Lili Santiesteban is now a social media manager

March 20, 2025

Cuban actress Lili Santiesteban, who captivated audiences with her memorable portrayal of delegate Yaquelín in the telenovela Tan lejos y tan cerca (2022), has embarked on a new professional path in the United States, where she has resided since August 2024. The 35-year-old artist now works as a social media manager, demonstrating that talent and adaptability can transcend the boundaries of performing arts.

Her most recent public appearance took place at the expo Everything under the sun, held between March 14 and 15 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. The event, specialized in ventures in the swimming pool industry, marks a significant contrast with the stages she used to frequent.

This professional shift comes after a solid artistic career in Cuba, where the graduate of the ENA and the ISA left a significant mark. As we published here a few weeks ago, one of her last works before emigrating will soon be seen in the film Cinco historias de amor y un bolerón desesperado, directed by Arturo Santana, scheduled to premiere this year. In this ensemble film, which intertwines five love stories on the streets of Havana, Santiesteban shares credits with colleagues such as Iris Pérez, Andros Perugorría, and Leticia León.

The versatility of this actress was demonstrated throughout her career on the island, where she not only excelled in television and film, but also in theater. As a member of the Verdarte group, she explored musical theater and dance, constantly expanding her artistic horizons. Her filmography includes appearances in the short film Ornitorrinco, the feature film Habana Selfies, and the telenovela En tiempos de amar.

Curiously, her role as a delegate in Tan lejos y tan cerca marked her in a special way, so much so that at the time she jokingly commented on how her neighbors in her neighborhood identified her more with the character than with the actress: "In my neighborhood sometimes they forget that it's a character, that I'm an actress, and they bring me the problems of the building where I live," she recalled in an interview before her departure.

Before emigrating, Lili had expressed her desire to explore new artistic territories, particularly in the musical field. "I've always been very versatile, but if there's something I'd like to do it's dedicate myself to singing professionally, whether with my own group or solo, because interpreting lyrics denotes sensitivity and it's very much linked to when you bring a character to life," she had stated at the time.

Now, from the United States, this multifaceted artist is yet another example that the Cuban capacity for reinvention knows no limits. Her transition from the world of entertainment to digital marketing exemplifies how our compatriots can adapt and prosper in new environments, without this necessarily meaning abandoning their artistic essence.

Her presence at the Orlando expo, in addition to marking a new chapter in her professional life, also suggests a successful adaptation to the competitive American job market, where her communication skills, developed over years in the performing arts, find a new form of expression in the digital world.