Empowerment Series: Actress, Singer, Songwriter, NBC’s Songland & The Voice, Fox’s Empire, Brooklyn’s Finest, Liv & Maddie, and Jersey Girl, Raquel Castro Shares Self-Love with AW

Raquel Castro isn’t new to the spotlight. She stole hearts in Jersey Girl at just seven years old..  Her role as Gertie, the daughter of Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck in Jersey Girl, was a perfect fit. Since then, the Latina has blossomed, showing her talents as Marisol in Fox’s megahit Empire,  acting in Brooklyn’s Finest, The Ministers, Nowhere, Liv & Maddie, and Already Gone. However, talents do not end on the big and small screen.  Raquel was a contestant on NBC’s The Voice. She was also the winner of Songland, writing this soulful R&B hit “Wrong Places” by H.E.R. Her talent is undeniable; behind it all is a woman deep in her healing era—redefining success, setting boundaries, and unapologetically choosing herself.

In this intimate sit-down, Raquel opened up about self-doubt, impostor syndrome, pressures of social media, and the messy beauty of growth. “I’m my own worst critic,” she admits. “Even compliments feel hard to accept sometimes. I compare my timeline to others, and that steals joy.” The artist was not shy, as she shared about music, boundaries, becoming her own safe space, self-love, mental health, heartbreak, and relationships.

A self-proclaimed hopeless romantic, Castro is learning the power of being alone without feeling lonely. “After my last relationship, I gave myself space—no dating apps, no distractions. Just me. I’ve realized I like my own company—and that’s power.”

Her song “Wrong Places” was born during a time of heartbreak and isolation. “I was tired of giving my all to the wrong people,” she shares. “That song was a realization—I’m not too much, I’m just asking the wrong people.”

Today, Raquel is transitioning into a new chapter. She is focused on songwriting and spiritual grounding, with a fierce commitment to emotional self-respect. She is living life with my eyes wide open.

Her advice for anyone feeling lonely? “Fall in love with yourself. Pour into you. When you do, you become a magnet for what’s meant for you.”

Raquel proves that healing doesn’t always look graceful, but it can still be powerful, poetic, and wildly empowering.

AW is grateful to Raquel for sharing her journey to self-love.

We want love and want to be seen. It isn’t uncommon to yearn for validation from those we love or respect. In our relentless search for it, it is easy to forget ourselves. We get lost in emotion when leading with the heart. One of the most important lessons I have learned during this ongoing journey is that we will make countless connections throughout our lives, but the strongest and most important one should be the one we have with ourselves.

The AW Confidential Podcast interview was recorded in 2024, it can be streamed on all major platforms where you watch or listen to your favorite podcasts.

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