Hello, Fabulous Soul!

My journey has never been ordinary — and I would not have it any other way. Every chapter, from the hardest ones to the most triumphant, has shaped me into the coach, the woman, and the longevity advocate I am today.

My name is Marcela Paz, and my story begins in July 1982 in Santiago, Chile, where I was born as the eldest of two children in a loving yet complex family. At the tender age of four, my world was uprooted when my parents made the courageous decision to escape an oppressive government, seeking freedom and opportunity in the United States, leaving my baby brother and I behind. Our reunion in 1988, amidst the vibrant and tumultuous energy of New York, marked the beginning of numerous transformative chapters in my life.

Growing up in the dynamic backdrop of the 80s and 90s, my childhood was a tapestry woven with both adversity and joy. I faced challenges that no child should endure—neglect, sexual abuse, violence, and economic hardship—but there were also countless moments filled with love and laughter shared with my devoted family. Throughout my life, I often amazed mental health professionals with my resilience, insight and managing to function despite the shadows of trauma that loomed over me. Their astonishment sparked curiosity in me. Observant and in awe of our human complexity at thirteen I began my lifelong quest to understand myself and others with the objective to succeed in life.

As I transitioned into my teenage years, I developed a survival strategy that became my shield against the chaos of my surroundings. This involved a balance of partying, substance use, therapeutic exploration, and occasional spiritual practice, all while battling an eating disorder that threatened to consume me. My early twenties led me on an adventurous path through college, more partying and a burgeoning career in the fashion industry in Europe. However, it was during this time that my struggles with food became more pronounced, prompting me to return home and wholeheartedly immerse myself in my recovery.

Emerging from this tumultuous period in my mid-20s, I found a newfound clarity. Despite completing a marketing degree in Paris and achieving success in the fashion realm in London and New York, I felt an undeniable pull towards change and motherhood. At 26, I made a radical decision as a lesbian to embrace the role of a single parent, returning to college to pursue a teaching career that would allow me to fulfill my purpose, utilize my gifts and give me the time to be a mother. Earning a BA in psychology and history, followed by an MA in history and education, marked a pivotal transformation in the awareness of my power, my self-love and confidence—a time I hold dear and cherish.

As I ventured into my late 30s, life presented fresh challenges, including a tumultuous and abusive relationship that I bravely exited for the sake of my daughter and myself, months before our wedding. Just weeks after this difficult decision, I faced the heart-wrenching loss of my best friend and the father of my child in a tragic accident. This profound grief brought me to my knees, and in my darkest moments, I sought solace in alcohol. However, after a few years in numbing survival mode, I realized that the temporary relief alcohol provided only deepened my suffering.

Today, I wake up every morning in deep gratitude — for my sobriety, for my health, for my daughter, for my purpose. I no longer merely survive. I thrive. And thriving, I have learned, is not a destination. It is a daily practice of choosing yourself — your clarity, your vitality, your joy — over and over again.

This is what I built Fabulously Sober | Longevity & Wellness for. To show you that sobriety is not the end of your fabulous life — it is the beginning of your most extraordinary one. And to walk alongside you as you claim the health, the beauty, and the longevity that have always been yours.