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Laura Stylez

Laura Stylez (born November 4, 1980) is an radio personality, media host, and community advocate of Guatemalan descent, best known for co-hosting the syndicated morning show on City's Hot 97 alongside and . Born in Los Angeles, California, to Guatemalan immigrant parents, Stylez was introduced to hip-hop culture at a young age through neighborhood influences like Snoop Dogg and N.W.A., and she idolized female radio figures such as Angie Martinez and DJ Spinderella. At 18, she relocated to New York City, where she began her radio career answering phones at a station, marking the start of over two decades in the industry. Stylez's professional trajectory includes early roles at stations like La Calle 105.9 FM and as a producer at , before joining Hot 97 as a digital producer under and ascending to her current on-air position, where she broadcasts weekdays from 6 to 10 a.m. EST and Saturdays from 7 to 9 a.m. EST (as of 2025). She also serves as the voice for 's The Heat channel and hosts afternoon shifts on WE96.3 in , while making guest appearances on programs like MSNBC's , Complex's Open Late, and Essence Live (as of 2025). Beyond broadcasting, Stylez co-hosts the podcast Improper Etiquette with Leah McSweeney, discussing topics in music, fashion, relationships, and culture, and she co-founded the ENVSN Festival, an annual event mentoring emerging creators of color, where she has served as talent director and sponsored mentorship initiatives. Her achievements encompass hosting major concerts at venues like Madison Square Garden and Radio City Music Hall, conducting interviews with reggaeton artists during the genre's boom, and being featured in Vibe magazine. Stylez is actively involved in community efforts, including board membership with the Lower East Side Girls Club, Hip-Hop Has Heart Foundation, and NYC Thrives, focusing on youth empowerment and cultural preservation (as of 2025).

Early life

Family background and heritage

Laura Stylez was born on November 4, 1980, in , . Her parents were Guatemalan immigrants who arrived in the United States during the to build a new life in . This migration established a bilingual household where English and were spoken fluently, with her father enforcing strict rules against mixing the languages, such as prohibiting to preserve linguistic purity. As a first-generation , Stylez grew up in a typical household steeped in Guatemalan cultural practices, including family-centered meals where she was required to read texts aloud to strengthen her skills. Her parents emphasized core values of hard work, discipline, and community solidarity, instilling in her a strong sense of familial obligation and resilience that connected her deeply to her Guatemalan roots despite being raised in a diverse urban environment.

Childhood influences and move to New York

Laura Stylez was born and raised in , primarily in the Mid-City neighborhood, a diverse area predominantly inhabited by Black and Latino communities. Growing up in this urban setting presented challenges for Stylez as a young , where she often struggled to find a sense of belonging amid the cultural mixes of , , and other influences. She found her closest connections through neighborhood kids who shared her emerging interests, forming bonds over shared experiences in a vibrant yet fragmented environment. Her early passion for hip-hop music developed during these formative years, deeply influenced by West Coast artists like Tupac Shakur, whose California-rooted lyrics resonated with her local surroundings, and East Coast icons like Nas, whose New York-centric narratives ignited a fascination with the broader hip-hop landscape. Coming from a low-middle-class background, Stylez immersed herself in the genre's culture—listening to tracks by Snoop Dogg, N.W.A., and Dr. Dre—while also embracing family traditions of salsa and merengue, which blended with her Guatemalan heritage to foster a sense of cultural pride. She idolized female radio personalities such as Angie Martinez and DJ Spinderella. This exposure to hip-hop's storytelling and energy sparked her interest in radio and media, as she dreamed of contributing to the voices shaping the culture, though financial constraints like the inability to afford DJ equipment initially limited her pursuits. At around age 18, in the late 1990s, Stylez made the pivotal decision to relocate to , driven by her ambition to break into the highly competitive radio industry and pursue her passion for on a larger stage. The move represented a bold leap from her roots, fueled by a determination to turn her lifelong enthusiasm into a professional path despite familial skepticism and the uncertainties of starting anew in a distant city. Upon arriving in , Stylez enrolled at City College while balancing multiple jobs to support herself, including initial radio internships where she handled basic tasks like answering phones and assisting on-air personalities. These early experiences, often unglamorous and demanding, allowed her to gain foundational knowledge in and amid the hustle of the city's media scene, marking the transition from her upbringing to a burgeoning career in the East Coast hip-hop epicenter.

