In 1986, Isabela and Fernando Carlos immigrated to the U.S. from the Philippines. They had four kids and raised them in Columbia. The youngest of their four children, Marielle Carlos, describes her upbringing as traditional.
Her parents encouraged careers in STEM. Carlos followed more artistic endeavors. In high school, she picked up guitar and later, bass. In college, she started playing in bands. Her latest music project is a five-person punk band called Tri-County Liquidators, which she plays in with her boyfriend, Spenser Rook.
Carlos shares her passion for music with her niece, Halo Campbell, 10. After her music lessons, Halo and Carlos practice the piano together and play online music games.
Carlos also spends some of her night's boxing at Hullet House Gym. There too, she encourages young women to follow their passions.
“I’m really protective of them,” Carlos says about the young women in her life. “I want them to see me and know that whatever they wanna be is possible too and that people are actually cheering for them.”