supporting the elderly and their caregivers. I entered the field as a young social worker in honor of my Nana and Tata, hoping to make a difference while making them proud. Over time, I became a supervisor, a mentor, and an advocate for those whose voices often go unheard. But caregiving didn’t stop when I clocked out. I was also my Mama’s primary caregiver until she passed from breast cancer—and that experience changed the course of my life.

Grief cracked me wide open, but it also brought me back to myself. I remembered the version of me that loved fashion—especially secondhand pieces with history and heart. So I took a leap of faith and created OgAmigaFashion x Café Con Corazón, LLC, exclusively at The Goddess Mercado Boutique in El Sereno. But, it’s more than a boutique—it’s a healing space where I blend my love for vintage fashion with my mission to uplift caregivers and build community. Here, people don’t just shop—they connect, get resources, sip cafecito, and remember that kindness and culture still matter.

What sets me apart is how I mix soul work with style work. I don’t just dress people—I empower them. I don’t just share flyers—I share lived experience. Everything I do is rooted in authenticity, cultura, and corazón. And no—it hasn’t been easy. I’ve juggled full-time work, caregiving, motherhood, and even completed my MBA while caring for my Mama. There were plenty of moments I wanted to quit, but I kept going because I knew the women watching me—my Nana in heaven, my sister, my clients, and now my daughter—needed to see what resilience really looks like.

The biggest lesson I’ve learned? You don’t have to shrink yourself to fit into one box. You can be stylish and spiritual, ambitious and heart-led, professional and poderosa. OgAmigaFashion x Café Con Corazón, LLC was built to honor my ancestors, empower mujeres, and prove that healing, heritage, and self-expression can all exist under one roof.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
East Los Angeles is as rich, vibrant, and full of soul as my curated collection of secondhand finds. If I ever had the chance to play tour guide for someone visiting the city where I was born and raised, we’d start where my story begins—mi barrio, City Terrace.

That’s where my roots run deepest. I’d take them to City Terrace Park, where I first learned to play soccer and where we’d run around for hours without a care in the world. I’d show them the hills my childhood friends lived in, the murals that still tell the stories of our people, and Norman Place, where we’d play kickball in the middle of the street until the streetlights came on. We’d wait for the fruit man like he was Santa Claus, and we even made up a dance for the ice cream truck melody. City Terrace gifted me some of the most beautiful, carefree memories of my life.

Next, we’d cruise over to El Sereno to visit the Goddess Mercado Boutique, home of OgAmigaFashion x Café Con Corazón, LLC. I’d welcome them with a cafecito—on the house, of course—and give them a personal tour of the space. I’d share stories behind some of my favorite thrifted finds and highlight the talented vendors who fill the boutique with culture, creativity, and corazón. Most importantly, I’d share the mission behind my brand: to uplift caregivers and our community through style, soul, and second chances—all in honor of my Nana and Tata, who taught me what real love and hard work look like.

By lunchtime, we’d head to the legendary El Tepeyac Café for Manuel’s Burrito—a true L.A. rite of passage that’s been featured on the Travel Channel. After filling our bellies, we’d walk it off at El Mercado de Los Angeles, wandering through vibrant aisles of artesanías, embroidered blouses, and the sweet smell of pan dulce in the air.

On Sunday, we’d cruise down Whittier Boulevard—a historic stretch that embodies lowrider culture and Chicano pride—before making our way to Mariachi Plaza in Boyle Heights. We’d soak up the live mariachi music, check out local street vendors, and maybe even dance like nobody’s watching. (Because that’s how we do.)

Somewhere in the mix, I’d squeeze in a soul-feeding visit to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) and a stroll through Olvera Street, the historic birthplace of L.A. where the heartbeat of our ancestors still lingers in every step.

And to close out this corazón-filled weekend, we’d cruise over the iconic 4th Street Bridge, sit for a minute in stillness, and watch the sun set over the City of Angels. Then, in honor of my Mama, we’d raise a glass of wine at San Antonio Winery—one of the oldest and last-standing wineries in L.A.—and toast to legacy, culture, and everything that makes this city so damn special.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
If you know me, then you know I am who I am because of the resilient women who raised me—my Nana Maria and my Mama Julie (aka Big J). They were strong, selfless, and full of so much love—and now they’ve got front-row seats in heaven, watching me figure it all out. Their sacrifices laid the foundation for everything I do, and not a day goes by that I don’t carry them with me.

After losing them both, I had to do some deep healing to feel whole again. That path led me to the Goddess Mercado Boutique in El Sereno, where I found something I didn’t even know I was searching for—a tribe of real-life Goddesses. These mujeres are more than vendors; they’re jefas, mamas, wives, creatives, counselors, and business owners. They’re out here making magic while juggling everyday life, as if the chaos wasn’t already enough!

I had never been in a space like that—where women lift each other up simply by showing up as themselves. Their energy, their hustle, their unapologetic creativity reminded me: it’s never too late to start again. Without even realizing it, they became my mentors, my motivators, and the gentle push I needed after years of grief to finally spread my wings.

Like they say, “birds of a feather flock together,” and I thank the Universe every day for letting me soar with this group. Past and present, each of them has made me feel like I’ve got a dozen sisters rooting for me—and I don’t take that kind of sisterhood lightly.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ogamigafashion/

Linkedin: https://linktr.ee/OgAmigaFashion

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ogamigafashion/

Image Credits
Image 1 & 2: Yaqueline Hernandez of La Vida Photographica

Image 3: Mermaidii

Image 4: Arlene Saldana Galindo of Glamlindo Artesenia

Image 5: Brigette Lizarraras

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.