Photos by Adam Rose

We’ve been talking nonstop about Netflix’s new show, Waffles + Mochi, but maybe we’re a little biased 😏 since our family is featured on episode two on their series. Have you seen it yet? We can almost guarantee your kids (and even you) will be obsessed!

This week we interview one of the stars of the show, Waffles aka Michelle Zamora. Her captivating energy will jump through your speakers as she drops serious innovative gems 💎 about how her parents encouraged her creativity from a young age. She also talks about her company Viva La Puppet and shares details on what it was like to work with ultimate Super Mama, Michelle Obama.

More about Michelle: Michelle Zamora is the CEO + Creative Director of Viva La Puppet, LLC. In 2000 she began this puppet journey while getting her BA in Theater at Cal State- L.A. In 2014 she formed the LLC with her husband Matias, who shares her vision for a community of dedicated artists working to bring creative projects to life through Puppetry. Originally from Brownsville, Texas she discovered her love of puppets at an early age creating humanettes out of her dolls, stop-motion VHS videos with her sister, and miniature people out of clay. What started as a childhood passion turned into a company that works to elevate the art form of puppetry into a fresh new innovative direction.

Most recently she worked on set for Zedd + Katy Perry’s 365 video, lead the TRUTH puppet campaign with 72 and Sunny (2019 Super Bowl commercial), puppeteered with Terry Crews for Old Spice, and managed/performed the Funner than Water ad for Vitamin Water. She co-directed Har Mar Superstar’s Restless Leg puppet video with Warren Fu on the streets of New York. Other fun projects include Rick & Morty’s Butthole Ice Cream stop-motion [adult swim] ad, giant puppets for Bob’s Burgers Live at The Orpheum, underwater puppet collab with Andrew Thomas Huang, Snoop Dogg puppet for California Roll music video w/ Pharrell + Stevie Wonder, and shadow puppets for The Pee Wee Herman Show-Live on Stage! Viva La Puppet celebrates life through inanimate objects and brings together great people to create magical moments one puppet at a time. Long Live the Puppet®

The Colorful Quotes of Michelle Zamora

“[My mom] understood passion and life and encouraged that.”

“If you’re going to dream, dream BIG but dream specific.”

“We’re at this place in our life now that we are able to understand and accept what’s happening in our lives and own it. Yes, we have done a lot to get to where we’re at.”

“This is the universe saying, you go, Mama. You go have fun.”

“The energy you put into something really does translate to the person at the other end.”

“It’s been a long puppet journey for me.”

“As long as I’m making puppets and bringing them to life, I’m making myself happy.”

“Be your beautiful selves and go follow your joy.”