Anna Maria Arias, the visionary behind LATINA Style Magazine, faced persistent rejection while seeking support for her groundbreaking idea—a magazine for Latina professionals. Her journey began as a producer at CNN, where her attempts to feature Latina success stories were consistently rebuffed. Undeterred, she took a role at Hispanic Magazine, one of the few Latino publications at the time, only to encounter similar resistance. She heard discouraging remarks about men holding decision-making power within the Hispanic community.

Determined to enact change, Anna embarked on the creation of LATINA Style. Despite encountering obstacles while seeking corporate support, her influential presence in Washington, DC's Latina community led her to request a meeting with the sole Latina Member of Congress at the time, Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen. This meeting marked a turning point.

It was in Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen's office that the concept of LATINA Style took shape. Despite debates about the magazine's name, Anna insisted it should reflect the unique style of Latinas in all their endeavors.

The magazine was officially launched in the Rayburn Building at the US Capitol, with three Latina Members of Congress present, the Honorable Ileana Ros-Lehtinen from Florida, Nydia Velazquez from New York, and Lucille Royball from California. This event marked the beginning of LATINA Style's mission to celebrate and empower Latina professionals.

Despite demographic studies at the time overlooking the Latina professional demographic, Latinas across the nation embraced the magazine's concept and began opening doors.

Tragically, Anna Maria passed away in October 2001, leaving a void in the company. Lupita Colmenero stepped in as COO to manage all the programs.

In October, LATINA Style celebrated its 29th anniversary and has become a leading publication for professional Hispanic women. It broke new ground by being the first national magazine dedicated to the needs of Latina professional working women, business owners, college students, and Latina service members.

With a readership of over 600,000, LATINA Style showcases Latina achievements in various fields, including business, science, education, health, and more.

The magazine has also developed innovative programs, including the LATINA Style 50 Report, the LATINA Style Business Series, and the National LATINA Symposium. These programs aim to recognize and support Latinas in the workplace and assist military veterans in transitioning into civilian careers.