Myah Salinas Isn’t Gatekeeping Her Journey — She’s Sharing It
Myah Salinas doesn’t believe in gatekeeping — what you see is what you get.
Now an entrepreneur and digital content creator, she’s found her niche and audience in her own corner of the internet.
Salinas didn’t set out to be an influencer, but entrepreneurship runs in her blood — starting with her parents.
“I was so all over the place for so long, because my parents are kind of entrepreneurs, and my older sister is,” she said. “So in my head for a while, once I was in college, I thought, I think I want a full-time job. I think I want to have that security.”
Seeing her friends laid off from “stable” jobs encouraged her to go back to the drawing board.
“I always credit so much of that to my mom,” she added. “I feel like growing up, I saw that she had a different mindset than a lot of my friends’ parents, who would sometimes force them into sports they didn’t want to play or jobs they didn’t want to have. My mom was always a big advocate for life being too short. If you’re not happy with something, just quit.”
Salinas clarified they don’t consider themselves quitters — but rather are believers in trying new things and knowing when something isn’t working.
Her sister, Noah, has also launched several ventures — including Boomshakalaka Photo Booth, which she started in college — and currently works in real estate, among other projects.
“Seeing her drive — it’s bigger than anyone I know. From the outside, people might see the instant rewards and all these businesses she starts,” Salinas said. “But I see all the work behind the camera.”
That behind-the-scenes hustle inspired Salinas. “It’s really just inspiring to me to see her hard work and dedication,” she said. “If something doesn’t work the first time, she pushes through.”
Salinas’ own entrepreneurial journey started early. At 15, she launched a cotton candy business.
“…And then I realized I kind of hate making cotton candy and that whole process,” she laughed. “But that’s when I first realized I really feel like I have an eye for what does well on social media.”
She enjoyed connecting with clients and creating content — and that spark stuck with her.
As a student at California State University, Bakersfield, Salinas worked as a student assistant at the Student Recreation Center. There, she said, she was able to pitch marketing ideas and see them come to life.
“They were really receptive to feedback — it was a cool work environment,” she said.
At a CSUB career fair, she met representatives from Kiara Sky, a beauty brand, and landed a social media coordinator role during her senior year.
The job soon evolved to include PR tasks, copywriting, and on-camera work. She pitched her own content ideas and filmed them in the company’s studio. Her videos gained attention.
“They’d see my videos and say, ‘They always pop off — why don’t you have your own page?’” she recalled.
Although she’d previously run social media accounts for Bakersfield businesses, she was always behind the scenes. Stepping in front of the camera brought out a new side of her creativity and confidence.
By early 2024, she realized she wasn’t happy in a traditional 9-to-5. She began posting videos more consistently and experimenting with different formats and topics.
A Bakersfield Following Grows
Her “Cute Coffee Shops in Bakersfield” series on Instagram quickly gained traction. She now has more than 17,000 followers.
“I can’t even tell you how many places I’ve discovered just from people sharing their favorite spots with me,” she said. “And when business owners tell me, ‘I got this many bookings because of your video,’ it’s so much more than I imagined.”
VISIT THE OUTLETS AT TEJON
Salinas, like many Bakersfield natives, didn’t always appreciate her hometown growing up. But over time, she began to see its value.
Recently, she joined the Innovation Lab with The Hub of Bakersfield — a program designed to connect community members and equip them to develop solutions for local issues.
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“They’re so community-focused,” she said. “It’s really cool to see the immediate reaction and think about how I can help — whether it’s sharing The Hub or helping in other ways.”
The six-week program includes weekly meetings, interviews with city leaders and innovators, and project development aimed at strengthening Bakersfield’s urban core.
Building Something Bigger
Salinas was recently flown to Texas to film a video for Gelbottle, Inc., and met the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders, among other high-profile guests. It reminded her how far she’s come from the early days of her page — when she had only 10 followers.
Would she go back and give herself advice?
“I would honestly go back and tell myself this now, too, because sometimes I need a little reminder on my more unconfident days — no one else around you cares if you record yourself,” she said.
She used to stop filming the moment someone walked by, pretending to scroll on her phone.
Now, she’s confident in her purpose — not just because of her passion, but because of the positive feedback she’s received.
“There will always be naysayers,” she said. “But I try to let that roll off and focus on the good things.”
Brewing Up What’s Next
Salinas’ latest project is a ready-to-drink, single-serve organic latte brand called Bizzy Bean Coffee.
She’s in the early stages but has already overcome hurdles — including cold email silence and gender bias in business communication.
“For months I’d wake up at 6 a.m., emailing and calling people until 6 p.m.,” she said. “If they responded, they assumed I was calling for my manager — asking what his name was.”
So, she began using a male name and email address — and suddenly, responses improved.
“Who would have thought in 2025 we’d still be here?” she said.
She recently earned a $5,000 award through the Bakersfield Women’s Business Conference Power Pitch Competition — a testament to her tenacity and connection to the community.
Salinas said she’s always open to helping others who want to follow a similar path.
“Not to get all hippie-ish again,” she laughed, “but I feel like God and the universe have provided signs. I’m big on everything happening for a reason — whether it’s angel numbers, horoscopes, or whatever I’m feeling that day.”
She often thinks of a quote she once heard: There are times for watering and there are times for growth.
Some days, that means working on content. Other days, it means building the coffee brand. Either way, she’s in motion.
And if you see her around town — say hi.
“I’m not scary,” she said. “And I’m willing to help anyone any way I can, whether it’s content or starting a business.”
Check out a few of Myah's favorites below:
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