Carolina Acosta and Aralis Mejia Are Giving Latinas the Tough Love They Need With ‘Mamá Didn’t Raise a Pendeja’

For Latina entrepreneurs Carolina Acosta and Aralis Mejia, success has always been about breaking barriers. First, they made waves with Tragos, the viral Latinx party game. Now, they’re empowering women in a whole new way: through their book, “Mamá Didn’t Raise a Pendeja.”

This unapologetic guide to life, career, and relationships isn’t just a bestseller—it’s a movement. With over 2.1 million views on TikTok and repeated sellouts, the book is proving just how deeply its message resonates. Through humor, real talk, and old-school wisdom, Acosta and Mejia are helping Latinas demand what they deserve while staying true to their culture.

The “Aha” Moment That Birthed ‘Mamá Didn’t Raise a Pendeja’

According to Acosta and Mejia, the idea for the book started with a conversation about a friend struggling with the same issue over and over. It made them realize something: they were raised differently.

“We weren’t raised like that. We were taught to handle it and move on, for better or worse,” they explained.

As Latina entrepreneurs already shaping cultural conversations through Tragos and Get Loud, they saw an opportunity to create something bigger.

“We thought about all those soft affirmation cards trending at the time and said, ‘What if, instead, people got a daily dose of tough love—the way our moms gave it to us?'” they shared.

But quick affirmations weren’t enough. They needed something that would stick. “Tough love isn’t a one-and-done lesson, so a book made more sense. It gave us space to organize dichos intentionally, so readers could find the exact lesson they needed, exactly when they needed it.”

What ‘Mamá Didn’t Raise a Pendeja’ Really Means

The book’s title is bold. It’s direct. And it’s deeply familiar to anyone raised by a Latina mom.

For Mejia, the phrase is a reminder to never let anyone or anything make her doubt her worth.

“Growing up, we constantly heard ‘no seas pendeja’ or ‘por pendeja,’ and for me, the term pendeja is a reminder—have the self-respect to walk away from what doesn’t serve you and the self-awareness to recognize when you’re holding yourself back. Our moms didn’t raise us to be anyone’s fool, and that applies to relationships, work, money—everything.”

Acosta agreed. To her, the phrase means resilience: “Life is gonna try you—through people, work, nonsense—but you don’t let it keep you down. Stay sharp, stay ready, and don’t waste time feeling sorry for yourself because that’ll keep you stuck longer. It also means no one is more important than you, so your self-love and self-respect come before anything, always.”

The Tough Love Dichos That Made the Cut

Latinas know that “tough love” can shape you. Sometimes, it stings. But it always leaves a lesson.

When curating the book, Acosta and Mejia pulled from personal experience.

“A lot of them came straight from our moms, tíos, and tías, and if we remembered them from childhood, we knew other American Hispanics would too,” they shared.

But they were selective. “We weren’t just looking for the most popular dichos—we wanted the ones that teach something specific, hit extra hard, or just feel like a throwback to the old-school wisdom we grew up with.”

That meant skipping some overused phrases. “That’s why we skipped the overplayed ones like ‘Échale ganas’ and ‘Ponte las pilas.’ No shade, but you hear those everywhere. This book is for the dichos that really make you think and/or act on.”

Does ‘Mamá Didn’t Raise a Pendeja’ Reinforce Latina Strength or Challenge It?

Latinas are expected to be strong, selfless, and resilient. But at what cost?

According to Mejia, resilience is key—but not at the expense of self-care.

“There’s a difference between being strong and carrying more than you should. A lot of the dichos in this book are about resilience, but just as many remind you to rest, to prioritize yourself, and to let go of things that aren’t your responsibility. We’re not here to glamorize struggle—strength is important, but so is knowing when to put yourself first.”

Acosta emphasized the same point. “A lot of dichos in the book push resilience, but there are also ones that remind you to pause, take care of yourself, and stop trying to be everything for everyone.”

‘Antes mis dientes que mis parientes’ is one of my favorites because it’s a straight-up reality check—you can’t pour from an empty cup, and you shouldn’t have to. That’s why we split the book into chapters—so depending on your current situation, you can flip to the right section and get the reminder you actually need to hear.”

How Latinas Are Reacting to ‘Mamá Didn’t Raise a Pendeja’

With the book going viral on TikTok, the response has been overwhelming.

Mejia says the most powerful reactions come from women who say, “I needed this today.”

“Social media moves fast, and there’s so much noise, but when someone pauses to say, ‘This changed my perspective,’ that’s powerful. It’s also incredible to see how quickly Latinas think of their people—so many are tagging their family, best friends, and coworkers because they know this book will hit home for them, too. That’s the pinch-me moment for me.”

For Acosta, it’s about Latinas looking out for each other.

“Even before finishing the book, they know exactly who in their circle could use a little tough love. That just proves how deeply these dichos are embedded in our culture.”

If They Could Give Their Younger Selves One Chapter…

If they could hand their younger selves a single chapter, Mejia and Acosta know exactly which ones they’d choose.

For Mejia, it’s the final section: “Have the Confidence of a Colombian Woman.”

“I spent so much time doubting myself, my abilities, and my worth. Writing this book and now being in my 30s, I finally feel empowered in a way I wish I had when I was younger. If I could go back, I’d tell myself to own my space, stop playing small, and step into every room like I belong there—because I do.”

Acosta, meanwhile, would flip straight to the Money & Success chapter.

“If you want to build something big, whether it’s a business or a life you’re proud of, your mentality has to be unshakable. Get your mind and values right, and the rest will follow.”