We had the good fortune of connecting with Raquel Vasquez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Raquel, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Working for a corporate company or even for a sole proprietor most definitely has its perks like a steady paycheck, insurance, some sick days. However, you will always be doing more for somebody else’s business and somebody else will gain all of the profits. What is important to remember is that nobody starts their own business and has it easy. All business owners have a second job, a side gig, or two!

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
My bread and butter company is Bail Bonds. I established Raquel Queen of Bail Bonds in 2006. But I never dreamed of being a bail bondsman. I grew up a dancer and have a photography background. I needed to be much more creative and to make more money.

Making more money means gaining more education. I got right back into school and got my property and casualty license through the department of insurance. That’s when I started my second business Raquel Vasquez Entertainment Insurance. Keeping with my passion, I have pursued insuring sports events and feature films and shorts.

Being much more creative meant diving deeper into my passions. Based on the strength of my blog in 2018 I began writing for publications Boxing Exposure, and LA Canvas Magazine covering boxing and pop culture. Now, I have a monthly column in LegsVille.com and contribute to publications in New York, London, and Boston. I believe in doing what you love every day.

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?
Los Angeles is full of juicy history. Starting with the Hollywood sign, a short drive from there to the legendary Musso & Frank is always a family favorite. Heading west, the Château Marmont is a must.
A drive down the Sunset strip ending at Nobu in Malibu would be the perfect day!
If you’re staying a while Los Angeles has museums that provide an entire day of entertainment, food, music and activities for all ages!

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 must give a shout out to the Boxing and Boxing Writers community. There have been so many people that have supported me, helped me network, and have received me with open arms. The WBC of Los Angeles, Doug Fischer from Ring Magazine, Tom Loeffler from 360 Promotions, Boxing Exposure, NYFights, and Hannibal Boxing to name a few. They may not be aware of a word of encouragement they may have given me that really hit home. Maybe they responded to an email that meant the world to me. These gestures by the people I admire helped to keep me going strong.

Instagram: Raquel Queen of Bail and Raquel Vasquez Ins

Twitter: Bond Girl Raquel

Other: A brand new website launching this summer 2023!

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.