Former TV sports anchor turned shoe designer inspires others to follow their dreams

Flor de Maria Rivera calls fashion her first love and shoes her forever passion. Some might even call her the Latina Carrie Bradshaw—a woman whose obsession with shoes has taken her from the newsroom to the runways of Hollywood.

“Fashion was my first love,” Rivera said. “So it was one of my things. I started a fashion blog, moved to New York with three suitcases full of dreams, and that’s how the story began.”

Before launching her own line of designer shoes, Rivera spent more than a decade as a sports anchor and publicist. But she eventually traded in her press passes to chase her dream all the way to Milan, where she studied shoe design.

“One of the reasons I wanted to start this shoe line was because after collecting over 500 pairs of shoes, I couldn’t find what I was looking for in just one pair,” she explained. “That’s when I decided I love shoes, I know what women want, and I’m going to give it to them.”

Those influences led her to launch her self-funded brand, Flor de Maria, just four months before the pandemic hit. Her perseverance paid off. Today, her sleek, bold, and comfortable heels have graced the feet of celebrities such as Shakira, Mariah Carey, and many others.

“Every time I see one of those celebrities step out in one of my shoes—when they can wear any shoes in the world—it’s a testament that hard work, perseverance, discipline, and putting your heart into everything you do pays off,” Rivera said.

Her proudest moment yet? Seeing not one, but two pairs of her designs, including bright yellow mules, featured on *And Just Like That*, the *Sex and the City* sequel.

“That is such an iconic show that is based on fashion and shoes,” she said. “So, for me, the moment I saw my shoes there, it was a full-circle moment.”

While Rivera dreams of seeing Beyoncé or Taylor Swift in her heels, she says her greatest goal is to inspire other women to follow their passion, believe in themselves, and keep chasing their dreams—no matter how high the heels they wear.
https://abc7.com/post/former-tv-sports-anchor-turned-shoe-designer-flor-de-maria-rivera-inspires-others-follow-dreams/18058538/