How My Accent Shaped My Voice: A Reflection

For years, I was told to tone it down. Speak “neutral.” Lose the accent.

I never quite understood what they meant by neutral, because what’s more natural than your own voice?

Growing up between languages meant I never had just one accent. I had many — the one I used at home, the one I picked up from friends, the one I carefully softened on the phone when calling customer service.

Each version was mine, shaped by migration, memory, and survival.

When I first stepped into a newsroom, I was told my English was great — but…

But it was “too Spanish.”

But it sounded “regional.”

But it might not “translate well” to a broader audience.

That “but” became the fire behind my first book.

It also became the reason I started VOZ NYC.

Today, I’ve come to realize that my accent is not a flaw. It’s not something to erase.

It’s evidence that I carry more than one culture in every sentence.

It’s how I speak to my people — and to those still finding their voice.

My accent shaped my storytelling.

It reminded me that clarity doesn’t require conformity. That vulnerability can be powerful. That sounding like me is enough.

If you’ve ever felt pressure to change your voice —

Know this: your story isn’t less valid because of how it sounds.

It might just be the most powerful thing about you.

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🖤 Want more?

My book, Your English Is Great, But…, dives deeper into these stories — growing up bilingual, navigating media, and learning to own every part of my voice.

Now available on Amazon: amzn.to/3ZgTrwV