Roanna Canete is the owner/operator of San Diego’s The Gluten Free Baking Company, which offers a tasty range of online and in-store gluten-free baked goods. Perhaps you saw Canete compete on “Sugar Rush” on Netflix! Learn about Roanna Canete…
Hometown: Delta, Utah
First job: When I was 15, I was a ranch hand on a beef cattle ranch. My days were spent chasing cows on horseback, branding calves and feeding livestock. I even helped when baby calves were born. My horse was named Cowboy, and he was short—like me—and so we fit together very well. I loved that type of work! I remember I spent my very first paycheck to buy a pair of leather riding gloves (you need them to protect your hands) and an Australian cowboy hat styled like the ones in “The Man from Snowy River” (yes, you do the math, that’s how old I am). I was so proud of that job and that hat, which I still have tucked away in a closet.
Favorite ways to spend your free time in CA: Outdoors—whether its camping in the woods or walking on the beach near my house, I love to be outside!
Your biggest accomplishment and why: Learning a completely new way of living, cooking and baking when my family went gluten free. It led to better health, and paved the way for me to start a business!
The biggest obstacle you have overcome: Fear. Out of necessity (not by choice, people, not by choice), I had to learn to ride a scooter in Italy. I had always seen Italian women tucking their knees together but their heels pointed outwards on the floorboards, and I always wondered why. One day, I rode my scooter in a dress, and quickly learned that you pinch the hem of your dress between your knees to keep it from blowing up…
Someone who inspires you and why: My children, Tristen and Trey. They are tenacious, funny, strong and extremely cute (they get that from me, obviously).
Advice to someone pursuing a career path in what you do: Get a good workout regimen going so you can eat cupcakes for breakfast every day without the guilt.
Favorite quote: Every storm cloud runs out of rain…
Something someone would be surprised to learn about you: I have formally attended school in Kazakstan, England, South Africa and Chile.
What makes someone fabulous in your own words: Social awareness and actions based in social justice make people fabulous.