I’m writing this from the ferry on my way to Mallorca. My day started at 4:30 am in Seville, where I spent a couple of days visiting family. A flight to Ibiza, then straight onto this ferry at 8 pm. My car is packed with boxes full of hangers and bags—I take advantage of every trip to move things over. By 11:30 pm, we’ll be unloading everything at one of the new store locations.
Tomorrow starts early with a notary appointment, followed by a key meeting with Four Seasons. We’re weighing the possibility of opening a store inside their spectacular resort. If it happens, that’ll be three new stores this year in Mallorca. A total of five stores and a pop-up. And there are still more spaces to confirm. Insane, right? But who ever got anywhere by playing it safe?
Fear has never been my companion. Maybe that’s why I’ve lived through some unforgettable experiences—some I’d rather not repeat, but that’s what they call the school of life. The most expensive, most valuable master’s degree. Fear comes when you don’t know how to let go. But I’ve never felt like I had anything to lose—except maybe my health, thanks to the stress. The rest? It doesn’t matter when you have the ability to believe in yourself and rebuild.
They say a real entrepreneur is someone who has hit rock bottom and come back stronger. Well, here’s your proof. Years ago, I lost everything—my confidence, my name, and a bank account that went €250,000 into the red. I was only 32. The heartbreak lasted two months. Then I had to move, reinvent myself, pay off the debt, and reinvest in my future. It was brutal. I’ll tell you more in another post.
Fast-forward almost seven years, and here I am. When I was finally legally free to design again, I built Benibeca from the ground up, starting with just €30,000. I did it all—designed the swimwear, built the website, managed social media, handled photography (shoutout to my brother for his help), attended international trade shows, managed sales and logistics, even did the accounting—because I couldn’t afford to hire anyone. At the same time, I was running another business, the one that kept me afloat and financed this dream.
People sometimes don’t understand what it took to get here. The sacrifices. The daily fight. I’m 44. I’ve spent more than half my life away from my family, I don't have kids, I almost never took vacations. And I’m still pushing, investing everything I have into making this brand thrive. The cost? My health—hormones wrecked, cortisol through the roof.
Sometimes, I surprise myself with how much I can handle—keeping so many things running while staying creative. It’s crazy. And it’s still crazy. But finally, I have a team—an incredible team. People I can trust, people I can delegate to. That changes everything.
The hardest part of running a company isn’t the strategy, the product, or the market—it’s the people. Some fell off along the way. Some relationships didn’t work out. That’s business. But at the same time, the best moments, the real celebrations, always happen with them. And I feel incredibly lucky for the team I have today.
Especially Carlos, our marketing director. More than just a business partner—he’s a friend. The kind that holds you up when you need it. Not everyone, not even close friends or family, truly understands what this journey demands. And that can feel lonely. But when someone can read your eyes and know exactly when you need support, that’s a gift. Carlos sees me. He calls me out when I need it and pulls me back in when I feel like I’m losing it. More amazing people are by my side—I’ll talk about them in future posts.
Photo 1: Soaking in Seville’s charm with amazing traditional food at Bodega Pepe Girón.
Photo 2: Carlos in action during a photoshoot in Ibiza—creative energy at its best.