LatiNation Media strengthens ties with online creator Curly Velasquez

Former BuzzFeed editor Curly Velasquez

LA-based LatiNation Media has confirmed former BuzzFeed editor Curly Velasquez, co-creator of popular Latinx digital brand Pero Like, as its VP of development.

A Salvadoran, LA–based creator, Velasquez’s career spans fashion, television and digital media, with his work in the latter taking off while at BuzzFeed, where he was part of the team that set up the influential YouTube channel Pero Like.

His on-screen credits include Starz’s Vida, Netflix’s Mucho Mucho Amor and appearances on E!’s What the Fashion, PBS’ Dead & Buried and Crash Course. He also co-hosts the iHeart podcast The Super Secret Bestie Club with long-time collaborator Maya Murillo.

As VP of development, Velasquez will oversee the LatiNation Media’s creative direction across original series, talent development, visual identity and creator-driven storytelling.

Velasquez has already been working with LatiNation Media on its programming and has now had his role expanded as the company seeks to work with more online Latino creators.

The company operates the broadcast cable channel LATV, a free LatiNation content app and its free, ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) LatiNation channels.

The appointment was made by CEO Andrés Palencia and president and chief operating officer Bruno Ulloa.

“Bringing Curly into this role is an anchoring moment for LatiNation,” said Palencia. “He doesn’t just understand our audience – he is our audience. His voice, instincts and lived experience embody the culture we serve and the future we are building.”

Ulloa added: “Curly is one of the true originators of Latino digital influence. Pero Like wasn’t just viral – it reshaped how Latino culture showed up across every platform. His creative eye, his credibility within the creator community and his ability to translate culture into scalable media make him uniquely qualified to define LatiNation’s creative identity moving forward.”

Velasquez said: “Opening doors for Latino creators has always been central to my life’s work. Building Latino content isn’t about chasing trends – it’s about community, trust and making space for our culture, our traditions and our dreams to live on screen.”