Career

Early radio beginnings

Laura Stylez entered the radio industry shortly after relocating to at age 18, securing her initial position as a phone operator at a local station. This entry-level role marked her professional debut in broadcasting, fueled by her longstanding passion for cultivated in . While pursuing in , Stylez interned at multiple local radio stations to gain hands-on knowledge of the field. To make ends meet during this time, she balanced several jobs simultaneously, showcasing her resilience amid financial pressures. These early experiences allowed her to observe operations closely, from production to on-air dynamics, in the fast-paced urban radio environment. She later worked at urban radio station Power 105.1, contributing to production and on-air segments. From the early 2000s onward, Stylez accumulated over 15 years of foundational expertise in urban and radio formats, starting with behind-the-scenes tasks that honed her skills. New York's competitive radio market, often described as the industry's toughest, tested her ; she faced skepticism from family and challenges in the male-dominated industry, temporarily stayed with friends or acquaintances while establishing herself. In a field predominantly led by men, she encountered challenges including , which prompted her to leave one early role discreetly to safeguard her career trajectory.

Hot 97 and major broadcasting roles

In 2013, after working as a digital producer at Hot 97 under , Stylez joined the on-air team as a co-host on the morning program , alongside and , marking her entry into one of City's premier radio platforms. In this role, she quickly established herself as a dynamic on-air personality, contributing to the show's syndicated broadcast that airs nationally and serves as a key voice in urban radio. Her prior internships in radio provided a foundation that propelled her into this prominent position, allowing her to transition from behind-the-scenes work to a leading on-air contributor. Over more than a decade on the show, Stylez has been instrumental in fostering discussions on hip-hop culture and urban Latino perspectives, drawing from her Guatemalan heritage and passion for artists like Ivy Queen and Daddy Yankee. As a first-generation Latina from Los Angeles adapting to the New York media landscape, she brings authenticity to segments addressing community issues, representation in hip-hop, and the intersection of Latino influences with mainstream urban music. Her contributions emphasize empowerment and cultural tastemaking, helping to amplify underrepresented voices within the genre's evolving narrative. Stylez has participated in high-profile segments, including announcing Grammy nominations live on air, such as during the ceremony coverage where she highlighted key contenders. These moments, combined with her cultural commentary on topics like artist breakthroughs and industry trends, have solidified her as a cornerstone of the show's appeal, blending entertainment with insightful analysis. The evolution of under Stylez's involvement has shifted toward more unapologetic, real-talk formats, incorporating personal and societal discussions that reflect broader urban experiences while maintaining its core. This adaptation has kept the program relevant amid changing media landscapes, with Stylez's adding a fresh dynamic to the New York-centric broadcast.

Additional media and production work

Beyond her on-air roles, Laura Stylez has established herself as a multifaceted event producer, curator, and cultural tastemaker with over two decades in the media industry. Her production work spans curating for high-profile events and fostering platforms that amplify underrepresented voices in . In 2017, Stylez co-founded the ENVSN Festival alongside Sharifa Murdock, serving as its culture plug and music to empower Gen-Z and Gen-Alpha femmes of color through immersive experiences blending music, fashion, and . The inaugural festival in 2018 featured performances by artists like and , focusing on young in . Subsequent iterations, including the 2022 event highlighted in for connecting brands with local businesses, have solidified ENVSN as a key initiative for and opportunity creation; the festival continued annually, with the 2025 edition held in August in as of 2025. Stylez's media projects extend to advocacy efforts promoting Latino and hip-hop voices, where she has organized interviews, panels, and nonprofit collaborations to highlight cultural narratives and youth leadership. Through ENVSN and partnerships with organizations like the Lower East Side Girls Club, she curates discussions on identity and innovation, drawing from her Guatemalan heritage to center immigrant and diverse perspectives in hip-hop discourse. These initiatives leverage her Hot 97 platform to tastemake emerging urban music trends and support underrepresented artists. Her contributions to print media include serving on the XXL Awards Board in 2021, where she helped select nominees across hip-hop categories as a recognized tastemaker. This role featured her on the winter issue cover alongside industry peers, underscoring her influence in shaping award recognitions for urban music achievements.

