Christy Haubegger
CHRISTY HAUBEGGER
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"I wanted
to change the way Latinas see themselves, as well as how others see
them."
A fellow graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, Christy Haubegger has
accomplished more than most 27 year old women. She has used her education and
talent to launch the first bilingual magazine for Latina women. Her insight as
to what this particular group of women needs has made her greatly successful. She
has recently been chosen as one of the "Most Inspirational Women of 1996" by NBC
Nightly News with Tom Brokaw. She has also been recognized in Crain's New York
Business as one of the youngest Latina business women in the U.S.
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History:
Christy Haubegger was
born to a Mexican-American mother and adopted as an infant by an Anglo couple who
made sure she was raised with a strong awareness of her ancestry. She was born
August 15, 1968 in Houston, TX and started learning Spanish in pre-school. She
says that growing up she would pick up women's magazines and "notice a lack of
images or information relating to her experience as a Mexican-American". This
was the beginning of her dream.
Education:
Haubegger attended
the University of Texas earning her BA in Philosophy and Spanish Literature. She
then went on to Stanford University School of Law where she earned her Juris
Doctor and became President of her class. While in Stanford she joined
the editorial staff of the Stanford Law Review and rose to the position of Senior
Editor.
The Magazine:
Once she
received her law degree, Haubegger set out to create a magazine she could
identify with along with millions of other Latinas in the U.S. She wrote a
business plan for Latina magazine, and after much perseverance and determination,
she finally found a company that was willing to take the risk of publishing her
magazine. With the backing and resources from Essence Communication, Inc.,
publishers of ESSENCE magazine, Latinas were finally being represented in a way
they had never been represented before. Latina magazine is a bilingual
publication that serves as a source of information and provides positive images
for Latinas who, like Haubegger, live between different languages and different
cultures. Latina magazine is aimed at Latinas living in areas with a large
Hispanic population such as NYC, LA, and Texas. People that have been featured
in the magazine include high profile Latinos such as Salma Hayek and Henry
Cisneros. Articles in the magazine range from "Racism 101: Teaching Your Kids to
Cope" to "Cooking with Tito Puente."
As Part of The New Generation:
Despite the consensus that
members of the New Generation are 'slackers' and 'don't take the initiative', at
the age of 27, Haubegger has defied these misconceptions. She reflects a common
attitude of Generation Xers that one should pursue ones dreams at any cost. "I
felt it [the magazine] was the one woman's magazine that I'd want to read, and I
kept thinking, 'Somebody should do it.' And I finally realized that that
somebody was going to have to be me." Even in the eyes of older generations, her
ambition has impressed the founders of ESSENCE Magazine. Edward Lewis, CEO of
Essence Communications, Inc., has said, "It was one of the best business plans I
had seen in almost 20 years. It was extraordinary for a person her age." Her
accomplishments set an example for the New Generation, who often believe it is
difficult to find role models to which they can relate.
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