From guava and rum to glitter and grit — Vanessa Barcelo baked her Miami pride straight into Netflix fame
There’s no mistaking the Miami sparkle when it shines on screen — and Vanessa Barcelo, owner of One Love Cakes in Hialeah, brought it in full force to Netflix’s “Is It Cake? Halloween.” With her signature pink aesthetic, Cuban charm, and fearless creativity, Vanessa proudly represented Hialeah and the Latina baking community in this high-stakes competition that mixes artistry with a touch of Miami spice.
Baking Cuban culture into every slice
When Vanessa Barcelo stepped onto the Netflix stage, she brought more than butter and sugar — she brought her heritage. Her show-stopping creation, a hyper-realistic toad cake, featured vanilla Cuban rum cake filled with meringue and guava, all crowned with Ave Maria cookies. The result? A sweet tribute to her Cuban roots and the vibrant flavors of Miami’s Latin kitchens.
Even host Mikey Day couldn’t help but spotlight her infectious energy and cultural pride, sharing laughs about their mutual connection with another Cuban talent, Marcos, from Saturday Night Live. Though her toad cake didn’t take the win that round, Vanessa’s creativity and charisma earned her a coveted spot in the finale — proof that talent, like flavor, runs deep in Hialeah.
Miami pride on a global stage
Representing South Florida’s thriving Latina creators, Vanessa Barcelo’s journey was about more than cake — it was about visibility, representation, and community. “I’m beyond proud and grateful for the chance to represent my city and culture on Netflix,” she shared. “It was an honor to compete alongside such talented artists—and I’m especially proud to celebrate our Latina sister, Andrea, for taking home the win. We truly represented our culture with pride.”…