Personal life

Marriage and family

Laura Stylez has been in a long-term with her partner , a marketing professional of descent, since approximately 2016. The couple celebrated their five-year dating anniversary in , highlighting their shared travels and adventures prior to starting a . Stylez has described as an incredibly supportive partner who was instrumental during her and continues to actively co-parent, often emphasizing his joyful involvement in their daughter's daily life, such as initiating playtime at playgrounds. In August 2020, amid the , Stylez publicly announced her pregnancy with their first child, a , during a live broadcast on Hot 97's . Kenza Luz was born on October 31, 2020, and the has resided in , where they celebrate milestones like her Halloween-themed birthdays with elaborate gatherings. Stylez launched Kenza's , a children's clothing brand, in 2023, with proceeds earmarked for her 's future. Stylez has openly discussed the challenges and joys of motherhood in interviews, noting the difficulties of a and subsequent , which she navigated while returning to her demanding radio schedule. She emphasized the importance of self-grace in balancing her career, crediting her Hot 97 colleagues for flexibility during maternity leave and hybrid work arrangements that allowed her to limit evening commitments. As a working parent, Stylez finds profound joy in Kenza's empathetic nature and the personal growth motherhood has fostered, such as increased patience, while her Guatemalan heritage informs a strong emphasis on family resilience and cultural traditions in raising her daughter. Both parents prioritize active involvement, with Stylez highlighting Ricardo's uplifting role in their family dynamic.

Community advocacy and public image

Laura Stylez has been a vocal advocate for Hispanic Heritage Month, using her platform at HOT 97 to highlight empowerment in media and share personal family stories from to the . In a 2019 segment sponsored by , she discussed the challenges and triumphs of her family's journey, emphasizing cultural roots and resilience as key to success in broadcasting. More recently, in 2025 HOT 97 spotlights, she celebrated Guatemalan pride, portraying herself as an embodiment of family-driven hustle and community leadership to inspire broader representation in and urban media. Stylez promotes fearlessness and as essential to personal growth, particularly in 2025 interviews where she encouraged living boldly amid career and motherhood demands. In an April 2025 episode of the Growing Up Latina podcast, she shared insights on overcoming challenges and embracing unapologetic ambition in male-dominated industries. Her advocacy extends to youth through hosting the Precious Dreams Foundation's Laughter and Lullabies Gala in October 2025, which supports foster and homeless youth with resources for emotional soothing and healthy coping mechanisms. As a first-generation from a low-income Guatemalan immigrant family, Stylez cultivates a public image as a —spanning radio host, event producer, and cultural tastemaker—who serves as a for aspiring women in . Articles highlight her rise from couch-surfing in to co-hosting Hot 97's , rejecting compromising opportunities to maintain integrity and empower others. This persona is reinforced through motivational talks on youth leadership and nonprofit involvement, positioning her as a beacon for underrepresented Latinas navigating urban media landscapes. Her work with organizations like the Lower East Side Girls Club and Has Heart Foundation underscores this commitment to community upliftment. Stylez's broader community engagement includes co-founding the ENVSN Festival with Sharifa Murdock, an event that empowers Gen-Z and Gen-Alpha girls through , workshops, and panels focused on and self-expression, serving as a key extension of her advocacy efforts.

Voice work and media appearances

Video game roles

Laura Stylez entered for in the mid-2000s, drawing on her broadcasting experience to contribute to projects. Her debut in the industry came with Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories (2006), where she provided for pedestrian characters, delivering dialogue that enhanced the game's urban narrative environment. This role marked an early extension of her media presence into gaming, aligning with the title's and street culture influences through incidental character interactions. In 2013, Stylez voiced station imaging segments for West Coast Classics, a classic radio station in , performing continuity announcements and promotional liners that reflected her real-life radio DJ expertise. These contributions added authenticity to the game's expansive in-world radio system, featuring West Coast tracks from the era. Her work in the series highlights a niche overlap between her career and in high-profile franchises known for satirical takes on American culture.

Other film and media credits

Laura Stylez made her acting debut in the 2010 The Love Potion, portraying the character La Sucia in a that explores the elements of love through an urban lens set in . The film, directed by Danny Hastings, highlights themes of lust, intimacy, and passion within a multicultural context, showcasing Stylez's ability to contribute to storytelling rooted in and cultural narratives. Beyond this role, Stylez has appeared as herself in hip-hop-centric projects during the , including the VH1 series This Is Hot 97, a documentary-style show chronicling the behind-the-scenes world of the iconic radio station where she worked. Stylez's sparse but targeted engagements extended to promotional content tied to , such as the Hennessy-sponsored short video 97 Seconds - Laura Stylez, produced in collaboration with Hot 97 to celebrate Spanish Heritage Month and her role in urban radio. These appearances, primarily from the late 2000s to mid-, underscore her versatility in blending radio expertise with on-camera cameos in promotional and reality formats, building on her background to enhance her multimedia profile.

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